Nick Shasha won the Watford 10k at Cassiobury Park yesterday.

The runner completed the distance in a time of 33.12 which was just two seconds slower than last year’s winner. He was followed, in sunny but windy conditions, by Jim Cooper who was six seconds behind. Dacorum and Tring athlete Andrew Cracknell was third in a time of 33.39.

Shasha, who recently won bronze for Great Britain in the European Duathlon Age Group Championships in Limerick, said the race was more like a boxing match than a running race and was decided in the last 100 metres.

Veteran men’s winner for the eighth time was Nigel Rackham of Metros in a time of 34 minutes. The 48-year-old ran home to Pinner from the City of London as part of his training.

The senior ladies’ winner was Sarah Fensome in a time of 43.24. However the veteran ladies (over 35) had the edge this year as all three on the podium finished ahead of the senior winner.

Veteran ladies winner Sandra Reynolds came home in 41.58. It was the 40 year old’s first race for a year because she has a young child.

The winner of the 3k for the second time running was Lewis Hawkins in the 13-15 Boys category, in a time of exactly ten minutes. Girls’ 13-15 winner was Emma Flude in 12.43.

However she was pipped by the 10-12 girls winner Lauren Clarkson with the Queens’ pupil clocking 12.34. In the 10-12 boys, Ricardo James won in a time of 11.01. West Lodge School pupil Ben Rose-Senior won the 1k boys with a time of 4.06.

Ella Harrington, a pupil at Sacred Heart School in Bushey, won the Under-10 girls race in 4.16. There were 1440 runners taking part which was almost a 30 per cent increase on 2010’s figure.

In total there were 1089 runners registered for the 10k, 101 for the 3k and 250 for the 1k.

Race Director Antony Stivala from Watford Round Table said: “The Watford 10K is Watford Round Table's primary fundraising event. I am very grateful for all the hard work put in by the organising committee to ensure a well-run and well-promoted event. £2000 of sponsorship is already pledged and we hope this will increase significantly by the sponsorship prize deadline of June 3.”

Camelot UK Lotteries Limited, operator of The National Lottery, were the gold sponsor of the event for the third year running.

Sarah Maling, fundraiser from Watford Mencap, said: “Watford Mencap receives no funding from national Mencap so we hope everyone will send in as much sponsorship as possible - there are prizes for people in each age group.

"This race helps us to support 150 children with a learning disability who have fun at our Children’s Centre in North Watford. Round Table has supported us for more than 50 years and we are very grateful to all the Tablers who have worked so hard.”

Matt Adcock led the way for Watford Harriers in 11th spot with a time of 37.55. Zac Mcdonough shrugged off recent injury concerns to come 20th in 38.49.

Colin Hamlet was 142nd in 47.15 but just managed to pip Mcdonough in the age gradings. Angela Cory completed the run in 63.32.

In the junior races, Josh Davies clocked 11.38 for fourth in the 3K followed by Peter Noren in tenth with 12.03. Jake Adcock took 14.30 and Benjamin Timothy was home in 14.36.

In the 1K race, a dramatic sprint finish just saw Francesco Rodrigues pipped at the post as he lost by one second in 4.07 ahead of Finlay Lawrence in 4.51, Isaiah Tinothy (6.53) and Katherine Cox (6.50).