RYDE Harriers staged two major annual races on the Isle of Wight for the Easter bank holiday — the Newport to Ryde and the West Wight Three Hills — with runners having to cope with the searing heat.

TeamSpy’s Matt Sharp demonstrated his credentials as the Island’s top runner by winning the 87th Newport to Ryde race on Saturday, which got under way from Quay Street.

Matt finished the run in 45mins 9secs — a competitive time in temperatures of around 26C.

Isle of Wight County Press: Matt Sharp, of TeamSpy, won the Newport to Ryde race by ten seconds in the heat. FILEMatt Sharp, of TeamSpy, won the Newport to Ryde race by ten seconds in the heat. FILE

But it was not plain sailing for him, beating last year’s unattached Isle of Wight Marathon winner, Gary Marshall, by ten seconds.

The third Islander home was Isle of Wight Road Runners (IWRR) athlete Michael Douglas (49.04).

The fastest Harrier in was Adam Tuck (50.22), who came sixth, with Charlie Metcalfe (50.32), of Lake, also a Harrier, the fastest woman, who came seventh overall.

Among the other Island clubs, Jason Rudgard (51.46), was the quickest member of the West Wight Road Runners, finishing 12th, as he was in the Three Hills cross-country race (57.41) to come 16th.

Dylan Holdsworth, of the Isle of Wight Athletic Club (54.41), came 25th overall and was first junior home.

Richard Bulmer (58.29), of Wight Tri, came 35th, among the 136 finishers.

Sam Metcalfe enjoyed the West Wight Three Hills — winning it in 49.14.

It proved to be a good time for the Isle of Wight Athletic Club runner, beating his nearest rival, Jack Grundy, of TeamSpy (50.42), by some margin.

Stuart Backhouse, of the IWRR, was the third-fastest Islander, in 55.22, to finish fifth.

The first Harrier home was Les Cupis (55.50), of Niton, who came eighth, with Julie King (1.07.18), the first female Harrier to finish.

Isle of Wight County Press: Members of the West Wight Running Club who took on the Easter runs.Members of the West Wight Running Club who took on the Easter runs.

There were a number of unattached runners who took part, including Freshwater-registered Edward Raymond, who completed it in 56.54, to finish 12th.

Wight Tri’s Craig Wilson, in 20th, was his club’s first finisher in 58.46.

The event saw 151 finishers, which included a number of runners with mainland athletic and running clubs.

For full results from both races, follow the link on the Ryde Harriers website: http://www.rydeharriers.co.uk/results/