Earlsfield-based Gareth Price successfully retained his Valentine's 10km road running title at Chessington on Sunday.

Price showed he is close to regaining his best form by leading a near 700-strong field from the start, reaching the finish in the grounds of Chessington Community College in 31 minutes eight seconds.

As Price, 28, set a rapid pace, the field behind him strung out and, by the finish, he was more than 400m clear of Dorking & Mole Valley's Nick Hodges (32:35) with Herne Hill's Tim Elsey (33:28) third.

It was a confidence-boosting win for Price who has missed much of the winter due to Achilles tendon problems.

His winning time, albeit in almost ideal racing conditions, was nearly half-a-minute faster than his time 12 months ago, but well outside the 30:17 course record set by the late Ed Prickett in 2003.

"I was pleased to go 26 seconds faster than last year after a similar block of training," said Price, who hopes to close in on his personal best 29:36 at next month's South of England 10km road running championship at Eastleigh.

"Hopefully, that will give me a good base heading into the track season to try and break 3:40 for 1,500m after running 3:41 in the past two years," he added.

South London Harriers' Chris Phelan (34:23) was top veteran, in fourth, followed 10 seconds later by Clapham Chasers' Neil Aitken. Epsom & Ewell's Alex Hawkins was first junior (34:52).

Belgrave's Mike Webb (35:49) and Sutton Runners' Martin Newton (36:32) were second and third veterans.

Unattached runner Paul Sparks (38:32) was first over-50, with South London Harriers' Ken Lee (41:45) first over-60 ahead of Hercules Wimbledon's Peter Giles (42:26).

Sutton Runners' veteran Vicky Foad was first woman (40:20), with Stragglers' veteran Phyllis Flynn (40:39) second and Metropolitan Police's Sarah Williams (40:52) third.

Geraldine Hart of Epsom Allsorts (44:38) was first over-55.

The women's record of 35:42 was set by Epsom & Ewell's Anita Mellowdew in 2003.