Despite facing gale-force winds gusting up to 50 knots, Stephen Allen powered to a personal best time to win the 18th Annual Ed Sherlock Five Mile Road Race yesterday.He improved upon his second-place spot last year, comfortably claiming victory in 28 minutes and 34 seconds, which was more than half-a-minute faster than he ran a year ago.In the women’s race Victoria Fiddick mirrored Allen’s success as she also went from runner-up spot a year ago to overall winner this time around.In far from perfect conditions, many competitors saw their finishing times dented by a westerly gale that punished athletes during the first half of the race along Middle Road.In places the gusts were enough to momentarily stop runners in their tracks. But it wasn’t enough to stop current Butterfield and Vallis 5K champion Allen, who surged to the front of the field at the start and by the end had stretched his lead to almost three minutes.Afterwards he credited fast tempo training sessions as a key reason for his much-improved racing performances of late. He was followed across the line by Gerd Balon in 31.10 and Craig Rothwell in 31.28.Women’s champion Fiddick is gearing up for a half-marathon in New York City next month.She found herself mostly alone on the course as she battled the wind, coming home in 33.16 to beat Catherine Mello, who clocked 34.48, and Christina Dotson who ran 35.00.First walker home was Andrea Bolley in 56.11.The race started and finished at the Southampton Rangers clubhouse, and was organised by Swan’s Running Club. Legendary May 24 Half Marathon six-time champion Ed Sherlock turned up to congratulate yesterday’s competitors.Sherlock, who will celebrate his 80th birthday later this year, first won the Island’s signature May 24 road race in 1956 and went on to become the first person to achieve five consecutive victories as he chalked up wins from 1958 to 1962.He commended all those who took part in yesterday’s race regardless of the weather, and told a story of how he and other runners in one of the May 24 Derby events from half-a-century ago had likewise opted to race despite adverse weather.Age category winners:Women: (junior) Gabrielle Arnold 38.28; (open) Catherine Mello 34.48; (master) Victoria Fiddick 33.16; (senior master) Cynthia Thomas 46.54; (over-60) Margaret Burgess-Howie.Men: (junior) Jack Keyes 34.17; (open) Stephen Allen 28.34; (master) William Wood 31.46; (senior master) Wayne Dill 40.30; (over-60) Eddie Fisher 35.50.