THE week-long No Rest for the Wicked running league is drawing to a conclusion but the half-marathon class remains very finely balanced.

James Read, who has had an excellent week and is the clear leader of the marathon class, won Thursday evening’s Foxdale Five, hosted by Manx Harriers.

His time of 27min 44sec puts him more than 11 minutes clear of David Williams in the marathon standings, with Jonathan Pugh third. Jayne Farquhar is even further ahead in the women’s contest.

Jordan Cain was runner-up on the night in his first appearance of the week, 38s down on Read and 16s ahead of Reggie Oasgood in third, but the fascinating contest between Nick Colburn and Liam Parker for the half-marathon league title raged on.

The pair were absolutely level after three rounds (including the opening 13.1-mile half marathon itself) and Colburn nosed one second ahead in Wednesday evening’s Killer Mile at Douglas Head.

But Ramsey electrician Parker finished sixth in the Foxdale race, two seconds ahead of his great rival, to lead Colburn by one second going into this evening (Friday’s) closing leg, the 6.8-mile Western AC trail race.

Christa Cain made it four wins from four in the evening events, finishing fourth overall ahead of leading over-55 Mike Garrett, but as she did not contest the opening race last Sunday, the defending women’s champion will not count in the series.

That looks almost certain to go to Kirsty Barber of Western AC who won the opening half and has been runner-up to Cain each evening (best of the league women). She was 15th overall last night, 1m 22s ahead of teenager Elena Caley who has had a great week. She looks equally assured of finishing runner-up.

The trail race begins at 7pm from the rear of Moore’s kipper yard on the quay. Entries on the night will be accepted from 6pm.

The No Rest series is sponsored by Bell Burton Associates, chartered quantity surveyors.

Leading results - Foxdale Five, Thursday: 1, James Read (Unattached) 27min 44sec; 2, Jordan Cain (Manx Harriers) 28:22; 3, Reggie Oasgood (U/t) 28:33; 4, Christa Cain (IOM Veteran Athletes’ Club) 28:49; 5, Mike Garrett (IOMVAC) 28:58; 6, Liam Parker (U/t) 29:00; 7, Nick Colburn (Manx Fell Runners) 29:02; 8, Tom Murray (U/t) 29:45; 9, David James (U/t) 29:48; 10, Matt Callister (MFR) 30:16; 11, David Williams (IOMVAC) 30:31; 12, Mark Corkish (Western AC) 31:46; 13, Ian Bulley (WAC) 31:48; 14, Shaun Chambers (Salford Harriers) 31:50; 15, Kirsty Barber (WAC) 31:54; 16, Patrick Cuthbert (Wallasey AC) 32:13; 17, Tom Hughes (MFR) 32:25; 18, Geoff Rice (WAC) 32:47; 19, Jeffrey Moore (MFR) 33:02; 20, Elena Caley (MH) 33:16; 21, Stephen Schuster (IOMVAC) 33:21; 22, Richard Highfield (Northern AC) 33:23; 23, Michael Faid (WAC) 33:28; 24, Al Graham (U/t) 33:30; 25, Andrew Falconer (MH) 33:32; 26, James Grant (IOMVAC) 33:34; 27, Paul Rodgers (MH) 33:36; 28, Jonathan Pugh (WAC) 34:26; 29, Laura Dickinson (MH) 35:23; 30, Nik Cain (U/t) 35:37. There were 139 finishers.