October 18 2004: MATT O'DOWD cruised to victory in the Swindon half-marathon yesterday but it might be the last time his home town fanbase see him in action for a while.

After winning the event in a time of 1 hour, 11 minutes and 18 seconds, the 28-year-old confirmed he will be keeping a low profile next year and sacrificing an appearance at the World Athletic Championships so he can bid for double glory in 2006.

O'Dowd hopes to compete in the marathon at both the European and Commonwealth championships in two years and aims to put his feet up over the next 12 months to avoid burning himself out prior to the events.

The Olympian will not be completely redundant, aiming to run in Japan early next year, but he will be giving championship racing a wide berth.

He said: "I'm planning to take it fairly easy next year, keep it low key and probably not take part in the World Championships.

"Over the winter I'll be looking to get fit doing some cross country and the next aim after that is the Japanese marathon in February.

"2006 is going to be a big year with the Euros and the Commonwealths so I want to be going into those events fresh."

O'Dowd finished nearly a minute ahead of second-placed Brian Gardner in Swindon's biggest road race since the 1983 marathon.

Nathan Montague was third, a further two and a half minutes behind.

The time was modest by O'Dowd's standards, but he admitted the 13-mile course, which ran around the Marlborough Downs, proved a major test.

"I considered this event to be part of my training so I had to take it seriously," said O'Dowd, who finished 50th in the marathon at the Athens Olympics this year.

"The time wasn't brilliant, but it was a tough course, particularly with the strong wind.

"But it was a great event and even the stragglers coming through at the end all had smiles on their faces."

Giulietta Vitale-Cumper was the first woman home in 1 hour 33.

She said: "This is my greatest ever achievement.

"It was a fantastic experience and I have recorded a personal best.

"I wasn't feeling good before the race so I can't believe I've won.

"I was put under a lot of pressure and I didn't realise I was in the lead for a long time.

"I've got a cracking instructor and it's really thanks to him that I have done so well."

SWINDON HALF MARATHON TOP 10 FINISHERS:

1 Matt O'Dowd (1:11.18), 2 Brian Gardner (1:12.15), 3 Nathan Montague (1:14.50), 4 Anthony Davis (1:17.16), 5 Stephen Goulding (1:17.39), 6 Derek Stevens (1:17.39), 7 Mark Ball (1:20.21), 8 Neil Richards (1:21.17), 9 Kyle Henley (1:21.17), 10 Peter Molesy (1:21.18).