AN increasingly popular Alton cross-country event enjoyed great success this weekend despite one of its races running into problems.

Now in its 21st year, the Alton 10k Downland Challenge counted 348 entries, 52 up on the previous year.

Of these, 300 people actually turned up for the race, with 50 of these running in the shorter 5k run.

Starting from Anstey Park at 10-30 am, the runners faced a tough multi-terrain course that took them through Holybourne and across unspoiled downland, passing an old Roman road and the Pilgrims Way and running through a nature reserve before heading back into Alton to finish at the park.

The times in the 5k battle were considered very fast.

Robert Day, 17, won in 18.21, with the considerably younger Scott Legg, 13, missing out on the top slot by only a second. Third place went to Ollie Halford, who at the tender age of just 12 set a blistering time of 20.26.

The results of the main 10k event, however, were a little harder to determine.

According to race secretary Dave Crocker, there was confusion shortly after the race begun as to which way the course went.

"Unfortunately," he told The Herald this week, "the front runners went the wrong way."

He does not know whether the mix-up was down to bad marshalling, inadequate signs or just over-zealousness on the part of the runners.

One third of the competitors finished the race after covering just seven kilometres, while another third overshot the required distance by two kilometres. The remaining runners, it is thought, completed the race after covering the full 10 kilometres.

Despite the confusion, Tony Lambert was deemed to be the winner, with Richard Bachelor and Craig Grant respectively taking second and third.

Organised by Alton Runners and Alton Lions, who use the entry fees to aid local charities, the event is considered one of the premier runs in the south. As one of the first races of the cross-country season, top class runners come from across the country to compete.

Mr Crocker expressed his anxiety that Sunday's mix-up might affect the growing popularity of the race.

"What we're doing," he said, "is writing an apology to all of the 10k runners and offering them half of their fee back." (AD41-59-04)