Despite heavy rain in the morning, over 70 runners turned up for Haslemere & Border AC's gruelling Gibbet Hill 10k on Wednesday last week.
The six-and-a-bit mile race is an undulating climb for about the first three miles from the starting point at St Christopher's Green in Weyhill, and then up Bunch Lane to the highest point, an impressive 895ft at Gibbet Hill.
Although the sun had come out by the start time, resulting in a beautiful evening over the downs, the rain had left most of the course wet and muddy.
Runners dodging the puddles to begin with, soon gave up, and arrived at the finish streaked with mud.
The second half of the race was a welcome descent down Farnham Lane to the finish on Lion Green, although the impact on calf muscles on the downhill run was just as tough.
Haslemere Border AC runners performed well. Chris Cary won the club's Bill Sykes Trophy as the first HBAC member home, and 17-year-old Matt Cheyney, who was the only Under-20 competitor, was the second Border finisher and 13th overall.
Despite the tough course, the winners did superb times, with James Baker of Chichester Runners coming in at a very respectable 33mins 53secs in the men's race. Jane Georghiou from Farnham Runners (19th overall) clocked an excellent 42mins 44secs for the women.
Overall results: men – 1st, James Baker (Chichester Runners) 33-53; 2nd, Stuart McLay (Serpentine) 35-21; 3rd, Tom Frost (Liss Runners) 36-21. Ladies – 1st (19th), Jane Georghiou (Farnham Runners) 42-44; 2nd (27th), Wendy Lockwood (Dorset Doddlers) 44-29; 3rd (39th), Debbie Bidmead (Midhurst Milers) 46-46.
HBAC finishers: 8th, Chris Cary 39-22; 13th, Matt Cheyney 40-39; 26th, Fred Bush (V55) 44-24; 38th, Roger Ashwood 46-30; 55th, Rebecca Kemp 50-32; 58th, Sue Galley 51-26; 62nd, Anne Notley 53-55; joint 72nd, Helen Futcher & Caroline Walton 59-43.