Farnham Runners’ annual club championships took place on a warm, sunny morning, which was humid but breezy.

It was organised by the club’s race director, Craig Tate-Grimes, who had checked that the run was mostly in the shade and had put out so many signs and arrows that no-one could possibly get lost.

A water station that the runners passed twice was manned by Neil Ambrose and Carolyn Wickham, who had also brought along a water spray – a “life-saver” in the conditions.

The route of approximately 10km was the same as since the championships began in 1991.

Age group records are kept, but the high temperature ensured none could be broken this year. The usual trophies to be won for each ten-year age group were on display.

Champion for the past five years, James Clarke retained his senior title and took the overall men’s trophy in a time of 37.10. Next to finish in the same category were Joe Collins in 38.02 and Joe Lee in 40.53, who both tackled the hilly course for the first time.

Nick Grist was the winner of the M40 category in 42.16.

Colin Addison was just over a minute back in 43.38 to take the M60 trophy, with second M60 Chris Raby less than a minute behind him in 44.34.

Louise Granell was the first female home in 46.09 – taking the overall ladies’ trophy as well as the F35 shield.

Richard Denby finished in 47.22 and was presented with the M50 shield. Andy Brown was the second M50 in 47.49, Ivan Chunnett was the second M40 in 48.12 and Emma Pearson was the first F45 in 48.17.

James Goodwin was the third M50 in 49.06 and Mike Carter was the third M60 in 49.39. Linda Tyler was first in the F55 category, finishing in 51.11. Sue Taylor was the second F45 in 53.42, Lindsay Bamford was second F55 in 54.57, and new member Gemma Whitehouse finished in 57.29. F65 Jane Georghiou crossed the line in 57.50, just ahead of third F45 Colette Grist in 57.59.

Steve Collings clocked exactly one hour, followed by newcomer Candy Waller in her first 10km race in 1:00.10.

Becky Martin and Sally Lawrence finished in 1:00.58 and 1:09.14 respectively.

A huge cheer went up as M70 Robert Drummond crossed the line in 1:15.30, with tail runner Tori Shaw following. Chairman Nicola O’Connor thanked Craig and all the marshals and helpers, and congratulated the runners for completing the race in tough conditions before presenting the trophies.

New members of Farnham Runners recently completed the ten-week Get Me Started introduction to running course. The course was co-ordinated by coach Linda Tyler, with help from coaches Craig Tate-Grimes and Julia Tagg and leaders Jacquie Browne and Lindsay Bamford, with support from Louise Granell and Jackie Wilkinson.

The new runners began by running intervals of just one-and-a-half minutes at a time.

Over the course of the ten weeks they gradually ran for longer, until the last session when they managed to run for 30 minutes without stopping.

As well as meeting on a Wednesday evening at the clubhouse and running around the Bourne Woods, the beginners were also supported at the Alice Holt Forest parkrun every Saturday morning during the course.

The runners will now be able to access everything the club has to offer its members – from speed and interval training sessions at the military stadium in Aldershot and on a designated track line at Farnham Park, to group runs from the clubhouse on the Bourne Green.

The next course will start in April 2024.

Jane Georghiou and Linda Tyler