FARNHAM Runners, for the first time, were invited to enter a team into the South Downs Way 100-mile relay.

The 18-leg race, now in its 30th year, is exclusively for running clubs by invitation.

Teams of six runners each ran three non-consecutive legs of around five to seven hilly miles throughout the day. The Farnham squad left town at 4.30am to start the first leg from Beachy Head at 7.30am.

Pitted against 58 other teams, the day was as much a logistical challenge as a running race, with the team minibus negotiating narrow lanes and other team buses to get the next runner in place at the start of each leg to take the baton.

The Farnham team comprised Matt Dellar, Stuart Williamson, Rob Gilchrist, Ian Carley, Gerald Wyatt and Richard Lovejoy.

“Their motivation to do well was underlined as each member took the trouble to recce their routes – invaluable to avoid errors on the day” said team captain Dellar. “We are indebted to club members Craig Tate Grimes and Cyra Parkes who undertook the driving and navigating to each changeover point.”

After a day of very close racing, Farnham were delighted to reach the finish in Winchester in seventh place with a time of 12hrs 02mins 12secs in the ‘A’ team category, ahead of local rivals Liss Runners. They narrowly missed out on a local derby trophy ‘The Jumps Cup’ put up by their close rivals Haslemere Border AC.