THE tenth race in the Hampshire Road Race League series, the Eastleigh 10K, has the largest entry, with over 2,300 runners taking on one of fastest routes in the south – flat, with only one hill, and a nice downhill section.

First home for Alton Runners was Chris Sandy in a time of 42mins 09secs, giving him a creditable 190th.

He was followed by Philip Scrase in 201st (42-23), Michael Pearce 288th (46-31), Jeff Smart 339th (50-04), Richard Scrase 389th (55-48) and Terry Newman 425th (1-04-04).

First Alton lady to finish was Jane Scrase in 143rd (53-04). Then came Caroline Freeman in 150th (53-28), Michelle White 158th (53-52), Harinder Boparai 161st (54-04) and Jenny French 320th (1-16-17).

The Alton women’s A team are currently seventh overall in the A Division Two and the B team lie 14th in the B Division One. The men’s A are tenth overall in the A Division Two and the B team are 14th in B Division Two.

Alton Runners previously competed in the ninth Hampshire Road Race League meeting at Salisbury. This is a popular and scenic ten-mile run, with over 700 runners taking part.

Alton results: men – Alistair Morey 75th (1-05-08), Philip Scrase 104th (1-09-42), John Arbury 147th (1-14-46), Jim Armitage 148th (1-16-10), Michael Pearce 159th (1-16-17, 1st in age group), Michael Sennett 160th (1-16-27), Terry Newman 216th (1-34-32), Richard Scrase 218th (1-37-20); ladies – Diane Byrne 32nd (1-15-53), Naomi Shaylor 39th (1-18-07), Rossella Guidetti 79th (1-27-23), Jane Scrase 87th (1-28-17), Harinder Boparai 100th (1-30-53), Caroline Freeman 108th (1-33-28), Jenny French 152nd (2-18-31).

An Alton Runners group used the Fleet Half Marathon as part of their preparation for the big London Marathon.

Cheered on by the large crowds, Vicky Bishop finished 431st in 1hr 34mins 05secs and was followed by Naomi Shaylor in 772nd (1-41-15), Claire Cheminade 1,289th (1-50-55), Rossella Guidetti 1,506th (1-55-06), Susan Bryan 1,514th (1-55-15), Karen Mason 1,742nd (1-58-55) and Amy Panther 1,877th (2-01-57).

The next Hampshire Road Race meeting is the Alton ‘10’ on May 8. For entry information, view the website www.altonrunners.co.uk