FARNHAM Runners achieved encouraging team results in the Haying ten-miler – the third event in the Hampshire Road League calendar.

Organised by Havant Athletics Club, the course first heads north from the coast before turning south again on an off-road section of more than a mile on the track of a disused railway, the Hayling Billy. It then heads west before retracing this route to the start of a mile along the sea front.

A switch of direction back toward the west then saw runners head toward the finish into a noticeable breeze.

After an early start for the 9.30am race, conditions were chilly at the start but soon warmed up in the sunshine, which enhanced some spectacular coastal views for those with time to look.

Farnham Runners came back with three age-group prizes, seven top ten age-group positions and eight personal best times among their 22 entrants.

Uncatchable in the club’s Grand Prix 2019 table, James Clarke chopped 44 seconds from his personal best despite the off-road section and the wind. He placed an excellent eighth of the 592 finishers and second in the M35 category in 58 minutes 34 seconds.

Matt Saker won second prize in the competitive M50 category in 1.02.21 while Harvey Wickham, in 1.05.11, and Neil Ambrose, in 1.09.50, completed the A team score to place them a useful sixth of ten clubs in the top flight.

Steve Bailey shaved more than a minute from his previous best in 1.12.22 to lead in the B team, backed up by Chris Cramp in 1.13.31, Justin Clarke, eighth M60, in 1.14.04, and Damian Probett in 1.18.11 (personal best by more than one minute). This team placed 11th in their division.

Heading the C team was Craig Tate-Grimes, who took 16 seconds from his previous best for 1.18.30, followed by Ali Hardaway, recovering from injury in 1.18.33. The final C team members were Steve Murphy, who finished in 1.24.04, and Keith Toms in 1.34.38.

This team was sixth in B Division Two.

Douglas Blyth was fourth in the M70 category in 1.47.25, beating his own club M75 ten-mile record.

Fourth senior lady, the ever-improving Louise Granell, took almost two minutes off her personal best with a fine time of 1.12.22. Linda Tyler placed sixth in the F50 category with 1.18.30, while Jane Georghiou was first F60 in 1.21.12 to move up to seventh in the UK F65 2019 ten-mile road/multi-terrain table.

Like the Farnham men, the women’s A team came sixth in the top division.

Not far back was Lindsay Bamford in 1.21.52, with Clair Bailey’s 1.34.52 giving her a personal best by 38 seconds and second place in the Farnham Runners’ ladies’ B team. Tina Harrison completed the B score in 1.36.08 which helped the B team into ninth place.

A complete C team of Vicky Goodluck (with a faster gun time) in 1.39.12, Jane Probett in 1.38.56 and Claire Arnott in 1.40.51 gave the club sixth place in B Division Two.

Meanwhile, after the race director warned runners of the usual hazards of slippery mud and tree roots, a two-minute silence was observed before the start of the second round of the Southern Cross-Country League at Queen Elizabeth Country Park, organised by Portsmouth Joggers.

Rain the previous day meant care had to be taken and the steep hills of the five-mile route soon began.

Twenty-eight Farnham Runners of all standards enjoyed the challenge of the course, the beautiful setting and the camaraderie of this league. They were rewarded with a joint fifth placing overall, with the ladies sixth and the men eighth out of the 24 clubs in the league.

Stalwart Charlie Hill-Venning led them in, in 29th of more than 400 finishers. Harvey Wickham, in 37th, got the better Andy McCall in 42nd while John Hill-Venning (63rd) and Neil Ambrose (75th) completed the scoring team.

For the ladies, Louise Granell put in an excellent performance for eighth place, followed by Gabriella Hitchcock in a fine 17th and final scorer Linda Tyler in 42nd. Lindsay Bamford was close behind in 44th, and both she and Linda, as well as Craig Tate-Grimes, ran to and from the event from Petersfield in preparation for a forthcoming marathon and so had covered five miles before the race.

Other placings:

Men: Tim Cummins 120th, Steve Bailey 124th, Justin Clarke 136th, Damian Probett 152nd, Adam Harrison 166th, James Goodwin 202nd, Craig Tate-Grimes 220th, Geoff Brown 259th.

Ladies: Sue Taylor 65th, Jane Georghiou 68th, Catherine Timson 106th (debut), Clair Bailey 126th, Jane Probett 130th, Penny Schnabel 135th (debut), Kathy Brown 166th, Pauline Hamilton 169th, Julia Tagg 171st, Jacquie Browne 182nd, Jackie Wilkinson 194th.