WHILE those back home were turning up the central heating, a team of Haslemere Border Athletics Club runners set off for warmer climes to take part in the annual Valencia running festival, which incorporates a marathon and a 10k race.

Held in the historic Spanish city with its entirely flat course and perfect November temperature of 17C, Valencia is the ideal setting for achieving a personal best time.

The marathon route is mainly suburban, avoiding the city, with a scenic stretch along the coast and finishing at the stunning Museo de las Ciencias Principe Felipe. It attracted five Haslemere athletes who competed against some of the elite runners from around the world.

With a new Spanish marathon record set during the race, there were also some notable achievements from the Haslemere runners.

Roger Cripps smashed his target of a sub-three hours 30 minutes time by finishing in an amazing time of 3.24.29, an incredible six minutes faster than his previous best effort.

Lari Williams, competing in only her second marathon, having run her first in Edinburgh in May, ran 4.29.26 for another new personal best.

Other runners included Daniel Allaway (3.10.39), Helen Barran (3.19.42) and Lauren Dover (3.45.56).

In the 10k race, which was being run in tandem with the marathon for the last time, there was a fitting finish in the shape of a new world record for a road race by Joshua Cheptegei in 26.38, having just won the 10,000m at the World Championships in Doha, Qatar.

Representing Haslemere Border in the race, and up against this stiff competition, was Peter Varnes and Debbie Parry. Peter finished in a sub-one-hour time of 58.02 and Debbie Parry, having found her mojo in Valencia, finished in 1.37.39.

This weekend was also a busy time for athletes competing in a number of events closer to home.

The Running Grand Prix at Goodwood motor circuit, incorporating a variety of distances, saw club runners competing in myriad events, with all achieving tremendous success for themselves and the club.

In the 5k race, Josh Wrexford finished in 18 minutes 35 seconds and secured fifth place, while Katie Simmonds ran superbly to finish as second lady in 21.23.

The 10k race produced further success for Haslemere Border as Duncan Selmes won the race in an impressive time of 35.51.

And the marathon saw further impressive accomplishments with David Jarrett reaching his target of a sub-three-hour time, finishing alongside fellow club runner Jon Fairs in 2.56.47. Rob Webb completed the course in 4.17.23.

Elsewhere, the club was represented at the popular Hogs Back Road Race by Cairon Pearson and Caroline Snape. The race, hosted by Guildford and Godalming AC, is now in its 59th year and follows an 11.4-kilometre course around the Loseley Estate and over the Hogs Back before heading back to Loseley. With the course mapping the shape of a ‘Hog’ to match the prestigious hog-shaped medal, Cairon finished in 1.06.37 and Caroline in 1.12.04.

And Bourne Woods was the setting for the third race of the Southern Cross Country League. Despite many runners competing elsewhere, there was still an excellent turnout from Haslemere Border which saw the team secure tenth place for the men’s team, sixth place for the women, and seventh overall.

Donna Reid was first home for the ladies, followed by Philomel Bennet and Rachel Selmes, Sian Dixon, Susie Adams, Lisa Blayden, Claire Beswick, Helen Spandley, Anne-Marie Greenaway, Leone Major, Patsy Davis and Debbie Parry.

Mike Cathcart led the men’s team home followed by Lawrie Baker, Chris Wood, Dean Kellaway, Charlie Barwick, Tim Wishaw, Alaistair Doyle, John Dickinson and Dave Card.