IT was a very special day for Haslemere Border AC. After months of preparation, the club finally got to stage their inaugural race in the Southern Cross Country League on Sunday.

This was the last race of the series and the spectacular Devil’s Punch Bowl at Hindhead provided the perfect setting for the 360 runners who turned up.

With HQ at the Royal Senior School, the course took full advantage of the fearsome heathland hills. After an ascent to Gibbet Hill, a long downhill began on the Greensand Way before veering off along a stony, uneven and then sandy track to reach a compulsory stream crossing.

But what comes down must go up and the savvy knew what was coming. Up, up and up it went before a short descent and final tough incline to the finish.

Haslemere Border made full use of their local knowledge and their combined results made them overall winners on the day.

David Taylor again ran superbly and won the men’s race by a wide margin. The four other scorers were Joe Perkins in third, Colin Butfield eighth, Jon Fairs ninth and Luke Brocks 21st.

Other men’s placings: Lawrie Baker 23rd, Richard Lee 45th, Tom Milns 50th, Andy Webb 51st, Harry Wood 58th, Simon Whitehouse 62nd, John Lewis 78th, John Raynor 92nd, Dave Rutter 94th Tom Whishaw 96th, Dominic Perkins 110th, Marco DiCaprio 120th, Rob Webb 126th, Richard Spandley 131st, Steve Currie 151th, Richard Gillham 158th, John Sanders 173rd, Dave Card 195th, Alastair Doyle 215th.

Jackie Field made a successful return for the club with a fine second place in the women’s race. Border’s other scorers were Sofia Shearring in fourth and Sally Goble in fifth and, not surprisingly, the Haslemere ladies were the overall league winners.

Other placings: Donna Reid 10th, Issy Peters 15th, Sian Dixon 35th, Nuria Wallis 44th, Rachael Barlow 92nd, Becky Taylor 112nd, Caroline Lawlor 117th, Louise Turner 119th, Becca Humphreys 146th.

Club volunteers organised lavish refreshments. After some number-crunching by Jonathan Croucher, the results were announced by Dave Bateman.

Haslemere Border were overall winners on the day, but were pipped by one point for the overall title by Basingstoke & Mid Hants who were presented with the trophy by league co-ordinator Bob Ayer.

Border were grateful to their efficient race director, Andy Wareham, and also to the Royal School for allowing the use of their premises.

Winners three times in the last seven years, Farnham Runners this time finished fourth out of 23 clubs. Their men came third on the day and the ladies seventh, giving a combined result of fourth.

Thirty-six Farnham members turned out and first back for the men was Ian Carley in a fine 15th, with James Warren hot on his heels in 16th. Stuart Taylor came 19th, while Gerald Wyatt (28th) held off final scorer Charles Ashby (31st).

Eloise Stradling again headed Farnham’s ladies in 19th, with Kayleigh Copeland a valuable 25th. Alice Healy was third counter in 34th.

Other Farnham placings: men – Stuart Haig 36, Matt Dellar 38, John Hill-Venning 47, Colin Addison 56, Tim Cummins 61, Rupert Kemp 67, Stuart Williamson 68, Steve Bailey 95, Haywood Drake 97, Hallam Foster 111, Keith Marshall 115, Geoff Brown 122, Peter Chapman 140, Craig Tate-Grimes 155, Damien Probett 167; ladies – Emma Pearson 36, Jane Georghiou 39, Lindsay Bamford 40, Lucy Hogg 43, Kay Copeland 50, Anne Snelson 57, Lina Haines 62, Mary Denise Fitzgerald 74, Tina Harrison 89, Clair Bailey 109, Cyra Parkes 110, Elaine Ashby 111, Kathy Brown 136.

Sarah Hill was women’s runner-up at the Brighton Half Marathon, a prestigious race that had over 8,000 finishers. Her impressive time of 1hr 18mins 22 secs was her best since 2001 and she was first F40 by seven minutes. Her time puts her second on the UK F40 half marathon table for the year. She is currently ranked seventh on the Run Britain National F40 Handicap Ladder.