THE season’s Southern Cross-Country League fixtures kicked off with a challenging five-miler at Pamber Forest, a site of Special Scientific Interest near Tadley.

The course had everything expected of a cross-country – hills, mud, puddles, forest trails, gravel tracks, sections around fields, logs to climb or jump over, two streams to cross, and a lung-busting ascent to the finish with a gradually increasing gradient.

Farnham Runners fielded a team of 29 and James Clarke was a delighted winner of the race, first of more than 500 finishers. This result helped the men to a fine third place of 24 clubs, with Charlie Hill-Venning (27th), Maciek Hulme (32nd), Harvey Wickham (38th) and Neil Ambrose (60th) all finishing in the scoring positions.

First for the Farnham ladies was Gabi Hitchcock in a useful 31st place. With some key players missing it was up to stalwarts Lindsay Bamford in 43rd and Jane Georghiou in 62nd to complete the scoring for the team which came 13th. This gave an overall tally of seventh for the club.

Other placings: Men: Ali Hardaway 82nd, Terry Copeland 102nd, Richard Strode 120th, John Hill-Venning 124th, Tim Cummins 129th, Chris Cramp 133rd, Justin Clarke 135th, John Phillips 161st, Tom Geyton 173rd, Damian Probett 174th, Adam Harrison 192nd, Craig Tate-Grimes 197th, James Goodwin 205th, Keith Toms 267th, Steve Bailey 268th.

Ladies: Kay Copeland 82nd, Caleigh Smith 90th, Clair Bailey 120th, Sue Taylor 121st, Tina Harrison 144th, Jane Probett 148th.

The previous Sunday, Farnham Runners took part in events far and wide, including two marathons, with such excellent results it could be dubbed a ‘super Sunday’ for the club!

Sarah Hill and Billy (Sarah) McCulloch had been selected for their age group in the England Masters’ team for the York marathon and both were over the moon with their results. Sarah clocked an amazing two hours 52 minutes 19 seconds as second lady overall to go third on the F45 UK marathon rankings for 2019, 18th on the all-time UK F45 list, not to mention beating her own ladies’ club record with a new personal best time.

In her fourth marathon, Billy was delighted to take 14-and-a-half minutes from her previous best and deduct 38 minutes since her first marathon just over two years ago. Her time of 3.30.41 placed her eighth in the F50 category. She put her success down to “setting a vision, making a plan, sheer determination and hard work in sticking to your plan, reviewing your plan and being honest with yourself, discipline, reaching out to others for support, picking yourself up when you wobble and most importantly having fun and enjoying what you do”.

She added: “Course highlights for me were the Scottish bagpipe bands and a local priest who gave up his time to high five and cheer on the runners.”

Seven Farnham Runners tackled the Abingdon marathon, renowned for its fast, flat route. They were rewarded with some excellent times, many taking a huge chunk from their previous best, and put their success down to following rigorous training plans. The first two back for the local club were Andy McCall in 3.08.19 and Neil Ambrose in 3.20.30, both deducting nearly ten minutesfrom their personal best times.

Next was Emma Pearson in 3.22.20, delighted to clock a personal best by nearly three minutes to place fourth in the F45 category.

Simon Carson Jones and John Phillips recorded very good times of 3.22.55 and 3.25.58 respectively. In his sixth marathon, Chris Cramp was overjoyed to achieve his sub-three-and-a-half hour target by recording 3.29.07 and a new personal best by almost seven minutes.

“I think a relaxed start to the race and a recent ten-day training programme in Portugal both helped me,” he said.

Harvey Wickham was pleased with a new personal best by more than minutes of 3.30.28.

In the 20,000-runner field of the Great South Run (ten miles around Portsmouth), Matt Saker was 158th finisher and fourth M50 in an excellent 1.01.18, followed by Nicholas Haire (1.16.53), Damian Probett (1.34.51) accompanying Jane Probett (1.34.53, personal best by 11 minutes), Hayley Clayton (1.37.27) and Claire Arnott (1.43.24).

Nearer to home, three Farnham Runners chose the off-road 10k Alton Downland Challenge, which was particularly muddy and with some sections underwater this year.

All were prize winners: Terry Copeland 14th overall and second M60 in 46.54, Justin Clarke 20th finisher and third M60 in 47.49 and first F55, Kay Copeland in 56.52.