THE final race of the Southern Cross Country League season was held on a warm sunny Sunday morning, perfect for running, marshalling and spectating.

Hosted by Haslemere Border Athletics Club, the Polecat Valey event is a more than challenging running race, even for experienced runners. Tackling some of the more demanding inclines around the Devil’s Punch Bowl, this year the runners had to navigate the resident Punch Bowl ponies as well as visitors to one of the most beautiful areas of the Surrey Hills under the watchful gaze of race directors Andy Wareham and Clair Green.

The league consists of 24 clubs with runners from clubs such as Alton Runners, Liss Runners and Farnham Runners. With five cross-country runs hosted by differing running clubs across the winter season, the Haslemere-hosted Polecat is the season finale. Border have won the league for the past two previous years but this year they came a close second, pipped to the post by Basingstoke and Mid-Hants.

Duncan Selmes was first man home for the team, in second overall position, followed by Ollie Bradford, Dave Jarrett, Dean Kellaway and Charlie Barwick, while Andy Webb, Roger Cripps, Tim Whishaw, Alastair Doyle, Richard Spandley and Tom Bampton all added vital points for the team’s male runners.

The ladies saw Philomel Bennett come in fifth overall as the first lady back for the club, with Donna Read and Sarah Smith following in the top three ladies home for the club. They were followed by Susie Adams, Rachel Fenwick, Steph Moss, Lari Williams, Rosalind Minto, Lauren Blatherwick, Sarah Bergvist, Carolien Lawler, Tina Laing, and Ann-Marie Greenaway.