BASINGSTOKE and Mid Hants Athletic Club hosted the Southern cross-country race at Pamber Forest near Tadley – and 23 running clubs turned out to support their teams.

Among them were the familiar yellow and black colours of Alton Runners as 27 club members lined up at the start to tackle the single-lap route through forest, fields, tracks and footpaths.

The weather was kind to those racing after days of heavy rain and made for perfect cross-country running conditions.

Alton Runners member Richard Taylor said: “There were several fallen trees and plenty of mud to contend with. For me the best part was a fast-flowing stream crossing near the end, as it meant finishing the race with remarkably clean shoes!”

The stream seemed to be a favourite element of the course for many runners who wasted no time in jumping straight in.

One Alton runner taking it slightly more gently was 79-year-old long-time club member Terry Blake. On being told he still looked fresh and full of energy as he came up the hill toward the finish, he replied: “Yes, that’s because I walked most of the way!”

Alex Hall and Rob Day found no time to walk, finishing 41st and 46th respectively and helping the men’s team claim eighth place.

Laura De Lisle and Kat Barratt took the ninth and 19th spots to put the women’s team in seventh position and help Alton Runners land themselves an impressive sixth place out of 23 running clubs.

New member Mark Walsh described his first club race as an “exceptional experience” and supporter Helen Chapman summed things up as “a beautiful day, a great turnout for the club, and really great running by everybody. 4.6 miles of smiles”.