FARNHAM Runners had a big turn-out of 44 for the Southern Cross-Country League race at Lord Wandsworth.

Many of the runners had taken part in 5km parkruns at Rushmoor and Alice Holt the previous day.

Running while trying to stay upright in the glutinous mud was not easy, but Ian Carley skipped over the surface and up the two steep hills for an impressive 20th place in this competitive race.

Rob Gilchrist was second home for Farnham in 35th, while Michael Haines, making a fine comeback to racing, was 49th. Cross-country captain Matt Dellar followed in 57th and Ben Roseveare completed the scoring team of five men in 59th.

Not far back were Neil Ambrose in 66th, Colin Addison 81st, Stuart Haig 83rd, Mark Maxwell 87th and Mike Taylor 97th.

For the Farnham ladies, a determined Eloise Stradling finished 18th and the improving Kayleigh Copeland was close behind in 21st. Emma Whittaker-Axon was the final scorer, marking her return to the club with a valuable 31st place.

Then came Gabi Hitchcock in 36th, Emma Pearson 39th, Lindsay Bamford 44th and Linda Tyler 47th.

The ladies were fifth team out of 23 clubs, while the men were seventh. This gave the club a useful fifth place overall and sends them to fifth in the series.

Other Farnham placings: men – Nick Hitchcock 105, Ian Marshall 106, John Hill-Venning 113, John Phillips 116, Barney Whiter 120, Terry Copeland 140, Ali Hardaway 141, Haywood Drake 158, Andrew Laming 166, Keith Marshall 192, Nick Hill 195, Tim Farrant 198, Terry Steadman 209, Michael Williamson 242, Damien Probett 247, Peter Strange 280; ladies – Jane Georghiou 55, Fiona Carle 62, Anne Snelson 77, Kay Copeland 87, Mary Denise Fitzgerald 89, Kate Townsend 102, Sue Taylor 136, Becky Martin 148, Shirley Perrett 149, Cyra Parkes 173.