THE start of the cross-country season heralds the coming of winter. The opening meeting of the Southern League was hosted by Basingstoke & Mid-Hants AC and Farnham Runners were amongst the many clubs competing in Pamber Forest, near Tadley.

The five-mile course, through woods and fields, was relatively flat for this league, but those without trail shoes will now have them on their shopping list.

Runners who started at an easy pace enjoyed overtaking in the latter stages and, typical of the relaxed and friendly atmosphere that makes this league special, there was the reward of hot dogs and cakes afterwards.

Farnham finished an excellent third overall out of 24 clubs, with the men’s team third and the ladies fourth. This consistency gave them the high overall placing.

Strong-running Richard Lovejoy led Farnham home with a superb third place out of 229 finishers.

James Clarke was close behind in tenth and Andrew Ellison came 20th, while Tom Page picked up 27th on his club debut. Charlie Hill-Venning was the final scorer in 41st.

Giving good support were Stuart Haig (43rd), newcomer Matthew Morgan (46th) and Richard Strode (53rd).

Kayleigh Copeland forged ahead for Farnham ladies and finished 11th, with Emma Pearson, 17th, and Eloise Stradling, 24th, completing the scoring trio.

Then came Vicki Clarke in 34th, Lindsay Bamford 39th and Linda Tyler 43rd.

Other Farnham placings: men – Neil Ambrose 76, John Phillips 88, Terry Copeland 94, John Hill-Venning 119, Craig Tate-Grimes 159, Terry Steadman 160, Darren Carins 175, Damian Probett 181, Spencer Barfield 222; ladies – Jane Georghiou 58, Anne Snelson 60, Sue Taylor 69, Tara Hunt 72, Tori Slump 78, Kay Copeland 87, Becky Martin 93, Mary Denise Fitzgerald 96, Pauline Hamilton 135, Susan McKenzie 136, Jacquie Ashley-Collins 161, Georgi Welch 165.