TWENTY-nine Farnham Runners travelled to the coast to take part in the sixth Hampshire Road League event of the season, the Stubbington 10k.

Now in its 35th year, it is known for it fast, flat course with few inclines, so it draws a competitive field of 2,000 entrants. After the start in Stubbington village it winds along country lanes and finishes along scenic coastal roads.

Conditions were pleasant, not too cold but with a buffeting side wind that would have affected runners’ pace at times.

Three from the club were prize winners, while a further four placed sixth or seventh in their age category, impressive in such a high-quality field.

The men’s A team consolidated their position in the top division, coming sixth of ten teams and staying sixth on aggregate. They were led in by a strong James Clarke, whose excellent 34 minutes 57 seconds put him 26th of 1,789 finishers. Next, Matt Saker was delighted with his prize for coming second M50 with a new personal best of 36.39.

Harvey Wickham took 19 seconds from his previous best in 38.58. Neil Ambrose also ducked under 40 minutes in 39.31 to complete the A squad. This quartet made up an identical A team in 2019.

Keith Marshall, sixth M60, clocked 41.46, followed by Justin Clarke, seventh M60, in 42.21, taking a massive three minutes 22 seconds from his previous best. Damian Probett, sixth M55, and Tim Farrant also improved in 42.38 and 43.05 respectively to help the club’s B team score.

There was an incomplete C team of Steve Bailey (43.55), along with John Phillips (48.27) and Ali Hardaway (48.29) who were both taking it easy while recovering from colds.

For the ladies, Gabriella Hitchcock took almost a minute from her previous personal best for an impressive 41.29, as 23rd lady and sixth senior lady. Linda Tyler was first F55 with a fine 45.39, with Jane Georghiou first F65 in 48.49. This A team came ninth of ten clubs in division one on the day. They lie ninth on aggregate, so need good results in the remaining six events to avoid relegation.

The ladies B team consisted of Kerrianne Cartwright-Forbes (51.27), Clair Bailey (53.28) and Vicky Goodluck (55.34). Helen Bracey (55.43), Emma Campbell (55.48) and Hannnah Bence (57.30, personal best by three minutes) made up the C team, with Tina Harrison (1.00.16), Jane Probett (1.01.33), Alison Yearsley (1.01.14), Claire Arnott (1.01.40), Julia Tagg (1.03.00), Susan MacKenzie (1.03.32), Sally Kerr (1.06.10), Jackie Wilkinson (1.07.20) and Jacquie Browne (1.10.10) in support.

The following week there was a massive record turn-out of 52 Farnham Runners for the fifth of the six Southern Cross-Country League fixtures. Thirty of them were ladies, some racing for the first time.

Organised by Alton Runners, for the second year the race took place at the scenic venue of Chawton House. The five-miler was mostly on grassland around the estate, steep undulations making it a challenging course. Frozen divots before the race had softened by the 11am start and the ground was soft with muddy patches with one large, deep puddle that couldn’t be avoided.

Farnham Runners’ ladies came second and the men eighth, which gave them fifth overall out of 24 teams.

Newcomer Hamish Maclean gave an impressive performance in his first race in club colours, finishing fifth and giving the team a huge boost.

Charlie Hill-Venning ran strongly for 50th place, with Stuart Haig in 63rd keeping ahead of Neil Ambrose in 68th. A rejuvenated Charles Ashby skipped round for 83rd, with Colin Addison 87th and Nick Hitchcock 88th not far back.

Gabriella Hitchcock ran a season’s best ninth, with Louise Granell in 12th and Kayleigh Copeland in 17th giving the ladies their excellent ranking of second. Linda Tyler (37th), Sue Taylor (47th) and Lindsay Bamford (51st) were the next three.

Other placings:

Men: John Phillips 110th, John Hill-Venning 126th, Mike Taylor 133rd, Terry Copeland 140th, Steve Bailey 147th, Justin Clarke 150th, Adam Harrison 157th, Damian Probett 193rd, Richard Denby 200th, Tom Geyton 211th, Ali Hardaway 215th, Craig Tate-Grimes 225th, Clive Frostick 228th, Geoff Brown 240th, Ian Loader 264th.

Ladies: Jane Georghiou 62nd, Caleigh Smith 66th, Kay Copeland 82nd, Marisa Luttrell 83rd, Gill Iffland 86th, Tori Shaw 93rd, Vicky Goodluck 99th, Kathy Brown 110th, Jane Allen 115th, Clair Bailey 121st, Amanda Muir 124th, Penny Schnabel 125th, Helen Bracey 126th, Alison Yearsley 127th, Jane Probett 142nd, Pauline Hamilton 154th, Claire Arnott 156th, Tina Harrison 163rd, Georgi Welch 186th, Jacquie Browne 190th, Carolyn Wickham 194th, Jackie Wilkinson 195th, Anna Samuel 203rd, Kate Parry-Shield 204th.