OVER 500 entrants, including members of Alton Runners, observed a two-minute silence before the start of the second race of the Southern Cross Country League, held at Queen Elizabeth Country Park on Remembrance Sunday.

The first Alton man home was James Vann in 48th place. He was followed by Alistair Morey in 81st, Chris Sandy 151st, Philip Scrase 156th, Tiziano Tesolin 160th, Michael Pearce 178th, Richard Taylor 197th, Gary Thurtle 202nd, Jim Armitage 203rd, Joaquim Varela 243rd, Dave Molyneux 281st, Terry Newman 289th, Richard Scrase 292nd and Terry Blake 303rd.

Leading the Alton ladies was Naomi Shaylor in 34th. Just behind, in 35th, was Debbie Rhodes and then came Vanessa Lowe in 55th, Jane Scrase 119th, Karen Heiller 150th, Elaine Molyneux 187th, Caroline Freeman 195th and Jenny French 205th.

The Alton team came 12th on the day and are now 14th overall out of the 23 teams.

The previous week, Alton Runners had competed in the fourth race of the Hampshire Road Race League at Lordshill on the outskirts of Southampton, the route taking in part of the Broadlands Estate.

Over 500 runners took part and first home for Alton was Adam Stonehill with a league position of 79th in a time of 1-04-19. Philip Scrase finished 121st in 1-07-43.

The leading Alton lady was Diane Byrne with 1-12-32 for 24th place, while Vanessa Lowe came 42nd in 1-16-11.

Other Alton times: Jim Armitage 1-13-54 185th, Jonathan Read 1-15-01 194th, Michael Pearce 1-15-21 200th, John Arbury 1-15-50 208th, Naomi Shaylor 1-19-43 55th, Fran Light 1-23-29 71st, Rosella Guidetti 1-27-42 84th, Clare Read 1-28-39 89th, Harinder Boparai 1-33-08 108th, Jane Scrase 1-37-07 120th, Ann Henshaw 1-40-05 127th, Caroline Freeman 1-55-06 146th, Terry Newman 1-55-06 285th.

Provisional Alton team results: A League – ladies A 3rd (4th overall) in Div 2; men’s A 9th (8th overall) in Div 2. B League – ladies B 6th (13th overall) in Div 1; men’s B 12th (11th overall) in Div 2.

For information about the Alton Runners club, visit the website: www.altonrunners.co.uk