SXCL Alver Valley and HRRL Salisbury 10 miles
SXCL Alver Valley
Farnham Runners enjoyed an excursion to the Alver Valley Country Park, Lee-on the Solent, on Easter Sunday for the final round of the Southern Cross-Country League 2025-26. Sixteen were there to represent the club with the team placing overall joint 4th on the day, the ladies 3rd and the men 6th.
This gave a pleasing final tally for the series of 5th out of the 21 clubs taking part.
It was chilly and windy before the start but the sun came out to enhance the scenic views. The course was a fast one, with a final dash to the finish. Some of it wound through twisty single tracks which still had some mud after being flooded in February when the race had to be postponed.
Chris Carey, 11th, led them in, with Ivan Chunnett 33rd, Richard Steedman 40th and Andy Papworth 59th completing the team score followed by Justin Clarke 72nd and Chris Gill 112nd.
Gabi Hitchcock, 6th, headed the ladies’ team, followed by Linda Tyler 14th, Georgie Abrook 24th and Sue Taylor 27th. Next came Sarah Franklin 32nd, Penny Schnabel 51st, Colette Grist 56th, Jess Lira 67th, Alison Lamb 68th and Jackie Wilkinson 82nd.
HRRL Salisbury 10
A sunny day for the Salisbury 10, the 8th round of the season’s Hampshire Road League, helped eight Farnham Runners gain new personal best times.
The scenic route north of Salisbury follows the banks of the River Avon through the gently undulating Woodford Valley with fine views of the cathedral spire on the return leg. The steepest hill is on the way back and runners had to push on against a headwind. The start and finish were both on the athletics track.
Alex Elsey in 1:03:05 and Matt Saker 5th M50 in 1:04:24, were the first two back for Farnham. Will Pickett in 1:07:16 and Tony Jones in 1:07:20 clocked new PBs with Tony, 4th M60, ahead of Will on gun time and so first to cross the line. He also gained a new Farnham Runners’ M60 club record.
For the B team were Richard Steedman in a PB 1:10:40, Keith Marshall 1:11;36, Richard Denby 1:14:00 and James Goodwin in 1:15:51, with Justin Clarke 1:16:02 not far behind.
Gabi Hitchcock (5th F40, 1:11:53) again led in the ladies with Linda Tyler, 1st F60 (1:13:29). Gemma Whitehouse (PB 1:17:19) and Georgie Abrook (PB 1:19:04) completing the A team.
Kelly Lincoln (PB by 10 mins, 1:23:32), Colette Grist (PB 1:29:44), Jane Georghiou (3rd F70, 1:32:20) and Penny Schnabel (PB 1:36:39) made up the B team, followed by Sandra Hickey (1:37 :26) and Jess Lira (2:00:49).
See the Photo Gallery 2026 for some further photos from these events