TRXCL Liss and HXCL Reading

TRXCL – Liss

The club came joint first overall in the 3rd round of the Today’s Runner Winter League hosted by Liss Runners with the men taking top honours in their race by a convincing margin of 26 points. Although no-one was in the first ten, the five scorers formed a tightly packed group from 11th to 21st. Leading them in was Mark Taylor (11th), followed by Steve Kitney who took 4 places from his previous best (15th). Charles Ashby, recovering from injury, snatched 17th ahead of Bob Brimicombe in 18th (a PB by 7places) while Andy Eakins completed the score in 21st.

Angela Epps gained a new personal best with an impressive 5th of 89 ladies, covering the hilly 5.5 mile route on woodland tracks at Rogate Common in just 38 minutes 45 secs. Jane Georghiou had to settle for 12th after a tough off road duathlon the previous day. Lindsay Bamford (20th) fought hard to keep ahead of clubmate Frances Britain (23rd) to claim 3rd team slot. The trio finished 4th of the 18 clubs in the league.

Other results: Men Mike Ashworth 42, Dave Armstrong 44, Steve Gillingham 52, Alan Froud 62, Tim Cummins 73, Terry Steadman 77, Matt Burns 78, Paul Beesley 81, Steve Murphy 83, Richard Cieslik 102, Simon Brander 107, Richard Sheppard 145, Hillary Carter 147.

Ladies Lisa Smith 39, Caroline Freeman 53.

HXCL – Reading

Full teams for the penultimate round of the Hampshire League cross country series at Prospect Park in Reading helped the club to edge higher in the tables. The men placed 4th of 10 in Division Two while the ladies were a season’s best sixth out of all clubs in the league and second in the veterans’ section.

Steve Kitney led in the men with a strong run for 92nd in 34mins.59secs over the muddy 9km course. Charles Ashby and Bob Brimicombe paced well for 99th (35.26) and 103rd (35.47) respectively. Andy Eakins (108th, 36.19) and Dan Smith (118th, 37.00) completed the score. Mike Ashworth enjoyed his debut in this league (128th, 37.53) with Dave Armstrong (132nd, 38.11) and Terry Steadman (148th, 39.34) helping the veterans’ team to 4th position in Division 2. Simon Clyde, in shorts that were white at the start, followed in 163rd, 40.41.

Jane Georghiou, Lindsay Bamford and Lisa Smith wrestled with the Reading mud to keep club hopes alive for this season. Jane Georghiou chose lethal-looking 15mm spikes (26th, 25.04), Lindsay Bamford tried and tested cross-country shoes (46th, 27.51) while Lisa Smith had purchased studded shoes that morning for her debut in the league (60th, 31.04).