TRXCL Staunton Country Park

For the third consecutive year Farnham Runners finished an excellent second out of eighteen clubs in the Today’s Runner Winter League with only two points separating them from leaders Stubbington Green Runners. This position gives them the opportunity of taking a team to the “plate” race for runners up at the Today’s Runner national final near Bedford in April.

Members turned out in large numbers to support their team in the final round at Staunton Country Park, hosted by Denmead Striders. Nineteen men and eleven ladies donned club kit and tackled the muddy 5-mile course with its sting in the tail hill to the finish line. On the day the men came second and the ladies were third, just one point adrift of the second team.

After a speedy 5 km time trial the previous day, Andy Eakins soon led the Farnham pack unchallenged to claim tag 13 and equal his personal best placing.

Charles Ashby and Ian Carley fought every step of the way for the next club position, with Ashby making the line (17th) before his clubmate (19th). Bob Brimicombe made a creditable 24th of 131 men while Dan Smith (31st) came back from injury to complete the team score.

Mike Ashworth ran steadily for 44th while Andy Tweed (53rd) kept ahead of Terry Steadman (54th), both gaining season’s best placings. Mike Walberton is improving with every race (62nd) to finish ahead of Alan Froud (64th), Tim Cummins (69th) and Paul Beesley (70th) who also gained a personal best.

Angela Epps led in the ladies with a fine 6th place of 76 ladies, followed by Jane Georghiou in 8th. Frances Britain snatched the third team slot (23rd) with Lindsay Bamford close in 25th. Gabi Hitchcock raced her first cross-country of the season (32nd) while Kim Mepsted improved again to 39th.

Other Farnham placings:

Men: Richard Cieslik 79, Nick Hitchcock 81, Malcolm Fitzsimmons 91, Howard Inns 98 (PB), Richard Sheppard 111, Hillary Carter 112, Lee Mepsted 128 (debut).

Ladies: Caroline Freeman 44, Lisa Smith 51, Julie Russ 58, Diane Cox 61, Chris Lyne 72 (debut).