Milland Valley Trail Race

Twenty one Farnham Runners enjoyed the 13 mile Milland Valley Trail Race, organised by Liss Runners. This is a challenging mostly off-road route through the scenic but less frequented areas of the newly created South Downs National Park. The total climbing is estimated to be 336m. Recent rain made the going particularly tough this year, with long muddy sections to negotiate but very clear way marking and good weather on the day contributed to a memorable event.

Skipping lightly over the mud to come thirteenth home out of 418 finishers was Farnham’s Graham Russ in a time of 1 hour thirty-one minutes ten seconds. Next Michael Smith made a welcome appearance in Farnham colours for a speedy 1.40.17 (52nd). Steve Kitney (1.44.36, 66th) kept ahead of Dan Smith (1.45.12 72nd). Running well were Tim Cummins in 1.47.33 (91st) and Nick Hitchcock in 1.53.28 (135th).

There were more ladies than men from the Farnham club in this testing race, led in by Jane Georghiou in 1.49.35 (11th lady, 3rd F50). Angela Epps took 10th in her category in 1.54.22 (19th lady) with Gabi Hitchcock not far behind in 1.55.25 (8th senior lady, 22nd) and Lindsay Bamford following in 2.05.48.

Other times: Leslie Boxall (debut) 2.02.56, Graham Higgins 2.04.54, Richard Cieslik 2.10.51, Susan Boxall 2.12.17, Suzanna Ching 2.19.47, Emma Doven 2.26.10, Kim Mepsted 2.26.11, Paul Beesley 2.28.05, Julie Russ 2.28.41, Helen Cathie 2.32.41, Caroline Freeman 2.36.58.