Alton 10, Woodland Woggle and Netley 10k
Alton 10
On a very warm and sunny day, nineteen Farnham Runners took part in the popular Alton 10 mile race, expertly organised as usual by Alton Runners. Running the hilly course in the heat was a real challenge!
Nevertheless, all the Farnham club’s runners counted for their Hampshire Road League teams and gave a boost to the team positions.
In the top men’s table, A1, Joe Collins, Alex Elsey, Nick Grist and Tony Jones gave the team a placing of 5th/10 clubs. Joe Collins sped round in under an hour (59:44) and was 7th runner to cross the line.
In the B1 table the men’s team of Paul Keogh, Steve Bailey, Ronan O’Carroll and Howard Inns also came 5th/10 clubs.
In the top ladies’ A1 table, Linda Tyler, Candy Waller, Gabriela Hitchcock and Georgie Abrook came an impressive 2nd/10 clubs while the B1 team of Gemma Whitehouse, Jane Georghiou, Colette Grist and Kelly Lincoln was also 2nd/10
In the C table there were no other clubs with three or more runners so the Farnham Runner’s team of Kay Copeland , Sandra Hickey and Julia Tagg came top!
There were also some excellent age group performances. Linda Tyler, Candy Waller and Kay Copeland came first in their categories, Tony Jones was second and Gabriella Hitchcock, Jane Georghiou and Sandra Hickey were all fourth.
After the race some of the runners met up at a local hostelry for refreshments and were joined by other members to make a real social occasion.
Woodland Woggle
On the same day, fourteen Farnham Runners chose the Woodland Woggle 10km, organised jointly by Blackwater Valley Runners and 2nd Farnham (Hale) Scouts, through the usually private Hampton Estate and over Puttenham Common.
Netley 10k
Just a week later was the ninth Hampshire Road League race of the season. With a new one lap course the Farnham contingent expected a flat route. They soon realised they had made a misjudgement as more hills appeared along the way. Fortunately the temperature was much cooler than at Alton.
Despite the hills, newcomer Alex Elsey clocked an impressive PB of 37:50, for 36th place of almost 700 finishers.
Again there were some highly ranked age category runners: Linda Tyler was 1st in her category, Candy Waller Tony Jones, Justin Clarke and Jane Georghiou 3rd, and Georgie Abrook (PB) and Sandra 6th.
The A team male runners were Alex Elsey, Tony Jones, Ivan Chunnett and Justin Clarke with Charles Ashby in support. They gave the team 7th place in the top flight.
The A ladies’ team comprised Linda Tyler, Candy Waller, Georgie Abrook and Gemma Whitehouse (6th in the A1 table) while Jane Georghiou, Colette Grist and Sandra Hickey ran for the B team that came 6th in the B1 table.
The ladies took advantage of travelling to the coast by enjoying a light lunch at a café by the Hamble estuary before the journey back to Farnham.
See the Photo Gallery 2025 for further photos from the above events.