Stubbington Green Runners

ONE second, that was the narrow margin between victory and second place for Stubbington's Mark Le Gassick at the latest round of the Wessex Cross Country League.

Mark was involved in a titanic battle for the leadership with Weymouth 's Ian Cardy at Avon Heath Country Park near Ringwood. Two months earlier at Newbury, it was the Dorset runner who came out on top almost 30 seconds ahead of Mark, who was fifth.

However, the tables were turned on the sandy and gravel parks at Avon Heath for the 9.5km men's race. Run in bone dry conditions, and with the sun shining, the Stubbington runner clocked 30min 20sec for the course, just a second ahead of Cardy.

It was a good afternoon for Stubbington as Mark led the men's team home into top spot. Tor Duffin ran extremely well for fifth place in 32:04, and with Chris Hall in 11th spot in 33:36, the Greens reigned supreme, a point ahead of Newbury, with Wells City Harriers third.

In fact Stubbington turned out a strong men's squad, with five guys finishing in the top 20. Ray Gunner stormed home in 16th (34:18) and Andy Simpson was 20th (34:33). Together with Chris Monroe in 68th (40:51), the B team placed 10th.

Colin Elderfield is back to fitness after injury at last month's Hampshire Cross Country Championships at Staunton Park , Havant, which required a quick visit to the hospital, and he was 75th (42:05).

With one race to go, which takes place at Taunton in Somerset on Sunday, March 12th , Mark lies second overall behind Weymouth 's Cardy, and the senior men's team hold third spot.

Sadly, there were no ladies running at Avon Heath, but youngster Ryan Gunner finished 10th in the under-15 race in 15:56.

Wessex League aggregates:

Men's senior:
2 Mark Le Gassick 9pts, 20 Andy Simpson 68pts, 45 th Ian Smith 153pts,

Veterans
40-44: 10 th Ian Smith 30pts.

Veterans
45-49: 13 th Graham Watts 50pts.

Under-17 boys:
14th Daniel Payne 58pts, 15th Lloyd Payne 64pts.

Veteran men's team: 7th.