Test Way Relay
STUBBINGTON Green were forced to surrender their grip on the Test Way Relay trophy, but the men's team put in a spirited performance to finish second in the prestigious event.
The club fielded five teams in the nine-stage 50-mile relay which started at a cold and overcast Inkpen Beacon on the Hampshire/Berkshire border and finished in bright sunshine at Eling Wharf near Southampton.
The men in green were always going to have their work cut out by a strong Southampton Running Club squad. Surprisingly, Winchester & District AC, opted not to field a men's team, and instead chose to throw strength in depth in the mixed and the ladies' competitions.
Mike Bainbridge led off for the men at Inkpen Beacon, chasing down Southampton's Steve Axon, who opened up a lead off 55 seconds, and when the experienced Andy Morgan-Lee set a new leg record for the 8.8km stretch between Linkenholt to Stoke Hill in 29min 17sec, they were never to be headed.
Chris Hall chased Morgan-Lee, and drew a laugh from the Southampton-runner when the folically-challenged one cut his head on a low-hanging branch.
Stubbington were forced to settle for second place, finishing in a time of 4hrs 48min 1sec to Southampton's 4:38.38.
A Stubbington B team, anchored by Steve Marshall, finished seventh in 5:32.32, and the C team was brought home by Mike Clarke for 13th in 6:05.56.
In the mixed competition, Stubbington placed third behind two very strong Team Southampton and Winchester squads. Team Southampton captured the title in 5:22.51, from Winchester in 5:25.20, with Lesley Harding bringing the team home in third with a total time of 5:41.20.
Winchester did manage to reclaim the ladies' title in 5:22.00, with Stubbington's ladies, led home by Rachel Openshaw placing eighth in 6:49.28. Results here | Photos here | Hardley Runners report