Today's Runner, Manor Farm Country Park
It was maybe a sign of the quality at the head of the field that Stubbington didn't have a male runner in the first six at the latest round of the Todays Runner Winter League, held at Manor Farm Country Park. But thanks to good packing (Andy Simpson 6th, Alistair Ewing 9th, Ray Gunner 10th, Chris Hall 18th, Mike Harper 19th), the men's team still managed first place, beating arch rivals Farnham Runners into 2nd.
Further down the field there were seasonal best placings from (Nick Crane 100th, John Vose 134th, Paul Hailwood 137th and Andy Tomlinson 146th), whilst (Ashley Lovell 124th and John Randall 156th) made their season's debuts. Other results for the men (Jon Leigh 47th, Mike Bell 65th, Paul Hammond 96th, Malcolm Lavery 103rd, Andy Lee 114th, Richard Snell 115th).
By contrast, in the ladies race, three of the top 4 places were occupied by Stubbington (Georgie Gair 1st, Bev Lavery 3rd and Penny Forse 4th), ensured it was a double first for Stubbington on their home turf. It was a sign of how well the ladies team is doing that without the top three they would have still finished in the top ten teams. Other ladies results (Lou James 15th, Gill Rose 31st, Annie Tomlinson 36th, Mariani Wallis 57th, Celia Martin 77th). Denmead Striders finished 2nd in the ladies race.
All of this means that Stubbington (1,3,1,1,1), move ahead of Farnham Runners (1,1,1,4,2) by just 1 point. Don't forget you drop your worst result. And that means it all comes down to Staunton Country Park on Sunday 9th March, so let's have a good turn out and bring the League Title back to Stubbington....crikey, I can hardly control myself!
Thanks to all the marshals (especially the one's that turned up!), and to Di and her catering army. I believe we ran out of food, but that was down to the good weather and the fact that we had over 50 more runners this year than last.