Hants XC, Farley Mount
The first of the winter cross country races was held at Farley Mount Winchester on Saturday and just 12 runners represented the club.
First to run was Tom Whitcher in the under 15 boys race. With the warm weather we’ve experienced over the week end the hills and lack of training due to a knee problem Tom found the going a bit tough and came in 54th. But was up beat about the rest of the season and hopes to move up the field in the next races.
Next up were the Stubbettes with 6 girls lining up for the 6k race. Penny was first home with a steady run that put her in 43rd position and she was followed in by Sally in 54th. Rachel and Lucy came in 84th and 88th with Sharon making the vets team in 105th.
The team finished 12th on the day and in the vets category 6th overall so well done.
Lastly the ‘Old Guard’ turned out for the men’s race of 9.4k and had to negotiate the hill 4 times as the course had been altered. Chris Hall and Dan Gueran resumed their battle after the Isle Of Wight fell runs with Chris this time taking the honours and coming in 70th and Dan in 73rd just 11 seconds between them.
Simon Carson-Jones finished in 163rd just ten places ahead of John Gueran in 173rd who was also fresh from running on the island the other week, and finally Phil and Gordon concluded the Stubbies with 188th and 211th. Which meant the team finished 10th in Div 1 with a massive 667 points and will need all the fast guys out for the next race at Goodwood if we are to avoid relegation, and the rest of them just to make sure. With the Solent Half on the Sunday the numbers were down on last year and even Bournemouth struggled for numbers but had the quality at the front to finish up the league.
The Hampshire League is continuing to grow as a quality league and a team from Guernsey turned out as well as a new team from Camberley in the Boys races. Steve Gough is also resurrecting a navy team to compete as well, so all looks good for the Hampshire Cross Country League!