Todays Runner, Liss
With the snow and ice now disappeared it was good to be able to get back to normal running and 26 club members made the journey to Rogate Common near Liss for the fifth round of the Todays Runner series hosted by Liss Runners. The course was very challenging with a number of tough hills but being sandy was relatively dry although a number of runners suffered turned ankles on the rutted tracks with Paul Hammond coming off worse as he unfortunately had to drop out.
An influx of quicker runners at the front end in the men's section meant that Andy Simpson was unable to finish in the top three for the first time although he still led the club home with a creditable 6th place finish. Mike White and Dave Jeffery were also consequently down on their positions from Lord Wandsworth but still maintained their consistently high places with 11th and 13th respectively. The front three were ably supported by Alasdair Ewing (45th) and Nick Crane (65th) to complete the scoring positions leaving the men in 6th place on the day.
Other results: Jon Leigh (67th), Mike Bell (72nd), Simon Carson-Jones (79th), Nick Kimber (86th), Phil May (89th), Colin Elderfield (92nd)*, Gordon Westley (97th)*, Paul Hailwood (108th), Mike Clarke (111th), Alan White (123rd), Chris Gallagher (154th), Peter Hailwood (158th)* [160 runners] * represents first appearance
For the ladies Susie MacGregor once again led the team home in the absence of the injured Georgie Gair and did well to complete the tough course in 10th place following a 16 mile training run the previous day. Penny Forse returned after missing the previous two races and was the second Stubbie home in 20th place whilst Margie Pritchard crossed the line in 35th place to just edge out Lucy May (36th) up the finishing hill for the final scoring position. This put the ladies team 8th on the day giving us an overall position of 6th equal with Hart and Fleet & Crookham.
This was our best turn out of ladies so far and the other finishing positions were Rachael Openshaw (52nd), Jaz Smith (66th), Ann Blake (68th), Sharon White (73rd)* and Naomi Crane (74th)* [80 runners].
After five rounds Farnham Runners top the league with 6 pts just ahead of Basingstoke on 7. We are currently third on 9pts but hold a comfortable gap of 5 points over fourth placed Hart so a reasonable result in each of the final two races should see us maintain this position. John Tussler.