Farnham Runners have held their annual handicap race.

This is a long-standing event that began in winter 1985 during the first year of the club.

Despite the inclement weather with rain throughout the race and floods in Dene Lane, 30 members turned out to compete.

The runners all had an equal chance of winning the trophy which is engraved with the winner’s name each year.

Kate Townsend (left) and Colette Grist were joint third in the handicap race
Kate Townsend (left) and Colette Grist were joint third in the handicap race (Farnham Runners)

There were also prizes of boxes of chocolates for the first three back, as well as for the best three fancy dress costumes.

The difference in handicaps between the first and last runner to set off was more than 20 minutes, showing the wide diversity in paces of members of the club over the 4.25-mile route.

Stephen Buckmaster gave his all in a determined performance to beat the rest of the field by well over a minute.

Runner-up was his daughter, Anna Buckmaster, while Colette Grist and Kate Townsend crossed the line together for joint third place.

Anna Buckmaster finished second, behind her father Stephen
Anna Buckmaster finished second, behind her father Stephen (Farnham Runners)

The fancy dress judges Penny Schnabel and Shirley Perrett soon chose Lindsay Bamford as Norbot the robot gnome as the winner of the fancy dress, with Debbie Moorcroft as Chocolate Mousse and Gemma Whitehouse as Barbie second. Sally Lawrence as a cowboy on a horse came third.

Craig Tate-Grimes who, helped by Chris Gill, had set up signs for the course, announced the winners.

Thanks were given to all who helped, including Linda Tyler who organised the refreshments and Richard Denby, Colette Grist and Craig Tate-Grimes who took the photos.

Other runners were Julia Tagg, Emma Dawson, Richard Denby, Lina Haines, Gill Iffland, Becky Martin, Lizzie May, Sandra Hickey, Kurt Budge, Ivan Chunnett, Jonathan Tyler, Lizzie Collins, Howard Inns, Mark Maxwell, Colin Addison, Laylan Pointon-Berkowitz, Joe Collins, Kay Copeland, Ros Lankester and Joe Napier.

Penny Schnabel (left) and Shirley Perrett were the fancy dress judges
Penny Schnabel (left) and Shirley Perrett were the fancy dress judges (Farnham Runners)

By Jane Georghiou

Fancy dress winner Lindsay Bamford as Norbot pictured with Becky Martin as super hero Bionic Becky
Fancy dress winner Lindsay Bamford as Norbot pictured with Becky Martin as super hero Bionic Becky (Farnham Runners)