Farnham Runners got their 2024-25 Southern Cross Country League campaign off to an impressive start in the opening race of the season at Benyon’s Inclosure near Silchester.

Although there was no sunshine there were ideal conditions the race, which was staged by Basingstoke & Mid Hants Athletic Club.

The route, which was largely on gravel trails, featured a number of hills. Some single track muddy paths and river crossings added to the challenge.

Farnham Runners made a sound start to the season with an overall position of eighth out of 22 clubs, with the men’s team finishing sixth on the day and the ladies’ team finishing eighth. There was an excellent turnout of 43 runners from the club.

Joe Collins and Liam McMurray put in impressive performances to finish third and fifth respectively out of more than 200 men.

Next came Daniel Bailey, who finished a very useful 45th. Sam Angell finished in 72nd place to complete the men’s team score.

Nick Grist finished in 73rd place, while Colin Addison finished 83rd, newcomer Charlie Walters finished 87th, Ivan Chunnett finished 91st and Charles Ashby finished 96th.

The ladies’ team were led in by Linda Tyler, who finished 33rd just eight days after a 50-mile ultra marathon on the Gower Peninsula.

Candy Waller, who finished in 38th place, had run a half marathon the day before.

Bridget Naylor finished in 44th place and Sarah Franklin finished in 55th place to complete the ladies’ scoring team.

Lizzie Morgan finished in 56th place in her first race in Farnham colours.

Gemma Whitehouse finished in 67th place, Gill Iffland finished 73rd, Kay Copeland finished 83rd, Kelly Lincoln finished 94th, Tori Shaw finished 95th, Colette Grist finished 99th and Lizzie Collins finished 100th.

Harvey Wickham, Stephen Buckmaster, Justin Clarke, Steve Bailey, Mike Carter, James Goodwin, Chris Raby, Chris Gill, Terry Steadman, Jonathan Tyler, Craig Tate-Grimes, Sandra Hickey, Jane Georghiou, Penny Schnabel, Laylan Pointon-Berkowitz, Tina Longman, Nicola O'Connor, Jackie Wilkinson, Sue McKenzie, Ros Lankester, Georgi Welch and Carolyn Wickham also completed the race.

After the race, Basingstoke & Mid Hants Athletic Club provided a lunch of a hot dog, cake and a drink, with proceeds going to the Silchester Association.

By Jane Georghiou