RENOWNED for its fast, flat course since its inception in 1946, runners flocked from a wide area to take part in the the 2019 renewal of the Victory five-miler.

Unexpected pavement works caused a few headaches for hosts City of Portsmouth Athletics Club as they had to devise a new route within the last couple of weeks on the run up to race day – either that or cancel the race.

Working hard to avoid any lap cross-over points, they came up with a new route and managed to get its distance officially checked in time. Though twisty in parts, it had some long, straight sections, and the cool weather with little wind led to some fast times.

Fourteen of the 24-strong Farnham Runners contingent recorded personal best times and two of the ladies topped their age categories, while two of the men were third in their groups.

This race was the fifth of 12 races in the Hampshire Road Race League and the men’s A team maintained their sixth place out of ten in the top division, while the ladies stayed eighth.

James Clarke was delighted with an impressive new best time of 27 minutes five seconds which placed him 21st out of 815 finishers in a competitive field. Matt Saker was third M50 in a personal best time of 28.46, with Matthew Morgan finishing in 29.45 and Harvey Wickham in 30.14, earning him a new personal best and seventh place in the M45 category. These four made up the A team that was sixth on the day.

Neil Ambrose led the B quartet with a new best time of 30.43, followed by Charles Ashby in 32.01, Tim Cummins in 33.31, and Damian Probett in a new personal best of 33.41.

The C string comprised John Phillips in 34.01, Chris Cramp in 34.42 (personal best), Ali Hardaway in 35.27 and Tim Farrant in 35.23 (personal best).

After a long run the previous day, Craig Tate-Grimes clocked a personal best of 37.49, while Steve Bailey settled for a time of 42.36 this time around and Douglas Blyth was third M75 and beat his own club record in 46.45.

Back racing for the ladies A team, which placed eighth in the top flight, was Gabriella Hitchcock, who gradually increased her pace to record a fine 33.44 as 26th lady home.

Winner of the F55 category was Linda Tyler in a personal best of 35.28 that put her 19th on the UK 2019 F55 five-mile ranking table.

Jane Georghiou, who finished in a time of 38.05, was first in the F65 category and is fifth on the F65 2019 UK table.

Kay Copeland led the B team in 40.33, followed by Clair Bailey and Vicky Goodluck with personal best times of 42.35 and 42.39 respectively.

Jane Probett gained another personal best in 45:33 to lead the Cs, followed by Tina Harrison in 45.37 and Clair Arnott in 46.57 in her first five-miler.