FARNHAM Runners returned from the third Hampshire Road Race League fixture of the season in jubilant mood. Not only was Sarah Hill the ladies’ winner, but most of the group set personal best times at the Lordshill Ten-Mile Race.

In ideal conditions on fairly flat roads and lanes near Southampton, Sarah Hill won by almost half a minute in 60mins 23secs to remain joint top of the ladies’ individual table.

This helped the ladies A place fourth out of the ten teams in Division One and they are up to fifth on aggregate.

With three of their finishers under the hour, the men’s A topped Division Two and are close behind Portsmouth Joggers overall.

Men’s captain Rob Gilchrist sliced almost four minutes off his previous best with 58mins 47secs for 35th place (7th M40). Curtis Anderson showed his potential with 59-00 on his first attempt at the distance and was followed by James Clarke (59-38) and Stuart Morel (PB 61-29).

Farnham’s scoring B runners were Jason East (63-08) Stuart Taylor (PB 63-46), Stuart Williamson (PB 64-17) and Stuart Haig (PB 66-27). The points-scoring C runners were Mike Walberton (66-36), Tim Cummins (PB 67-25), Alistair Hardaway (PB 67-42) and John Phillips (PB 70-49).

Other times (all PBs): Neil Ambrose 71-13, Jeremy Skedge 72-55, Keith Marshall 77-08, Craig Tate-Grimes 85-23.

Supporting Sarah Hill in the ladies’ race were Eloise Stradling, who recorded 73-47 for eighth place, and Jane Georghiou in 74-01 (3rd F55). The scoring B team runners were Sarah Marjoram (PB 76-19), Lindsay Bamford (77-04, 8th F45) and Sarah McCulloch (PB 78-44). Vicki Clarke (79-48), Mary Denise Fitzgerald (88-21), Tina Harrison (89-07) and Georgi Robinson-Welch (1-38-02) provided valuable back-up.

After two days of rain, the Queen Elizabeth Country Park was extremely muddy for the Southern Cross Country League race.

Consistent performances by both the men’s and ladies’ teams helped Farnham Runners remain joint third on aggregate. The men were sixth and the ladies fifth on the day. Farnham finished third overall out of 23 clubs.

Eighteen Farnham men battled for five scoring places, while 15 ladies fought for just three places.

Newcomer Curtis Anderson again showed his class with an excellent sixth out of nearly 300 men. The scoring team was completed by Ian Carley in 32nd, Gerald Wyatt 54th, Stuart Morgan 55th and Colin Addison in 62nd.

Other placings: Stuart Haig 67th, Shaun Marsden 71st, Matt Dellar 80th, Tim Cummins 83rd, Ian Marshall 84th, Stephen Elliott-Nicholls 87th, Neil Ambrose 99th, Alistair Hardaway 124th, Dan Smith 145th, Tristan Greaves 153rd, Terry Copeland 205th, Paul Mackie 217th, Geoff Brown 224th.

Susie Chan headed the Farnham ladies with a fine tenth place. Eloise Stradling recorded a valuable 20th and Gabi Hitchcock, held up by congestion on the narrow start, was 27th.

Other placings: Jane Georghiou 46th, Lindsay Bamford 54th, Anne Snelson 64th, Kayleigh Copeland 81st, Lina Haines 86th, Kay Copeland 88th, Tara Hunt 103rd, Wendy Carley 111st, Tina Harrison 115th, Becky Martin 123rd, Kathy Brown 184th, Jenni Rayner 189th.

Hillary Carter chopped over 30 minutes from the previous M60 club record with 3hrs 55mins 12secs for the Leicester Marathon.