THE final meeting of the Hampshire Road Race League was a new event, the Lordshill 10K, near Southampton, and the Farnham Runners squad gave the thumbs-up to a course which included an out-and-back section.

The ladies put out strong teams in their efforts to hold status in the A and B top divisions. The ladies A finish third on the day to earn an impressive fifth in the final tally.

Emma Pearson, improving with every race, recorded a personal best 43mins 37secs for 21st out of 201 and ninth in her category. Kayleigh Copeland clocked 44-40 for ninth senior lady and Eloise Stradling was tenth senior lady in 44-50.

A strong showing saved the B team from relegation as they came sixth out of 15 teams, pulling up to a final 12th. They were led in by Charlotte Hanson (45-10) on her return to road racing and then came Lindsay Bamford (47-00) and Tara Hunt (PB 47-53), finishing just ahead of Jane Georghiou (47-51, 4th W55).

For the C team, Jane Georghiou was backed up by Kay Copeland (52-03, 8th W55) and Pauline Hamilton (PB 57-29). The Cs came sixth out of 15, but could not avoid the drop to Division Two.

The Farnham men were headed by James Clarke, 43rd in a fine 38mins 10secs. He was backed up by Neil Ambrose (41-29), Tim Cummins (41-41) and Alistair Hardaway (41-46, 10th M50), but they drop out of the competitive A Division One.

The B team comprised John Phillips (42-44), Terry Copeland (42-58), Keith Marshall (PB 43-23) and Chris Cramp (PB 43-32). They finish eighth in the table and go down to B Division Two. In support were Craig Tate-Grimes (PB 48-14) and Robert Drummond (1-01-36, 6th M70).

Seven Farnham members completed seven Hampshire races to feature in the individual table. Positions: men – James Clarke 22nd, Neil Ambrose 68th, Alistair Hardaway 88th, John Phillips 93rd, Chris Cramp 116th; ladies – Eloise Stradling 15th, Jane Georghiou 39th.

• Six Farnham Runners had a tough but rewarding day in the Relay of 100 Miles from Beachy Head to Winchester. Matt Dellar (capt), Colin Addison, Rob Gilchrist, Michael Haines, Richard Lovejoy and James Warren improved on last year’s time with 11hrs 48mins for tenth place out of 30 clubs.

• Kay Copeland, Clair Bailey, Lindsey Bamford and Linda Tyler took part in the equally gruelling South Downs Marathon Relay. On a hot day and on a course that included 5000 feet of elevation, they completed the 26.2 miles in 4hrs 02mins 30secs and were third overall ladies team.

• A group of eight Farnham Runners tackled the Three Peaks Challenge, an endurance hiking and driving event where competitors ascend and descend the highest mountains in Scotland, England and Wales (Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike and Snowdon) in under 24 hours. Ian Marshall (organiser), Rob Gilchrist, Ben Roseveare, Mark Maxwell, Tim Farrant, Jeremy Skedge, Neil Ambrose and John Phillips recorded a total time of 23hrs 17mins.

• Sarah Hill broke the women’s course record in the two-day 70-mile Ultra Marathon, following the coastal path on the Isle of Wight. She was also second lady and eighth overall with a time of 3hrs 37mins 38secs in the off-road Hampshire Hoppit Marathon, despite inadvertently adding 1.5 miles to the distance. Sean Smith was first M50 in 3-49-52.

• Sean Smith finished second male in the Harwich 24-Hour event, completing 107 miles in 23 hours.

• Will Sweeney was second out of 61 finishers in the New Forest Festival of Running 50K, recording a personal best 3-39-51.