THIRTY-FOUR members of Farnham Runners entered the 34th Alton Ten, competing for the 12 men’s and nine ladies’ scoring places in the Hampshire Road Race League.

The Farnham ladies put out probably their strongest ever team and nine ducked under 1hr 20mins for this challenging 10-mile hilly course.

The A team, after a notable second position behind Winchester, look increasingly likely to stay in the top flight. And there is a glimmer of hope that the B team can hold their place in B Division One.

Emma Pearson recorded a personal best 1-13-23 to finish 17th out of over 200 in the women’s race (10th F35). Just behind from the gun to the finish in 18th, but quicker on chip time was Emma Whittaker-Axon (1-13-21, 4th senior) and Eloise Stradling completed the A team scoring in 21st (1-14-12, 5th senior).

Kayleigh Copeland headed the B string (1-14-59, 6th senior). Linda Tyler clocked a PB 1-16-26 and Sarah McCulloch ran a consistent pace for 1-17-11 (8th F45).

Gabriella Hitchcock led the C team with 1-18-36, while ultra runner Lucy Hogg finished strongly for 1-18-00, again quicker on chip time. Jane Georghiou, an age category bronze medallist at the British Masters 10km championships, was fifth F55 in 1-19-23.

The men’s A team came seventh in the competitive top division. James Clarke flew round in 1-01-57, finishing 30th out of over 500 and 21st senior. Then came Andrew Ellison in 1-02-56 (9th M40), Mike Taylor 1-09-14 (20th M40) and Alistair Hardaway 1-10-27 (21st M50).

Neil Ambrose was first for the Bs in 1-11-22, followed by the returning Michael Smith in 1-12-51. Tim Cummins recorded 1-13-46 and Terry Copeland filled the final scoring place with 1-15-04 for a team placing of ninth in B Division One.

Nick Hill (1-15-40), Michael Stephens (1-16-17), Hallam Foster (1-16-28) and Craig Tate-Grimes (PB 1-18-56) formed the C team that came fifth out of 19 in B Division Two.

On the same day, a Farnham group ran the Shakespeare Marathon at Stratford. Times: John Phillips 3-17-35, Chris Cramp PB 3-35-39, Steve Bailey 3-43-49, Ian Marshall 3-51-46), Lindsay Bamford 3-57-18, 5th F50, Tim Farrant 3-58-11, James Musgrave 4-10-38, Peter Strange 5-51-26, 8th M70.

Stuart Haig finished an impressive sixth, recording 3-37-43, in his second attempt at the off-road Three Forts Marathon. He was joined by John Hill-Venning (4-00-53), Charlie Hill-Venning (4-08-14) and James Musgrave (5-02-56).

Sean Smith came fourth in the hilly eight-lap Ox Trail 50-mile ultra race in Dorset, having led until 30 miles and clocked the fastest lap. His final time was 9-02-48.