HASLEMERE Border Athletic Club runners found the Queen Elizabeth Country Park at its autumnal best when Portsmouth Joggers staged the second round of the Southern Cross-Country League on Sunday.

After the club’s victory in the first race of the season at Manor Farm, there was a mass Haslemere turn-out of 43 members, competing against the best in the south-east.

After the two-minute silence on this Remembrance Day, the runners were off, skidding and bustling along in the 500-plus crowd, doing their best to push their personal limits and stay upright in the mud.

The men’s team were missing some big guns, but still achieved a creditable fourth place, thanks to the points-scoring efforts of Luke Shearring – third place – Daniel Allaway, Harry Wood, Luke Brocks and Richard Lee.

Border had 25 men taking part, with results as follows: Luke Shearing 3rd, Dan Allaway 20th, Harry Wood 23rd, Luke Brocks 25th, Richard Lee 66th, Chris Lee 69th, Laurie Baker 87th, Charlie Barwick 110th, Dean Kellaway 120th, David Johnson 122nd, Marco De Caprio 134th, Matt Burgham 135th, Richard Spandley 166th, Jonathan Barker 170th, Paul Flemming, 176th, Rob Webb 182nd, Andy Wareham 185th, Alistair Doyle 172nd, Rupert Hollom 197th, Darren White 215th, Tom Bampton 227th, Bob Monteath 251st, Dave Bateman 258th, Andy Bowden 259th.

However, the stars of the Haslemere show were the women who came second out of 23 clubs, agonisingly close to winners Stubbington Green. Katy Ward, Sofia Shearring and Donna Read all finished in the top eight, well backed up by 15 other Border Ladies.

Results: Katy Ward 3rd, Sofia Shearing 7th, Donna Read 8th, Clare Wadey 30th, Philomel Pyke 36th, Susie Adam 48th, Lisa Blaydon 70th, Karen Dixon 73rd, Rachel Barlow 89th, Helen Spandley 90th, Kate Elmer 116th, Katy Spencer 126th, Karen Fairs 134th, Annick Hollins 139th, Vanessa Franklin 131st, Natalie Macintosh 132nd, Louise Turner 152nd, Anne Marie Greenaway 156th.

The combined team placings puts Haslemere joint first with the formidable Basingstoke & Mid Hants AC. After two races, Haslemere Border are league leaders overall, with everything to play for.

Next up is the meeting at Bourne Woods, hosted by Farnham Runners on Sunday, December 11.