MIKE Fawcett and Nicola Goodwin both registered their second successive victories in the third race of the Herefordshire Cross Country League in the grounds of Holme Lacy College last Sunday morning.

In the men's race, Wye Valley Runner Fawcett was in his element on his home course and broke away from the field in the first of two-and-a-half laps of the testing parkland and woodland course. He gradually extended his lead to record a solid win.

Fawcett's main rival, Tim Taylor, of Hereford Couriers, battled courageously but had to settle for a gallant second place as he strove to regain fitness.

Tim Clarke, also of Hereford Couriers, emerged as the rising star and his continued improvement was rewarded with his first top-three finish.

The Couriers team of Taylor and Clarke, plus Sean Bennett, who finished seventh, and youngster Matthew James, eighth, pulled off a resounding victory to move ahead of their rivals in the quest for the league title.

With two races left, Hereford Couriers are two points ahead of Wye Valley Runners with Ludlow Runners a further two points back.

Goodwin led from start to finish over the one-and-a-half laps of the women's race and established a lead in the battle to become the overall individual winner.

The battle for the minor places produced an exciting sprint finish with three runners racing neck-and-neck to the finish line.

Ludlow Runners' Justine Hewson just held off Hereford Couriers' Alison Cooke by the narrowest of margins to finish second with Wye Valley's Sandy Urro a couple of strides back in fourth.

Hewson's fighting second place, assisted by Joy Miles in sixth and Sonya George in seventh, gave Ludlow Runners a narrow race victory which sees them equal on points with Hereford Couriers with Wye Valley three points adrift.

The fourth race in the series will take place in conjunction with the county cross-country championships at Hereford Racecourse on Sunday, January 4.

Details of the county championships are available from Tony Williams on 01432 267608.

RESULTS

Men: 1 Mike Fawcett (Wye Valley Runners) 41 min 29 sec; 2 Tim Taylor (Hereford Couriers) 42 min 15 sec; 3 Tim Clarke (HC) 43 min 15 sec; 4 Kevin Nash (Ludlow Runners) 43 min 48 sec; 5 Richard Worth (WVR) 44 min 36 sec; 6 Mick Ligema (LR) 44 min 56 sec; 7 Sean Bennett (HC) 44 min 59 sec; 8 Matthew James (HC) 45 min 25 sec; 9 Dave Williams (HC) 45 min 39 sec; 10 Ken Howard (WVR) 45 min 48 sec.

Women: 1 Nicola Goodwin (Hereford Triathlon Club) 30 min 10 sec; 2 Justine Hewson (Ludlow Runners) 30 min 41 sec; 3 Alison Cooke (Hereford Couriers) 30 min 41 sec; 4 Sandy Urro (Wye Valley Runners) 30 min 43 sec; 5 Sally Bliss (HC) 31 min 52 sec; 6 Joy Miles (LR) 32 min 23 sec; 7 Sonya George (LR) 32 min 43 sec; 8 Alex Look (WVR) 32 min 51 sec; 9 Jayne Littlewood (HC) 33 min 21 sec; 10 Julie Suff (HC) 34 min 31 sec.