Newcomers star in opening race at Ludlow (From Hereford Times)

Newcomers star in opening race at Ludlow

8:50am Sunday 1st November 2009

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THE 2009/10 Hereford-shire Cross Country League season opened on a new course at Moor Park on a bright autumnal morning.

Ludlow Runners hosted the first race over a challenging course incorporating grassland, woodland tracks, playing fields and muddy stream-crossings with four fence climbs on each lap to break the runners’ rhythm.

The race attracted a record turnout of 140 competitors as the league welcomed Hay Hotfooters as its latest club addition.

Wye Valley Runners men and Hereford Couriers women registered early team victories as they attempt to defend their titles, while the individual honours went to Builth & District Runners' Jonathon Pugh and newcomer Susan Marr of Wye Valley Runners who both recorded emphatic wins.

In the man’s race, over five-and-a-half miles, the early pace was set by the Builth Wells pairing of Pugh and Ryan Bevis, competing in the Herefordshire Winter League for the first time, and reigning champion Matt James of Hereford Couriers.

This trio disputed the lead over the first of thee laps until James weakened on the second lap and dropped off the pace.

Pugh, who came to prominence in the Summer League with some strong performances, gradually pulled away from his team-mate and still looked fresh as he crossed the finish line 28 seconds clear of Bevis with James a further 39 seconds adrift.

Wye Valley Runners again illustrated their strength in depth as veteran John Pullen continued his impressive form to finish in fourth place followed by Christian Jones in seventh, Luke Mason eighth and Scott Kennedy 11th, to establish an early season lead.

Hereford Couriers were the second team with James supported by Tim Clarke, after a lengthy lay-off, in fifth, Eliot Taylor 16th and Max Suff 17th.

Ledbury & District Harriers ran strongly to finish third team thanks to Cliff Berry in ninth, Barry Thompson 10th, Steve Rooke 19th and Howard Abel 31st.

The performance of the day came from 45-year-old Susan Marr who was running her first league race in the colours of Wye Valley Runners.

Marr was in a realm of her own as she dominated the women’s event, over two-and-a-quarter miles, from start to finish.

She started quickly and continued to extend her lead to win the race by 50 seconds.

Croft Ambrey RC’s Sue Davies battled her way through to take second place with Couriers’ Summer League champion Lisa Quinn in third.

Couriers again controlled the team race as they finished five runners in the top eight places. Quinn was supported by Alison Cooke in fourth and Nikki Edwards in fifth for the first team place.

The Couriers B team finished third thanks to Amy Carwardine in sixth, Clare Scott in seventh and Jayne Littlewood in 18th.

Wye Valley separated these two teams with a second place recorded by the race winner Marr, Kate Hunt in 11th and Tracy Wood 14th.

The second race in the five race series will be held at Croft Castle on Sunday, November 15, at 11am.

Moor Park Men’s Results: 1 Jonathon Pugh (Builth & District Runners) 32.57, 2 Ryan Bevis (B&DR) 33.25, 3 Matt James (Hereford Couriers) 34.04, 4 John Pullen (Wye Valley Runners) 34.12, 5 Tim Clarke (HC) 34.19, 6 Luke Moseley (Hfd Triathlon Club) 34.55, 7 Christian Jones (WVR) 35.19, 8 Luke Mason (WVR) 35.26, 9 Cliff Berry (Ledbury & District Harriers) 35.31, 10 Barry Thompson (L&DH) 35.36, 11 Scott Kennedy (WVR) 36.02, 12 Jamie Shingler (Ludlow Runners) 36.11, 13 Stafford Rees (Rhayader AC) 36.12, 14 Jon Barnes (Hfd & Country AC) 36.21, 15 Andy Taylor (HTC) 36.26, 16 Eliot Taylor (HC) 36.38, 17 Max Suff (HC) 37.10, 18 Jon Tetley (HTC) 37.12, 19 Steve Rooke (L&DH) 37.19, 20 Dave Ameghino (Croft Ambrey) 37.26.

Moor Park Women: 1 Susan Marr (WVR) 16.07, 2 Sue Davies (CA) 16.57, 3 Lisa Quinn (HC) 17.05, 4 Alison Cooke (HC) 17.37, 5 Nikki Edwards (HC) 17.42, 6 Amy Carwardine (HC) 17.54, 7 Clare Scott (HC) 17.55, 8 Nicola Goodwin (HTC) 17.57, 9 Nicky Turvey (CA) 18.00, 10 Mandy Evans (PP) 18.21, 11 Kate Hunt (WVR) 18.23, 12 Ann Kerby-Collins (LR) 18.36, 13 Jenny Papworth (HTC) 18.44, 14 Tracy Wood (WVR) 19.11, 15 Linda White (HTC) 19.15, 16 Felicity Cole (WVR) 19.17, 17 Tricia Wright (HTC) 19.20, 18 Jayne Littlewood (HC) 19.37, 19 Jo Crissall (HTC) 19.59, 20 Mary Morton (Rhayader) 20.08.

Team Positions: Wye Valley Runners 20pts, 2 Hereford Couriers 19, 3 Ledbury & District Harriers 18, 4 Hereford Triathlon Club 17, 5 Croft Ambrey 16, 6 Hereford Couriers B 15, 7 Wye Valley Runners B 14, 8 Hereford Couriers C 13, 9 Wye Valley Runners C 12, 10 Presteigne Pacers 11.

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