Hereford Couriers registered a winning team double in the latest race in the Herefordshire Cross Country League.

The third race in the winter series was organised by Wye Valley Runners and held on a testing new course at Aconbury where heavy overnight rain had created a heavy, muddy course which provided a test of strength and endurance for the hardy runners.

Couriers’ Matt James, the reigning league champion, set the early pace as the runners splashed their way through the first rain-sodden fields but Jonathon Pugh of Builth & District Runners, who had won the first race in the series, made a decisive move as they hit the first stiff climb on entering the woodland.

Pugh showed his strength on the uphill sections and steadily moved away from his rivals to open a commanding lead as they reached the hilltop fort.

This vantage point provides a scenic panoramic view of the distant city of Hereford, but the runners had no time to enjoy this as the tricky and slippery downhill sections through the woods demanded concentration on every step.

Having established such a healthy lead, Pugh was able to relax as he stormed home to cross the finish line with a comfortable winning margin of over 30 seconds.

James fought hard to hang on to second place with Wye Valley’s Luke Mason, having by far his best run of the season, closing fast in third place.

There was some consolation for James as he led his Couriers team to their first victory of the season with the help of another determined performance from Tim Clarke in fourth place, youngster Eliot Taylor with his best display of the winter in seventh place and Mike Link hanging on for a fine 10th place.

This gave Couriers a six point advantage over Wye Valley Runners whose scoring runners were Luke Mason third, John Pullen sixth, Mike Fawcett eight and Scott Kennedy 13th.

Ledbury & District Harriers produced their best team showing of the season in third place thanks to Barry Thompson in ninth, Cliff Berry 12th, Chris Ford 18th and Steve Rooke 27th.

Couriers victory sets the stage for an exciting finish to the season as they now trail Wye Valley by just a single point with two races to go.

In the women’s race, held over most of the same challenging course and over a longer distance than normal, Hereford & County’s impressive youngster Clara Evans enhanced her growing reputation as she strode away to an emphatic victory.

Evans powered her way to the front from the start and appeared to float over the mud as she swept into a clear lead revelling in the heavy conditions.

Susan Marr of Wye Valley, who had won the previous two races, was closing fast towards the end but Evans had enough in reserve to record a decisive win.

Marr had battled with Croft Ambrey RC’s Nicky Turvey over the demanding first part of the course before she managed to break away.

Turvey, just two days shy of her 50th birthday, celebrated in style as she ran an inspired race to take third place showing the younger runners the way to deal with such difficult conditions.

Hereford Couriers’ women’s team consolidated their position as league leaders with their third successive clear victory. The ever-consistent Alison Cooke led her team in fourth place, closely followed by Amy Carwardine in fifth place and Clare Scott in seventh.

Strong runs from these three gave Couriers a commanding 19 point win over second placed Wye Valley who were represented by Marr in second place, Tracy Wood 11th and Tracey Edwards 22nd.

The enthusiastic and improving Hereford Triathlon Club team finished third thanks to Nicola Goodwin in 10th place, Tricia Wright 12th and Jenny Papworth 15th.

The fourth race in the five race series will be held at Monkhall Farm on Sunday, January 10, starting at 11am. This league race will also incorporate the Herefordshire County Cross Country Championships for junior, senior and veteran men and women.

RESULTS Aconbury Men: 1 Jonathon Pugh (Builth & District Runners) 39.25, 2 Matt James (Hereford Couriers) 39.56, 3 Luke Mason (Wye Valley Runners) 40.05, 4 Tim Clarke (HC) 40.13, 5 Ryan Bevis (B&DR) 40.40, 6 John Pullen (WVR) 41.12, 7 Eliot Taylor (HC) 41.37, 8 Mike Fawcett (WVR) 42.02, 9 Barry Thompson (Ledbury & District Harriers) 42.36, 10 Mike Link (HC) 42.44, 11 Jon Barnes N/C (WVR) 42.51, 12 Cliff Berry (L&DH) 43.03, 13 Scott Kennedy (WVR) 43.17, 14 Christian Jones (WVR) 43.22, 15 Max Suff (HC) 43.37, 16 Dan Barnett (Croft Ambrey RC) 43.44, 17 Jon Tetley (Hereford Triathlon Club) 44.12, 18 Chris Ford (L&DH) 44.27, 19 Simon Norwood (CARC) 44.31, 20 George Miles (HTC) 44.57, 21 Neil Lewis (HC) 46.20, 22 Geoff Kay (HC) 46.30, 23 Jack Parry (B&DR) 46.34, 24 Jon Utley (CARC) 46.37, 25 Kevin Gummery (Wye Valley Runners) 46.43.

Aconbury Women: 1 Clara Evans (Hereford & County AC) 41.06, 2 Susan Marr (Wye Valley Runners) 41.32, 3 Nicky Turvey (Croft Ambrey RC) 42.51, 4 Alison Cooke (Hereford Couriers) 44.44, 5 Amy Carwardine (HC) 44.55, 6 Ann Kerby-Collins (Ludlow Runners) 45.01, 7 Clare Scott (HC) 45.03, 8 Ellie Smith (Presteigne Pacers) 45.10, 9 Jenny Jones (Ledbury & District Harriers) 45.33, 10 Nicola Goodwin (Hereford Triathlon Club) 45.38, 11 Tracy Wood (WVR) 46.13, 12 Tricia Wright (HTC) 46.16, 13 Celia Speake (Builth & District Runners) 46.52, 14 Mandy Evans (PP) 46.52, 15 Jenny Papworth (HTC) 48.02, 16 Alison Nicholls (B&DR) 48.05, 17 Naomi Prosser (Hereford & County AC) 48.30, 18 Jo Crissal (HTC) 49.01, 19 Linda White (HTC) 49.15, 20 Sarah Coggins (L&DH) 50.44, 21 Rachel Nelson (CARC) 51.23, 22 Tracey Edwards (WVR) 51.29, 23 Annette Davies (B&DR) 51.30, 24 Liza Austin (CARC) 52.05, 25 Julie Suff (HC) 52.10.

Aconbury Men Team: 1 Hereford Couriers 23, 58; 2 Wye Valley Runners 29, 59; 3 Ledbury & District Harriers 63, 52; 4 Builth & District Runners 81, 17; 5 Croft Ambrey RC 84, 49; 6 Hereford Couriers B 85, 48; 7 Wye Valley Runners B 100, 42; 8 Hereford Triathlon Club 139, 45; 9 Croft Ambrey RC B 149, 34; 10 Wye Valley Runners C 171, 34.

Aconbury Women Team: 1 Hereford Couriers 16, 30; 2 Wye Valley Runners 35, 27, 3 Hereford Triathlon Club 37, 21; 4 Croft Ambrey RC 48, 19; 5 Builth & District Runners 52, 11; 6 Hereford & County AC 53, 13; 7 Hereford Triathlon Club B 63, 11; 8 Presteigne Pacers 63, 3; 9 Wye Valley Runners B 99, 9, 10 Hay Hotfooters 101, 3.