WYE Valley Runners achieved a notable team double when the 2015/16 Herefordshire Cross Country League season kicked off with the first fixture at Fforest Fields camp site in Builth Wells.

The individual honours went to Maldwyn Harriers’ reigning league champion Tim Davies and Wye Valley’s Gintare Gaigaliene, who registered her first ever league victory.

The challenging 10 kilometre course was unusually firm after a lengthy dry spell and conditions were conducive to fast running as the competitors from 13 affiliated clubs negotiated the grassland and woodland.

Former British Fell Running champion Davies continued where he left off last season with a dominant display of relentless power running as he extended his winning sequence to five victories from five races since he started competing in the Herefordshire League.

He took control of the race in the early stages and proceeded to extend his lead and romp home.

Behind him, a race-long battle developed between Builth’s Tim Iveson, the Herefordshire Summer League champion, and Ludlow Runners’ Jamie Shingler, with the home club runner finally prevailing thanks to a dynamic sprint finish.

The race also produced the unique incident of the first seven runners across the finish line all representing different clubs.

The men’s team race concluded with the top two teams equal on 45 points, but Wye Valley were given the verdict over Croft Ambrey R.C. by virtue of having their complete team of four counting runners home first.

Strong runs from Christian Jones in seventh place, closely followed by Jeremy Jehan in eighth, set up a solid base for Wye Valley and they were well supported by a best-ever performance in 14th place from the rapidly improving Liam Grice and yet another staunch display from former six-time times league champion Mike Fawcett.

Croft Ambrey finished second in the team standings, with Maldwyn Harriers third and Hereford Couriers fourth.

The women’s race, over the same demanding course, was a much closer affair with Maldwyn’s recent signing Nicola Davies setting the early pace and building an apparently substantial lead. As the runners climbed the winding route up the big hill overlooking the campsite, however, she was caught by Wye Valley’s Lithuanian recruit Gaigaliene.

Her background is as a track runner, but has adapted quickly to the demands of off-road running since joining Wye Valley at the start of the year.

She pulled away towards the latter stages to record her first league victory by 16 seconds.

Davies hung on for second place, with Rhayader A.C.’s Jo Rees finishing third.

Gaigaliene’s positive running was ably backed by assured performances from team mates Daneen Hughes and Becky Davies in fifth and sixth places respectively to give Wye Valley’s women a resounding team triumph.

Croft Ambrey finished second with a hard-working display from Irina Dale in 11th place, closely followed by the outstanding 63-year-old Scottish international Liz Bowers in 12th and former league champion Sue Davies in 14th.

The second race in the winter series will be held at the time-honoured Croft Castle course on Sunday, November 8.