TIM Davies of Maldwyn Harriers and Heulwen Gilbert of Ludlow Runners repeated their individual successes in the previous race at Croft Castle when the third race in the Herefordshire Cross Country League series was held at Ufton Court.

The course, mostly around field margins with some short sections of woodland, is the flattest on the notoriously demanding league circuit but it still challenged the runners due to the underfoot conditions where the sticky mud prevented any kind of rhythm being maintained.

After the initial charge, it was the leading duo of Davies and Hereford Couriers’ Eliot Taylor who were soon prominent at the front of the field.

Davies, the fell running champion, was relentless in the lead but the tenacious Taylor shadowed his every move until the hard working Davies broke clear at the halfway stage to power his way to victory. Taylor continued to battle gamely and held on for a secure second place, with Builth Wells’ Tim Iveson again completing the top 3.

The surprise package in the men’s team event turned out to be Ludlow Runners, who finished equal on race points with reigning champions Hereford Couriers but were given the verdict by virtue of having their complete team of four runners home first as stated in the league rules.

This was the Ludlow team’s first Hereford League victory for 15 years when they last won the league title, and the success was achieved by a team composed of mostly youngsters with teenager Todd Langley-Tanner leading the way in seventh place closely followed by Andrew Salt, running his first league race, in eighth.

These two were ably backed by a returning Jamie Shingler in 14th place and Craig Collier in 23rd.

For Couriers, Taylor’s strong run was backed by Matt James in fifth, with Richard Hughes 20th and Mike Link 25th completing the team.

The race winner Tim Davies led his Maldwyn team to third place , just a single point ahead of Wye Valley Runners.

It was Couriers' first defeat of the season but they still hold a healthy six-point lead in the overall series, with Maldwyn second and Monross Trailblazers third.

Ludlow’s talented teenager Heulwen Gilbert stamped her authority on the women’s race, over the same arduous course, as she surged away from the start and was never threatened as she increased her advantage to romp home in impressive style to register a comprehensive victory in 32nd place overall.

Croft Ambrey’s Gemma Mallett started more cautiously but gradually worked her way through the field to record her best ever league position in second place, with home team Hereford Triathlon Club’s Faith Addison running strongly to take third place.

It was Wye Valley Runners, however, who took the team honours with Claire Conway and Maria Miles, running their first league races of the season, running purposefully to finish fourth and sixth respectively and Alex Champ completing the team in 11th place.

This gave them a three-point victory over Croft Ambrey, for whom the irrepressible Mallett was well supported by a best run of the season from Steph Main in ninth plus Liz Bowers in 13th.

Gilbert led her Ludlow team to third place thanks to her twin sister, Eilish, finishing seventh with Sarah Williams in 20th.

In the battle for the women’s league title, Wye Valley hold a slender one-point lead over reigning champions Croft Ambrey, with Ludlow a further five points adrift.

The fourth race in the five-race series will be held at Monkhall Farm on Sunday, January 11. This event will also incorporate the Herefordshire County Cross Country Championships for Senior, Veteran and Junior Men and Women.