MORE than 200 runners gathered at Hereford Racecourse last Sunday to contest the 11 sections of the Herefordshire Cross Country Championships.

The senior and veterans men's races, run together over 11 km, provided an entertaining tussle between city runners Tim Clarke and Richie Richards, with Clarke coming through in the last lap to win by 27 seconds.

It was Clarke's first county title and a first veterans' title for Richards.

Rachel Hatfield was the winner in the senior women's race, with Sandy Urro taking the veterans' title.

The closest finish of the day came in the under-13 boys' race when, over a 2,750m course, Ben Sparey of Kingstone High School, came home just a second ahead of Daniel King, of Weobley High School.

In the under-13 girls' race, a determined run by Vanessa Brann saw the Hereford and County AC member come home 14 seconds in front of Vicky Dudley, of Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School.

Another Hereford and County AC member, Marietta Kirkbride, took her first county title by carrying off the under-15 girls' prize, winning by six seconds from team-mate Kelsey Smith.

Two Bishop's School pupils, Ewan Short and George Moczulski , contested the under-15 boys' title with Short continuing his winning ways by a conclusive 32-second margin.

In the under-17 races, there were comfortable wins for Ursula Hankinson, of Haberdashers' School, Monmouth, and Mark Lamonby, of Weobley High School.

A strong presence by Hereford Cathedral School was rewarded with the team prizes at under-13 girls and boys and under-17 women levels, with second places in the under-15 girls and boys.

RESULTS

Senior men: 1 Tim Clarke (Hereford Couriers) 41 min 16 sec, 2 Mike Fawcett (Wye Valley Runners) 42.35; 3 Sean Bennett (HC) 42.48; Team prize - 1 Hereford Couriers, 2 Wye Valley Runners.

Senior women: 1 Rachel Hatfield (WVR) 22.29, 2 S Bliss (HC) 23.57, 3 A Carwardine (HC) 26.56.

Veteran men: 1 Richie Richards (HC) 41.43, 2 Max Suff (HC) 44.06, 3 Martin Flowers (WVR) 44.35; Team: 1 Hereford Couriers, 2 Wye Valley Runners, 3 Croft Ambrey.

Veteran women: 1 Sandy Urro (WVR) 24.02, 2 Alison Cooke (HC) 24.39, 3 C Mottram (WVR) 29.51; Team: Wye Valley Runners.

Junior men: 1 Luke Mason (WVR) 34.33.

Junior women: no race

Under-17 men: 1 Mark Lamonby (Weobley HS) 22.06; 2 Jake Babington (Minster College) 23.16.

Under-17 women: 1 Ursula Hankinson (Haberdashers Monmouth School for Girls) 16.43, 2 V Frith (Hereford Cathedral School 17.57, 3 L Marlow (HCS); Team: Hereford Cathedral School.

Under-15 boys: 1 Ewan Short (Bishop's) 13.41; 2 George Moczulski (Bishop's) 14.13; 3 Luke Mammatt (Whitecross) 14.27; Team: 1 Bishop of Hereford's Bluecoat School, 2 Hereford Cathedral School.

Under-15 girls: 1 Marietta Kirkbride (Hereford and County AC) 13.39, 2 Kelsey Smith (HCAC) 13.45, 3 E Vaughan (Haywood HS) 14.57; Team: 1 Hereford and County AC, 2 Hereford Cathedral School, 3 Haywood High School.

Under-13 boys: 1 Ben Sparey (Kingstone HS) 11.11; 2 Daniel King (Weobley HS) 11.12; 3 J Hancock (HCS) 11.34; Team: 1 Hereford Cathedral School, 2 Weobley High School.

Under-13 girls: 1 Vanessa Brann (HCAC) 12.08, 2 Vicky Dudley (Bishop's) 12.22; 3 C Starbridge (HCS) 12.28; Team: 1 Hereford Cathedral School.