JULIAN Manning tamed the Butser Hill Challenge on Sunday to win the senior race.

Manning finished third in last year’s event but managed to come out on top this time.

The Denmead Strider, who was running for the Denmead Queen team this year, completed the course in 35min 7sec.

Manning finished 23 seconds ahead of second-placed Peter Collins of Portsmouth Joggers. Basingstoke and Mid Hants runner Samuel Bevan finished in third place in 35min 36sec.

Haslemere Border Athletic Club’s Emma Macready finished in fourth place and was the first lady home in a time of 35min 54sec.

James Ramsay finished in fifth place in a time of 36min 18sec.

Two Liss Runners finished in the top ten, as Tom Frost finished in sixth place in 37min 24sec, and David Brown finished in ninth place in 38min 15sec.

Churcher’s College had three runners in the top 20, as Tom Verney finished in 11th place in 38min 55sec, Lawrence Hollom finished in 13th place in 39min, and Andy Olle finished in 17th place in 39min 41sec.

Race director Alan Shons said: “Julian has won this race before and he is still in good form.

“Peter Collins ran extremely well and Samuel Bevan also ran well.

“The top three were very close from the start and they had a good tussle.

“Emma Macready produced a good run and was well ahead of the other leading ladies.”