THE WEATHER gods were smiling on Liss Runners for the third Harting Trail Race.

The sun was shining and surfaces were mud free over this near ten-mile distance.

There was a scorching performance from Denmead Strider Julian Manning. He took his third Harting title in 57min 53sec. He was also the first senior man home (up to 39 years old).

Close behind was Hardley Runner Paul Pallister, finishing just 26 seconds behind Manning and taking first in the veteran men’s category (40-55 years old).

Third in was Jon Fairs of Haslemere Border Athletic Club in 1hr 1min 21sec, he also took second in the senior men’s category.

For the super veteran men’s category (55 years old and over) the winners were Portsmouth Joggers’ David Williams and Ian Richardson from Southampton Athletic Club.

For the ladies, Winchester and District Athletic Club’s Kathy Bailey stormed around the course in 1hr 5min 55 sec to take first lady, first veteran lady (36-49 years old) and seventh overall, more than seven-and-a-half minutes ahead of second lady and second veteran lady Katy Ward from Haslemere Border Athletic Club.

Third lady in was Haslemere Border Athletic Club’s Sarah Simpson in 1hr 12min 43sec. She also took first place in the senior ladies’ category.

The first lady in the super veteran category (50 years old and over) was Joanna Curtis from Winchester and District Athletic Club.