Eighteen Farnham Runners travelled to Portsmouth for the 78th Victory five-mile race.

The race was the fifth fixture in the 2024-25 Hampshire Road Race League (HRRL) season.

Farnham’s men’s and ladies’ A and B teams are in the top division of the HRRL.

The ladies’ A and B teams finished fifth in the Victory five-mile race and are fourth and fifth in their respective leagues.

The men’s A and B teams finished ninth in the Victory five-mile race and are eighth and tenth in their respective leagues.

Sam Angell, Ivan Chunnett, Tony Jones and Chris Raby secured Farnham Runners’ A team places, with Angell and Chunnett gaining personal bests.

Newcomers Jake Yarranton, in a personal-best time, and Matt Blair, in his first five-mile race, were joined by Chris Allen and Charles Ashby for the B team. Mike Dunkley ran his first five-miler.

Gabriella Hitchcock led the Farnham ladies home, with Linda Tyler as first F60 not far back.

Candy Waller and Bridget Naylor, both in personal-best times, completed the A team score.

Gemma Whitehouse, Jane Georghiou, Sandra Hickey and Penny Schnabel ran for the B team, with Tina Longman in her first five-miler in support.

The club also enjoyed its traditional mince pie fancy dress run, organised by social secretary Clair Bailey.

After a mince pie and mulled wine in Gostrey Meadow, the runners traced the shape of a reindeer as part of the Great Surrey Reindeer Hunt. The club’s donation went to Phyllis Tuckwell Hospice.

Joe Collins and Ivan Chunnett, suitably attired for the Christmas run, won the two club London Marathon places for 2025, having completed the necessary number of league races and had their names drawn out of a hat.

Kate Townsend and Colette Grist completed the Big Feat Christmas New Forest Trail Marathon.

Townsend also ran the Portsmouth Coastal Marathon with Linda Tyler.

By Jane Georghiou