GEMMA Mallett ensured Croft Ambrey’s women remain in contention for the Herefordshire Cross Country League crown going into the final race next month.

Mallett led on the gruelling, muddy course from start to finish to win her second league race in a row, this time by an impressive 44 seconds ahead of Wye Valley’s Danca Machakova. Rhayader AC's Jo Rees in came in third.

The result helped Croft Ambrey to go joint second in the overall team standings with rivals Ludlow Runners, whose top performer in the women’s section was Amy Fulford in fifth (53.31).

Mallett’s victory in the penultimate round at Monkhall Farm, an event hosted by Wye Valley Runners, with a time of 50.28 and was backed up by Irina Dale (56.01) in seventh.

Wye Valley lead the way with 77 points and just need a top-three finish to be sure of the title ahead of Croft Ambrey and Ludlow on 74 with each position in the final reckoning at each meeting being worth one point.

In the men’s section, there were a pack of five runners gunning for top billing which included Croft Ambrey’s Andy Salt.

Builth had a team of three to put Maldwyn’s Tim Davies under pressure but the canny reigning champion held his nerve and made a decisive break half a mile from the finish.

In the end, former British fell running champion Davies (41.31) won by a mere four seconds ahead of the Builth trio with Salt (42.33) coming in fifth.

Builth’s final counting competitor finished 11th as they claimed a comprehensive team success.

Home club Wye Valley finished second having been led home by Steve Flowers in ninth. He was well supported by good grouping from six-time league champion Mike Fawcett in 12th, Liam Grice in 13th and Dan Lewis in 14th.

Despite having won the previous two league races, Hereford Couriers had to settle for third with Tom Grady, running his first race of the series, leading the way in sixth followed by Matt James in seventh, Russell James in 21st and Sam Goodchild in 26th.

After Salt, Sam Mayglothling (45.43) was the next Croft Ambrey finisher in 10th followed by Craig Collier (48.17) back in 24th position.

Chris Foster was the top performer for Ludlow Runners, ending the race in 17th courtesy of a time of 47.30. Croft Ambrey were the sixth-placed team on the day and moved up to the same position in the overall standings as a result.

Ludlow Runners go into the final leg of the winter series, to be held at Presteigne on Sunday, February 5, in eighth position.