CROFT Ambrey Running Club made the perfect start to the 2017 Herefordshire Summer Off Road League, winning the opening race which was hosted by Hereford Couriers and held over the orchard field margins at Westhope.

The five-mile grassland course incorporated some long strength-sapping climbs on a warm evening and the early pace was set by the Croft Ambrey pairing of evergreen veteran Stacey Morgan and Mark Lamonby – fresh from representing Great Britain in the European Triathlon Championships in Denmark – along with Wye Valley Runners' Sam Mayglothling.

Morgan, who was last crowned Summer League champion in 2011, detected that his rivals were feeling the strain in the humid conditions and gradually increased his pace to build a considerable lead and eventually coast home with a winning margin of more than a minute. It was his first victory on the Westhope course in all his years of running in the Herefordshire leagues. Lamonby finished a comfortable second with Mayglothling registering his best-ever league position in third.

Teams in the Summer League comprise six runners including a minimum of two women and this first event became a tight contest between reigning champions Wye Valley and Croft Ambrey. In the end it was the sky blue vests of Croft that prevailed by just nine points.

Morgan and Lamonby's strong performances were well supported by the returning Simon Norwood in fifth place and Greg Davies in 12th. There were spirited runs from Irina Dale in 36th and Emma Morris in 44th.

The first female runner home was reigning Winter Cross Country League champion Amy Fulford, of Ludlow Runners, as she ran assertively to finish 26th overall and lead her team into third place.