CROFT Ambrey's Mark Lamonby battled hard through tricky conditions to finish in third place in the fourth race in the Herefordshire Cross Country League at Monkhall Farm.

Recent heavy rain had saturated the undulating field margins that formed the gruelling course and every soggy footstep churned up the mud even more.

With Maldwyn Harriers’ powerful Tim Davies quickly opening up a decisive lead which saw him finish two minutes ahead of the field, Lamonby was involved in a compelling battle for the minor places with Hereford Couriers’ former league champion Matt James.

James gauged his effort well to pull away as the second punishing lap took its toll on a tiring Lamonby to record a hard-fought second place.

Lamonby then had to dig deep on the final painful climb towards the finish to fight off the the determined attack from a rejuvenated Russell James, another Couriers’ former league champion, with the younger legs of the Croft runner just prevailing.

Croft are also holding on to third place in battle for the team title, behind leaders Maldwyn and Wye Valley Runners.

The women were tested by the same strenuous course as the men and it was another Maldwyn athlete who delighted in the demanding conditions.

Nicola Davies, no relation to the men’s victor, took command from the start and powered home to win her second race of the series by over a minute from Wye Valley’s Gintare Gaigaliene with Rhayader AC’s Jo Rees just holding off the challenge of Wye Valley’s Daneen Hughes to take third place.

Shannon Gilbert of Ludlow Runners turned in a creditable display to finish fifth, with Runners filling sixth place in the team competition. Croft Ambrey hold third place overall, behind Wye Valley and Wye Valley B.

The final and decisive race in the series will be held at Presteigne on Sunday, February 7.