LUDLOW Runners used local knowledge to good advantage when they hosted race three of the Herefordshire Summer Cross Country Series.

It was run on a brand new 8km course positioned just outside Ludlow in the woods at High Vinnalls with teams representing running clubs from Herefordshire and South Shropshire taking up the challenge along the most scenic route, that included running through the woods, a mixture of gravelled and mud paths and in some parts long grass while climbing 900ft to the top of High Vinnals before returning back down to the finish line.

After recent races at Abbeydore and Westhope in Herefordshire, Ludlow Runners managed to gain points and jump a place up to fourth position in the 19-team league, with Wye Valley ‘A’ and ‘B’ and Croft Ambrey holding the positions above.

The individual race results had a familiar look with Jamie Shingler of Ludlow finishing in second place behind Tim Iveson running for Builth, as they did in the last race.

The first two ladies to finish were Gemma Mallett of Croft Ambrey closely followed by Ludlow’s Amy Fulford. Again the same result as the last two races.

There was a great run from Ludlow’s Matthew Yapp who was the first junior home finishing 6th overall and beating his father David at the same time, who finished in 39th position in a race that included a total of 142 runners.

Craig Collier and Matt Jennison produced their normal strong runs while Thomas Powell and Ian Prentice finished within seconds of each other gaining points for Ludlow.

More valuable points were gained by Ludlow’s many regular competitors, including Andrea Ford, Jo Watson, Joanne Sterling-Parker, Maggie Morris.

The summer off road series ends with the last race later this month at Shobdon Wood.