LUDLOW Runners’ Claire Thomas claimed the Herefordshire Summer Cross Country League’s individual women’s title for the first time after a fine win in the event’s fourth and final race.

Thomas ran aggressively from the start at Shobdon Court to win by 14 seconds from Wye Valley Runners' Jodie Newell, with Ledbury Harriers' Holly Gourley in third.

The victory meant Thomas beat title rival Jodie Ayres, of Croft Ambrey Running Club, by eight points to claim the overall crown as well as winning the veteran over-35s title.

Thomas’ club-mate Alice Godding finished the season with an overall bronze in the senior female section, a placing matched by another Ludlow runner, Tess Butcher, in the veteran over-45 category.

Team-mate Sybil Marsh won the veteran over-70s title while Ludlow Runners finished the season in fourth place in the overall standings.

Croft Ambrey were crowned team champions for the second successive season, a huge 83 points ahead of runners-up Builth & District, with Wye Valley Runners in third.

Wye Valley, who have won the league title on seven previous occasions, took the team honours in the final race ahead of Builth and a weakened Croft squad.

The men’s individual title was won by Builth’s Jonny Pugh for the second year running thanks to his three victories in the series’ opening three races.

Pugh finished third at the final meeting behind MonRoss Trailblazers’ Gavin Jones and Hereford Couriers’ previous individual champion Matt James, who finished second in the race and overall.

Jones ran an inspired race as he stormed away to build a substantial lead and celebrated his first ever Herefordshire League victory, winning by almost a minute.