Haslemere Border Athletics Club (HBAC) members have been active in a number of races.

HBAC members Sarah Smith and Susie Adams were among the many runners taking part in the Three Trails Half in gloriously sunny conditions in the South Downs.

The route starts and finishes in Graffham and takes in the Serpent Trail and the New Lipchis Way, as well as a few hilly treats. Sarah finished in 2:03.31 and Susie was hot on her heels in 2:08.23. Both HBAC members finished first in their age category.

The third discipline in the London Classics, after the Ride 100 and the London Marathon, is the two-mile Swim Serpentine event in Hyde Park. For HBAC athlete John Raynor it was third time lucky because of the Covid-19 pandemic. John finished in 1:33.49 to claim his first London Classics medal – a fantastic achievement.

A number of HBAC athletes took part in the Richmond Runfest event. The event started at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Kew, took runners out along the River Thames and passed historic assets including Ham House and Hampton Court Palace before finishing at the Old Deer Park.

Philomel Bennett opted for the marathon and was first V55 lady after finishing the race in an impressive time of 3:39.08.

Luke Etheridge and Steve Taylor had chosen the half marathon and both finished in superb times. Luke crossed the line in 1:29.06 to finish sixth in his age category and Steve finished eighth in his age group after crossing the line in 1:39.15.

Putting his running shoes aside, HBAC member Charlie Barwick embarked on the nine-day Ride Across Britain challenge from Land’s End to John O’Groats in aid of charity, taking in 980 miles of ups and downs along the way.

By Ann Varnes