OVERTON Harriers hosted the latest fixture in the Hampshire Cross-Country League at Ashe Meadows on Saturday.

A fast start in the women's race, over a two lap-course of 6k, suited the host club's 1,500m specialist, Wales international Cath Wheeler.

She quickly established herself in the top 10, doggedly chasing her younger rivals and eventually clinched seventh place overall, and second vet.

She was well supported in the team event by the fast-improving Rachael Kenchington (15th), Liz Sandall-Ball (81st), Moira West (95th), Madeleine Vosser (98th) and Dorothy Wicke (99th).

The team comfortably retained their third place in the vets division standings.

Sarah Bolton was the best Basingstoke and Mid-Hants runner in the race, finishing 27th and second at under-20.

Clubmate Rebecca Skelton was 38th and 10th at under-17. Rhianna Edwards finished one place behind while Jenny Brierley was 48th and sixth at under-20.

Sian Harris was the 17th vet.

The men raced over 9k and Overton's international duathlete Ian Ford led in the home contingent in 18th place.

He was followed by Jamie Jones, in 31st place, club captain Dave Vosser (55th), Kieron Hooley (60th) and Martin Crawshaw (85th).

The Overton senior men's team finished first on the day in division two, which is possibly good enough to give them a chance of survival but certainly not promotion.

The Harriers B team was James Coney (122nd), Keith Clark (129th), Richard Francis (144th), Dave Titcomb (150th), Piers Puntan (174th) and Geoff Cloke (178th).

Basingstoke's John Hutchins continued his fine form by taking second place to move up to second in the overall standings and help his club senior team to a similar place in division one.

Darryl May was ninth, Jon Burrell 12th, Tom Bolton 13th and David Ragan 17th. Mark Simcox was 40th and Ric Sumner 43rd.

Jack Graham was the best local finisher in the boys' under-13 race. His fourth-place finish pushed him up to sixth in the overall standings and his Basingstoke team into the runners-up slot.

Clubmate Andrew Clements was the seventh finisher and joint seventh in the standings.

The under-15 boys were in action over a two-lap course of 4.5k, which included two tough hill sections on the edge of a ploughed field.

Phillip Berntsen, running in Overton colours for the first time, slotted quickly into third place behind the early leaders. On the second lap he move up to second place, missing victory by just five seconds.

David Fry was 14th in the under-17 race, helping his Basingstoke team to fourth place in the overall standings.

Overton's Craig Williams led for most of the first lap, before drifting off the pace to finish in 15th place.

Clubmate Aaron Harris was 17th while Mark Vardy, James Moorcroft and Robert Ridley finished 18th, 20th, and 25th respectively.

James Foulkes completed the home line-up in 30th position. Despite below-par performances, the team finished second behind Aldershot, Farnham and District.

Selena Henderson was the best local finisher in the girls' under-15 race. Her 17th place left her Basingstoke team fourth in the age group standings.

Rachel Duffy was 35th and Daisy Seabrook 18th at under-13.