A couple of runners took a turn for the worse in the latest race at Netley but there was little doubt about the overall winner.
Southampton Running Club's Andy Morgan-Lee put in one of his rare appearances in the series to score a convincing victory over New Forest Runners' star Lee Rodriguez.
The winning margin was even more than it should have been because a missing marshal on the turn into the home straight caused Rodriguez to take a short diversion.
Morgan-Lee was already 100 metres ahead at this point, so it did not affect the positions.
Rodriguez's teammate Chris Olden, last year's individual champion, was less fortunate.
He also went wrong at the same spot and by the time he had got back on track, his third place had become sixth.
But the small diversion was not enough to prevent New Forest Runners from taking first place in the team race, with a narrow victory over Southampton Running Club.
In the women's race, Bev Edwards of Winchester scored her first victory of the season, running away from the field.
She finished a long way clear of teammate Jan Ross, the 2000 individual champion. These two led their club home to an easy win in the team race. Hardley Runners were second team and also stand second to Winchester in the overall team league.
There is just a one-week break between race four and five so the next event will be staged this Wednesday at Itchen Valley Country Park, (7.30pm) and is being organised by Southampton City and Winchester & District AC.
full list of runners in tonight's Daily Echo.
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