THE 2018 Headley Fun Run took place on bank holiday Monday, May 7, with 260 runners braving the heat.

Those over age 14 ran a five-mile-trail course, which started at the sports pavilion, before heading out to Gentles Copse. The water station at the Pond Road car park was a welcome sight for runners at approximately two miles.

Organisers described the scenic route as “hard going” and this year, due to the hot weather, it was even more so. A shorter route, of just under two miles, was popular with about 70 children under 14 taking part.

This year a chip-timing company was introduced. Runners were timed individually as they crossed the start line and then back again at the finish.

Organisers congratulated the first-place winners: David Reid (age 14-39 male), Daniel Allaway (40-plus male), Vicki Clarke (14-38 female), Sally Goble (39-plus female), Felix Coomber (under-14 male) and Finney Coomber (under-14 female). A list of the results can be found at www.eventchiptiming.com.

Event organiser John Bradshaw thanked “the many volunteers who gave up their time over a bank holiday to help ensure the event ran smoothly”.

This included Peter Shuff and his helpers for marshalling the route, marking out the course, registration, setting up, collating results, manning the water station, providing refreshments and organising road closures. The Woolmer Forest Lions organised the car park, St John’s Ambulance were on hand, and the National Trust and diocese were thanked for allowing land to be used. Stuart Senior was thanked for ensuring that all runners made it safely back.

The Headley Fun Run is a non-profit-making event, raising funds to support sport in the community and other local charities. It relies on volunteers, runners and sponsors. This year’s sponsors included: Altis Tool Hire (equipment and trophies to winners), Alton Sports (vouchers), Headley Lodge of Freemasons (medals), Tesco Bordon (water), The Royal Exchange Lindford, Kingswood Letting & Financial (bib numbers), Badgerswood Surgery, Coomers, Grover Furniture, Headley Fine Foods, Headley Parish Council, Mrs M Hedgecock, Peter Leete & Partners, Luff’s Farm shop, Martin Cashmore, Iron Hill Construction, Moore Motors, Marshall Developments, Rooney Signs and Barry Read (architect).