MORE than 200 runners put their best foot forwards for the fifth Punch Bowl Challenge races last week.

All the runners competing in the 10k, 5k, 2.5k, 1k and 50m “dash” got a medal and the top prizes for the youngsters were presented by Anne Lynch, The Royal School principal. Haslemere Mayor David Round did the honours for the 10k race at Hindhead’s Devil’s Punch Bowl.

The winners were: 10k (male) : John Fairs; 10k veteran (male): Tim Patient (40), Paul Elliot (50), Neil Strachan (60); 10k (female) : Tara Oxley; 10k veteran (female) : Katy Ward (35), Donna Read (45), Ann Varnes (55); 5k (seniors over 16) : Andrew Oxley (male), Tara Oxley (female); 5k (12-16): Nicholas Hobbs (boys), Yasmine Gubby (girls); 2.5k (9-12): Will Bailey (boys), Finney Coomber (girls); 1k (6-8): Oliver Morley (boys), Rose Bridger (girls).

The event was jointly organised by the Haslemere Borders Athletics Club and The Black Down and Hindhead Supporters of the National Trust. The races raise funds for junior athletics coaching at the town’s athletic club and National Trust conservation work at Hindhead and Black Down.