Compton Harriers brave Downland Challenge Marathon and 16-mile Run across West Berkshire and South Oxfordshire

More than 100 runners took part in Compton Harriers’ 23rd Downlands Challenge at the weekend.

Runners participated in either a marathon or a 16-mile run on Saturday, May 20, starting at Compton Recreation Ground from 9am and finishing by late afternoon.

The marathon spanned almost 27 miles across the rolling country hills from Compton to Chilton, East Lockhinge, Farnborough, West Ilsley and back again.

And the 16 mile event followed a similar route to Chilton, stopping short just past the Harwell Laboratories and looping back again.

In first place for the marathon was senior category runner Alex Briscoe, of the White Horse Harriers AC, who completed it in a time of three hours and five minutes

And Jack Miller, of Abingdon AC, came in first place for the 16-mile run, with a time of one hour and 49 minutes.

The organisers thanked all the competitors and helpers for making the day a success.

Members of Compton Harriers Running Club regularly enter a variety of races including road, cross-country, trail and fell running, with distances ranging from 400m right up to 100km+.