TWENTY-year-old Matt James of Hereford Couriers scored his first race victory in a hard-fought inaugural race of the Herefordshire Summer Off-Road League.
Wye Valley Runners hosted the event in the grounds of Holme Lacy College, which provided a testing course of three laps including a water splash.
James tracked team-mate and training partner Tim Clarke over the first two laps with Wye Valley's cross-country league champion Mike Fawcett in close attendance. James had been in this position a few times in recent races but Clarke had always prevailed.
Just before the final climb on the last lap James made a telling break and managed to maintain the slender gap to win by six seconds. Fawcett dropped off the pace but still finished a clear third with veterans Dave Williams and Colin Kerfoot filing the next two places.
The leading Couriers men provided a strong foundation for the mixed team victory.
Couriers' dependable Alison Cooke finished as second female in 24th place for a Couriers team total of 31 points. Wye Valley's Rachel Hatfield pushed hard to finish 15th overall to help her team into second place on 42. Hereford and County's Dana Matousova ran well to finish third woman in 27th place.
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