The last of this season s Three Counties cross-country league races at Bedford was demanding for the 13 members of Biggleswade AC on Sunday. The Bedford race was a flat fast race based around Priory Marina Park, involving three river crossings. On a frost

The last of this season's Three Counties cross-country league races at Bedford was demanding for the 13 members of Biggleswade AC on Sunday.

The Bedford race was a flat fast race based around Priory Marina Park, involving three river crossings.

On a frosty cold morning, this made soaking wet clothing and drenched spikes numbing to the legs and feet.

Alan Broughton finished in a fantastic 11th position but the club race was being run behind him with Gavin Elliott and Damien Pitts continually over-taking each other for the whole five miles.

Both senior men fought hard but Gavin pulled through towards the end to finish in 30th, 13 places in front of Damien.

Another inter-club battle was going on further back in the field between Mark Peacock and Tanya Tatchley who ran practically the whole race together.

Although Tanya took a slight lead after the river crossings, Mark worked extremely hard in the last half a mile to push forward and steamed past Tanya metres before the line.

The river crossings proved too much for another club member, Andy Bruce, who fell into the water at the first crossing.

He was pulled out by female team-mate Zoe Dawson, who also had to drag her fellow club runner up the bank on the other side.

Andy, however, finished successfully in 100th position to match his running number.

Roy Stevens, Chris Clarke and Tony Haymes also collected valuable team points on the day.

In the ladies' race, Dawson headed up the female contingent in ninth position despite tough competition on the day.

Jan Forrester also collected points for the ladies' team in 31st, shortly followed by Rebecca Tippett after an outstanding performance in 46th.

The ladies' team finished the Bedford race in eighth overall and the men in ninth.

The club finished this year's league in ninth overall.

The highlight of the league award ceremony was Karen Worrall winning the award for the first lady vet 35 for the 2005-6 season.

Final results, men: Alan Broughton 11th; Gavin Elliott 30th; Damien Pitts 43rd; Roy Stevens 51st; Andy Bruce 100th; Chris Clarke 109th; Tony Haymes 139th; Colin Harries 168th; Mark Peacock 183rd.

Women: Zoe Dawson ninth; Jan Forrester 31st; Rebecca Tippett 46th; Tanya Tatchley 51st.