IN tough conditions of rain and mud at Aldershot for the final Hampshire League fixture on Saturday, Reading Athletic Club’s Ollie Craggs had another fine run to finish second in the Under 13 race, giving him third place on aggregate over the winter season.

There was also success for the U17 team, who finished second to Aldershot again and second on aggregate, and the U15 team, who produced their best league performance of the winter, coming third.

On the testing course of squelchy fields and muddy woodland paths, in the 3km U13 race, Craggs and Aldershot’s Rudi Morrell soon opened a gap on the rest of the field.

However, after they had run together for most of the race, Craggs was forced to give ground in the final 800m, although he hung on well to finish just four seconds down as runner-up in a time of 11m 08secs.

Second home for Reading was Edward Lewis, who ran well to gain places towards the end to finish 29th in 12.37, and not far behind was Aidan Marshall with a strong run for 34th to complete the scoring team, recording 12.41.

Reading’s total of 65 gave them fifth position on the day and left them as fifth team on aggregate.

Reading’s non-scoring runners also did well with George Urwin-Mann running determinedly for 42nd place in 13.11, and Elliott McCarthy having his highest league finish of the season with a time of 15.03 in 60th.

Eddie Steveni again ran strongly to lead the U17 team home in their 6km race, although he was unable to keep pace with the leaders and finished fifth in 22.23.

Joseph Mott was Reading’s second-placed runner with another good effort for eighth place in 22.47, and the scoring team was completed by Tom Nike, running well on his return from illness with a time of 23.23 in 16th position.

Ben Rollings persisted well to finish 19th in 24.01.

For the U15s in their 4km race, Mattie Raynor moved steadily through the field after a slow start, but he was unable to make any impression on the leaders and had to settle for 16th position in a time of 16.26.

A typically committed effort from Laurie Baker earned him 24th place in 17.12, and the reliable Olly Moor completed the scoring team with 17.28 for 29th, while Aryan Gupta was not far behind, running well to finish in 32nd place as he recorded 18.02. Reading’s 69-point total was good enough to give them third place on the day, but they were left in fifth place overall.