READING Athletic Club's Jess Gibbon recorded yet another brilliant success as she led the club's senior women's team to victory in the season's final Hampshire cross Country League fixture at Popham Airfield on Saturday.

In perfect weather on the day before storm Ciara, and on a course which was much firmer than expected, Gibbon and her Reading teammates Naomi Mitchell and Anna Boniface soon opened a gap over the chasing field.

Gibbon proceeded to increase her lead as the 6km race unfolded, eventually winning by nearly a minute in a time of 21.56.

Mitchell moved clear of Boniface to finish second in 22.53, with the latter holding on to third in 23.12 to secure another team victory.

Reading had already secured the League title, and this result confirmed their dominance.

Gibbon, with four first places from the five fixtures, was the individual champion, with Mitchell second and Under 20 Georgia Hayes third, while Boniface finished seventh overall.

The Reading veterans team of Sue Francis (45th, 28.16), Julie Rayfield (50th, 28.37) and Debbie Taylor (55th, 28.59) secured third place on the day and second overall, with Sarah Urwin-Mann winning the individual veterans' title.

Other runners: Sarah Holmes (23rd, 25.51), Lynne Henderson-Nike (67th, 29.45), Rachel Phillips (71st, 30.05), Kathryn Tolson (79th, 30.29), Claire Mills (84th, 30.48) and Heidi Painting (133rd, 39.01).

Reading also had success in the 5km U17 women's race, with Naomi Harris winning impressively by 20 seconds in 20.18.

With Lara Tolson sixth in 22.40, Oonagh O'Driscoll 11th in 24.51 and Evie Warren 14th in 25.40, Reading won the team race on the day and were second overall, while Harris was second on aggregate, Tolson 10th and Warren 15th.

In the 4km U15 girls' race, Reading's Ella Newman, Holly Haldane and Evie Elson packed well in fourth, fifth and sixth in times of 15.29, 15.43 and 15.47 respectively to gain second team position on the day and second overall.

Talia Painting had an improved run for 22nd place in 17.20, while Jemima Crocker finished 25th in 17.41 and Lola Batt just behind in 26th with 17.58.

In the final individual standings Haldane, Newman and Elson finished fifth, sixth and seventh.

The U13 girls in their 3km race finished as fifth team on the day and fourth overall.

They were led home by Gracie Haldane in 19th place in 13.16, followed by Emma Yeadon in 24th with 13.27, Georgie Langdon (26th, 13.36) and Poppy Chick (33rd, 13.53).

In the U15 boys' 4km race, Oli Snoxall took the opportunity in the absence of Reading's other leading runners to come up with his best result of the season as he strode to an excellent fifth place finish in a time of 14.03.

He was backed up by Adam Methven, who ran well for his 38th place in 15.47, and by Adam Tivey, whose determination gained him 42nd with 16.01.

Reading's 85-point total gave them sixth place on the day and sixth in the final league positions, while Snoxall also finished fifth in the individual standings.

Laurie Baker in the U17 men's 5km race also showed improved form with his best league result as he finished in a fine 10th in a time of 19.37.

Isaac Mileham's 19th place in 23.23 was also a best for the season, but the lack of a third runner meant Reading were unable to complete a team.

However, on the strength of their results in the previous fixtures Reading were placed fourth overall, and in the final individual standings, Mattie Raynor was 10th and Baker 12th.

For the U13 boys in their 3km race, Jacob Sheikh competed well and finished in 29th place in a time of 12.37, while Reading Rascals runners Noah Tyers (36th in 12.53) and Ollie Shears (41st in 13.13) ran determinedly and showed they will be an asset to the club.

As a result of the outcome of the previous fixtures, Reading finished sixth on aggregate, with Sheikh 21st and Tyers 28th individually.

Dan Thorne led the way for the senior men's team in their 10km race, securing an excellent third place, while Mark Booth was next home for Reading in 12th (35.30).

He finished one position ahead of Callum Gillett (35.25), with Under 20 James Fox 20th in 35.53 and final scorer Martin Turton 29th (36.35).

These results meant Reading totalled 77 points and fourth place on the day, with the club ending in the same position for the whole season, one ahead of Reading Roadrunners.

Other runners: David Lewis (37th, 37.09), Aaron Doherty (43rd, 37.29), Tom Nike (61st, 38.36), Garry Kerr (99th, 40.46), James Quinn (130th, 41.58), Alec Vessey (138th, 42.43), Joe Hayes (147th, 43.15), Andy McDonald (152nd, 43.47), Gerry O'Driscoll (219th place, 52.06).