THERE wasn't much time for Mike Hoey to scrape the mud from his shoes after a Hampshire cross-country race before he found himself squelching through quagmire fields in Dorset's toughest off-road 10 mile event the following day.

But all in all it was a satisfying weekend for the Bournemouth AC athlete as he came home an unexpected winner in the notorious Stickler race at Shillingstone having finished in the top 20 at a cross-country event at Goodwood less than 24 hours earlier.

Sunday's victory looked unlikely for Hoey with county half-marathon champion and last year's winner Peter Damon from Poole AC heading a record field of 450 runners towards Dorset's "three peaks" of Hod Hill, Okeford Hill and Hambledon Hill.

But less than a mile into the race, at the foot of the first and most punishing hill, Damon pulled out of the race.

That left the event wide open for the chasing pack and it was Hoey and Poole Runners' Andy Howse who scented victory most keenly.

The pair pushed on over the hills and through thick mud, including a final waterlogged stretch that resembled a paddy field, before Hoey claimed a famous victory in exactly 67 minutes for the 10.1mile multi-terrain challenge.

Howse was only 26 seconds behind and had the added honour of leading home the Poole Runners' winning team with Jim Aylmore an impressive fifth and Chris Guerrier 26th.

Despite losing key man Damon, Poole AC still managed to claim the second team prize with Ian Todd first back in ninth place.

The women's race was won by Yeovil's Jenny Moore in 79:43 from Lynda Faulkner of host club Dorset Doddlers, while the team prize went to Littledown Harriers' trio of Janie Pearce, Claire Freeman and Simone Clunningmen.

In the vet categories Blandford Striders' John Cakebread was second M50, Trina Lindop (Poole Runners) was first F50 and clubmate Miriam Gray was first F60.

The Stickler (local results) - Other club results - Poole Runners: 2 Andy Howse 67:26, 5 Jim Aylmore 68:25, 26 Chris Guerrier 74:47, 29 Scott Neil 75:29, 65 Mike Best 80:15, 75 Geoff Scott 81:14, 81 Graham Moyse 82: 07, 92 Roy Williams 83:45, 93 T Haughey 84:03, 108 Gary White 86:04, 129 Keith Fraser 88:40, 134 Andy Palmer 88:57, 136 Steve Daish 89:01, 141 (1st F50) Trina Lindop 89:25, 199 Brian Panton 95:36, 260 (1st F60) Miriam Gray 1:43:09, 277 Sandra Charles 1:45:16, 279 Steve Wardman 1:45:31, 300 Phil Burden 1:47:53, 318 Ginny Palmer 1:50:08, 326 Sue Goodship 1:51:13, 357 Jane Feather 1:56:44, 358 Angela Brown 1:56:52, 383 Sarah Dimmer 2:00:45.

Poole AC: 9 Ian Todd 71:03, 21 Mike Hirst 73:56, 34 Jason Robbins 76:25, 39 Lloyd Palmer 76:40, 54 Phil Burden 78:51, 70 Roy Carr 80:47, 114 Mike Trew 86:36, 189 George Wright 94:56, 273 Mike Alderson 1:44:49, 274 Mike Bayne 1:44:53, 294 George Wright 1:47:30, 344 Ray Ford 1:54:53, 384 Matt Dimmer 2:00:46, 386 Robert Sharman 2:00:59.

Lytchett Manor Striders: 14 Russ Conway 72:27, 58 Robert Burns 79:19, 88 Garry Williams-Lucas 83:13, 122 Tony Peach 87:49, 124 James Walsh 88:08, 160 Andrew Dennes 91:01, Kate Conway 94:28, 187 Jenna Dunphy 94:50, 253 Catherine Shelley 1:42:36, 265 Mike Leonard 1:43:36, 266 Penny Ettling 1:44:03, 275 Helen Yeoman 1:45:08, 286 Heather Brain 1:46:33, 319 Lisa Conway 1:50:24, 322 Laura Clay 1:50:48, 334 Andrew Clissold 1:53:58, 351 Liz Johnston 1:55:53, 380 David Hatch 2:00:23, 406 Caroline Bryant 2:08:27, 413 Amanda Smart 2:13:54, 416 Julie Jobling 2:20:41.

Littledown Harriers: 53 Graeme Miller 78:31, 107 Janie Pearce 85:56, 146 Claire Freeman 89:46, 149 Simon Davies 89:59, 196 Mike Terry 95:12, 257 Simone Cunningham 1:42:55, 297 Nicky Fooks 1:47:50, 298 Tracey Lander 1:47:50, 345 David Barwick 1:55:02.