Nick Buis has won the men’s CC6 winter cross country series with a race to spare, after taking victory at Denny Wood at the weekend.

Buis, a member of the race hosts Totton Running Club, took victory for the third time in the series, following his previous two triumphs at Kings Inclosure and Janesmoor Pond, Stoney Cross.

The champion still had enough energy left in him to run 10 miles home after the race, as he looks to continue his impressive run of form on the cross country circuit.

He grabbed four race wins in the RR10 league in 2012, and yesterday capped a wonderful 12 months for the 32 year-old.

He was trailed by a pair of athletes from Southampton, with Graham Fisher and Tim Sherman finishing in second and third place respectively. Meanwhile, the gold for the men’s team event was achieved by Lordshill.

Lymington’s Valerie Sesto, pictured left, was the winner of the women’s race, and managed to compete with some of the faster male competitors in a dominant performance.

Jessica Barling took the runner-up spot, as the Lordshill runner was testing her skills on the cross country format after a number of successful road races.

Third place went to Lisa Elmore of New Forest Runners.

A field of over 150 brave competitors took part in the race into the heart of the New Forest, which included five miles of mud, water and gravel in fairly poor weather conditions throughout.

The last race in the series takes place on Sunday, March 6 at Fleming Park , Eastleigh.

Results in today's Daily Echo