Andy Rayner finished an excellent 18th place in the Senior Mens race at the Saucony National Cross Country Championships which took place in glorious sunshine at Parliament Hill Fields.

The Blackheath & Bromley athlete, who is in heavy training for the London Marathon, led the Club’s team to 20th place.

The evergreen Dave Taylor, a former 4th placer in this event, finished in 108th at the age of 48. Joint team manager Alex Gibbins, who along with David McKinlay and Richard Hall did so much to muster the team for the race and for the evening celebrations at the Clubhouse, in 168th, Peter Tucker 242nd, Danny Brewer 317th and Jamie Darling 366th completed the scoring six. Seventh placer Russell Bentley had been in the top 50 for most of race until a severe stitch brought him to a grinding halt over the last couple of miles. He finished 407th. With Dan Ryan 594th and Roy Priestley 609th the Club were 17th in the 9 to score team race.

Rayner’s girlfriend Elaine Murty had another fine run in the womens race where she placed 26th. With Sarah Dowling 215th, Jane Bradshaw 220th and Rosie Ferguson 232nd the team were 21st.

Best result in the younger age groups came from the under 13 girls who finished in 4th place. Led by Naomi Kingston in 14th and with Jessica Keene 18th, Georgina Taylor 59th and Yasmin Austridge 80th they were just 16 points off the bronze medals. Behind the scoring four more good performances came from Shannon Riskey in 96th, Natalie Falshaw 104th, Mary Guy 185th and Molly Dent 335th.

The Junior Women finished in 7th place thanks to some close packing with Clare Parkin 66th, Melody Kane 67th and Danielle Critchley 74th. Second claim member Pippa Woolven was 5th in the race representing her first claim club Wycombe Phoenix. For the men Loughborough University student Stephen Cavey closed in 112th.

Kate Curran was first home for the Club in the under 17 womens race in 61st place and with Amber Reed finishing 87th, Bethony Frost 131st and Emma Rowland 149th they were 14th in the team race. Will Ruiz was the Club’s only finisher in the mens race in 235th.

Charlotte Rhule led the under 15 girls home in 94th place. Backed by Lucy Sidey in 119th, Niamh Bridson Hubbard 192nd, Leah Everson 232nd and Chloe Haffenden 337th the team were 21st.

The boys team were 24th with Will Fuller 134th, Richard Webb 141st, Bailey Stickings 195th, Thomas Desborough 281st,Jonathan Court 327th, Anthony Caballero 349th and Luke Russell 357th. The under 13 boys came in a very promising 11th place with Jake Potter the first finisher in 64th. Joss Barber was 70th, Charlie Davis 157th, Niyi Akin Agunbiade 182nd, Remi Ullah 194th, and Scott Bulmer 304th.

Few could remember such Spring like conditions for this event but no doubt it will be chiller next year when the Championships move North to Sunderland.