ANDREW Pickett, who came 24th, was the first Dartford Harrier home in the competitive Kent Senior mens cross-country league race held at Danson Park on Saturday.

Conditions were extremely testing for the 10-kilometre event which involved three laps of the park.

After Pickett, the other finishing places for Harrier athletes were Tim Orr (30th), Nick Bance (52nd), Jason Marchant (79th), Vic Withey (90th), Tony Farmer (128th), Paul Hills (137th), Bob Coombes (148th), and John Sawyer (153rd).

The next meeting is on Saturday in Canterbury, starting at 10am.

On Sunday, boys from the Harriers took part in the Parkwood Boys League at Kent University in Canterbury.

The river which crosses the usual course had swollen by four feet with a width of nine feet, so the boys were re-routed to several laps through the woods.

In the under-13s race over approximately 2,500 metres, Harriers Stephen Munn was second and Robert Bradbury 13th.

Tom Campey won the 3,000 metres under-15 race, with Michael Valentine sixth, Alex Spooner (eighth), David Healey was ninth, Tom Keetch 10th, Michael Evans 16th and Martin Withey one place further back.

There was also a first place for Harriers Tom Fahey in the 3,500 metres under-17 event in which Matthew Withey came 11th.

The next meeting is on Saturday week at West Wickham in the Kent League.

Four members of the Istead and Ifield Harriers completed the Margate 10-mile road-race on Sunday.

First home for the club was Peter Burton in 66 minutes and 10 seconds, followed by Bob Carter in 75 min 25sec, while for the ladies Gillian Caliste came home in exactly 86 minutes with Helen Fookes four minutes further behind.

The club is always looking for new members. Call 01474 832874 for details. Club night is Wednesday, meeting at Cascade Leisure Centre, Thong Lane, Gravesend, at 7pm.

Five members of the Gravesend Road Runners were also in action in Margate, and Graham Rose was the first member home, with a personal best time of 65 min 58sec, followed by Matt Dixon in 69:02.

Mike Caulder clocked 71:32, while Alison Pretious finished in 81:29.

The club is keen to attract new members of all ages and abilities. Club night is Tuesday at the AEI Sports Club Headquarters in Dunkirk Close, Gravesend. For details, call 01474 566796.