Thames Valley Harrier Andrew Hennessy continued his series of good performances in the Metropolitan Cross Country League when he finished second at the third meeting of the season at Horsenden Hill, Perivale on Saturday.

Steve Norris gained the better of Dean Clarke who commented: "I really dont like these muddy conditions. I just didnt feel Id raced today." Norris finished 18th just ahead of Clarke in 20th. Gordon Irvine finished 33rd.

The clubs veteran Lee Benjamin had a tussle with his younger rival, 20-year-old Manuel da Silva, over the three laps, just stretching away to finish 45th in 32.06 ahead of da Silva in 46th, whose outstanding performance gained him second place in the Mens Sealed Handicap in a time of 27.27 after his 4.45 allowance had been deducted.

Larry OBrien did well to finish 67th in 33.08. Top performer of the day, was the relative newcomer to cross country racing, Paul Hymers, who stormed round to finish in his highest ever League placing of 72nd to take the Sealed Handicap.

Kevin Edmonds, Richard Bell and Mich Hardie finished 89th, 91st and 94th to close in the A squad that took third team place.

In the womens event over 2.25 miles Kate Nunn again led the club home in 15th slot with Diana Kennedy 22nd.

The B contingent were all home within 62 seconds of each other as Naomi Reynolds finished 70th, Julie Brosnan 80th, Ann Brolley 81st, Maddy Smith 83rd, Maureen Fitzgerald 84th and final scorer Ruth Gladwyn 85th. Other finishers were Kathy Davidson 90th and Georgina Datnow 94th.