Belgrave Harriers' 20-point advantage over Thames Hare and Hounds, following the first match in the Sweatshop Surrey League Division One cross country season, turned into a 40-point deficit on Saturday.

Dave Taylor, of Herne Hill Harriers, headed the field of 169 runners over two laps of Wimbledon Common to win the five-mile race in 26 mins and 6 secs (26:06).

Steve Sharp of Belgrave was second and former Belgrave international Gary Staines showing first for South London Harriers was in third place.

Belgrave's Knut Hegvold was eighth and first veteran home, while his wife Anne won the women's division two race.

Stephen Kennefick, captain Roger Alsop and Will Cockerell all finished around the 28 minutes mark, accompanied by former London Marathon winner Hugh Jones, who was second veteran.

Joachim Wolf, Guy Lavender, Kevin Quinn and Alister Jones were in the top 40, but with five of the Thames 10 scorers in the first eleven, it was an uphill struggle for Belgrave, who finished with 226 points to Thames' 145.

In the youths and boys competition, Belgrave move ahead of South London Harriers after their win on Saturday.

Matthew Jiggins and Paul Cowling were second and third in the race, while in the U13s competition Luke Shettle was second and fifth overall.

At Tilford, the women's team were beaten by Stragglers, despite having four runners in the top 10. Anne Hevold was the winner in 20:07, with Alison Hutton third, Nicki Haines fifth, Tania Sturton ninth and Vicki Goodwin 16th. Louise Collier won the U15 race.

In the European Trials race in Margate the following day, Spencer Barden was seventh, just 36 seconds behind winner Sam Haughian, of Windsor.

November 27, 2001 10:00