Athletes from Blackheath Harriers, Bromley produced a string of fine individual and team performances at the Reebok International Cross Challenge at Margate, which incorporated the Senior and Junior trial races for the European Championships in Thun, Switzerland in December.

The meeting also incorporated the latest round of the Kent Women's and Young Athletes League in which the club had three individual winners.

Michael Skinner came 16th in the senior men's race and, running as an individual, finished ahead of a number of athletes who had been selected to represent the South of England, including club-mate Dan Ayrton who finished in a useful 28th.

Skinner's run must catapult him into contention for a full England vest on the country to add to the Great Britain under-23 selection he has already achieved for 1,500 metres.

In the senior women's race Jennie Butler was also ahead of athletes selected to represent their areas, as well as athletes from France and Luxembourg. Her 35th place overall saw her record her second successive Kent League victory, 33 seconds clear of the next best runner.

With Karyn O'Mahoney seventh and Julia Harrington 13th, the team equalled its best ever position of second achieved in the opening fixture at Tunbridge Wells.

The club is currently top the League after two matches, albeit by the narrowest of margins. They are level on league points with Ashford and newly-amalgamated Medway & Maidstone, but head the table courtesy of a one-point superior match points score.

Valuable back up from Carolina Jones Baldock (25th), Val Place (26th), Anne Cilia (31st), Sarah Cummings (34th) and Alison Jelly (37th) leaves the club with a realistic chance of lifting the League trophy for the first time.

In the junior men's race, Andrew Rayner had his best-ever race when finishing 16th overall ahead of athletes from France, Belgium and Holland a performance that also enabled him to win the Kent League race.

With William Bolton third and Matt Hill fourth, the club easily won the Kent League race and also beat France in the Cross-Challenge team race.

The club's other individual Kent League winner was Rebecca Taylor who took the under-13s race for the second successive time with Aimee Boyle in sixth.

Danny Brewer came second in the boy's race and backed by Tom Corbett and Michael Thorpe, the team finished third.

Ray Perkins achieved his highest ever position in the Kent League as he finished third in the under-17s boys' race, as did Bryony Proctor who was ninth in the under-15 girls' race.

Meanwhile, Con Griffin timed an excellent 33mins 31secs in the Brighton 10km race, a personal best even though he is now over 45! He was fourth veteran overall and first over 45 runner.

Indoors, Denis Wallington and Jim Day won the South Of England over-50s and over-65s pentathlon titles.

For further details on the club, visit the website at: www.blackheath-harriers. org. uk

November 20, 2001 13:15