He is the current Club Under 13 3000 metre record holder and GB Senior International on the country, but Michael Skinner is now officially a veteran/master. He has always been a Master in his clubmates eyes and having celebrated his 35th birthday during the week, he showed his class by winning the Blackheath & Bromley v Orion mob match and leading the Club to victory over a waterlogged course at Hayes on Sunday morning.

His time for the 7.5 mile course was 48.43 with Alex Gibbins, another veteran, second in 48.58 and Under 20 Richard Webb third in 49.09. With 7 finishers in the top 10 and 19 in 30, the Club comfortably won the team race scoring 27 a side with 604 points to the visitors 986.

The race also incorporated a veterans mob match and the Club won this as well with 306 points to 450. It was also the Club 7.5 mile Championships and the winner of the womens race was Carole Penlington who was 25th overall in 57.39 and first woman to finish. Second was young Amy Leach in 64.19 with Sarah Belaon third in 64.35. Further down the field Paul Austridge finished in 61st place the morning after celebrating his 50th birthday at the Clubhouse.

The race also included the latest of the Bennett Cup races, a series of handicap events which take place over the Winter months. Winner on this occasion was Gerry Alger with Chris Tuck second and John Leeson third.

After three of the nine races Fintan Parkinson is the overall leader on 150 points with Chris Pike second on 146 and Iain Swatton third on 140. There is still plenty of time for the lead places to change.

Fintan had actually been in action the previous morning when he finished in second place in the Peckham Park Run. Another who ran both days was Marco Arcuri who was third, running the race as his mother was celebrating her 50th birthday by completing her 50th park run.

The Club had four winners in the various races around the country. Georges Vacharopoulos won the South Manchester event, Ben Cockburn (Orpington), and Peter Tucker (Dartford) while Genny Allen was the first woman to finish at Lloyd Park.

Meanwhile at the Midland League 5 and 10km race walk at Warwick University, Roger Michell finished in 6th place in the 5km race in 29.44. David Hoben was 15th in the 10km in 69.30.