THE first Istead and Ifield Harriers club runner of the year was Gillian Calliste who was up early to take part in the Serpentine 10k race.

She managed 254th place out of 422 finshers recording 51mins 41secs.

The first cross-country race of the year was at held at Avery Hill on January 2.

Harriers were short of runners because of work commitments or special courses for tri-athletes being held in Lanzarote.

The results reflected their absence as they fell to seventh place on the day but held on to fourth place in the league.

Results: Men's race: 196 finishers - Steve Lelliot, 24th; Derek George, 29th; Andy Francis, 31st; Peter Gibson, 48th; John Gilles, 64th; Steve Cable, 75th; Luke Hayesm 83rd; John Gurneym 86th; Peter Burtonm 111th; Mike Smith, 114th; Nick Clayden, 122nd; Alan Cowan, 129th; Andy Mace, 133rd and Bob Carter 168th.

Ladies' race: 71 finishers - Dawn Mcdonald, 24th; Tanya Yates, 28th; Sally Whitelaw, 38th; Gillian Calliste, 49th; Sandra Barbutti, 50th; Vicky Goodchild, 64th and Jeanette Giles, 68th.

Active adult runners are welcome to join the Harriers on Wednesdays from 7pm to 7.30pm at Cascades Leisure Centre, Thong Lane, Gravesend.

Swanley and District Athletics Club also had runners at the cross-country meeting.

Mike Baron, still suffering from an Achilles injury, was the first home for the club in 13th position with 14-year-old Nick Wood, running as a guest, finishing 48th.

Chris Barber showed continuing good form taking 64th while Mick Boddy was just behind in 71st, followed by Clive Walker in 98th, Simon Robertson in 109th and Greg Morris in 115th.

The women, with some late withdrawals due to illness, did well to finish 13th overall with Lynette Walker, still not recovered from a heavy cold, finishing in 163rd and Emma Wakefield, now recovered from her New York Marathon in November in 273rd.

The team was completed by Zena Harper, another Swanley runner competing in her first cross-country race, in an excellent 280th place.

The final race of the series is at Minnis Bay on January 22.

Other Swanley results: B Tucker, 123rd; B Pitkin, 128th; P Godbee, 147th; D Collier, 175th; G Turner, 182nd; D Lamkin, 195th; S Wood, 249th and S Sawyer, 281st.