Croydon Harrier's Young Athletes missed end of season glory by a whisker in their final UK Athletics Southern Premier League match at the Arena on Sunday.

Leading for most of the match they only succumbed at the very end to Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, with Team Southampton third and Bedford and County fourth.

Croydon stole the show with twenty-seven A string and relay wins but did not have the foot soldiers to hold the visitor at bay in the final attack.

In a national competition where U13 athletes are as important as their 16-year-old team mates, all rounder Shirin Irving scored maximum points in her three events and also anchored her relay team to victory.

All her own events were won at National Grade 1 level, with her 12.44 seconds 70m hurdles win into a -3.6m wind outstanding.

The U13 girls 4x100m team was clocked in the top time of 54.56sec.

All other sprinters were similarly challenged but very successful.

Cameron Smith headed the U17 100m A race in 11.52, while U15 Josh Atille took his 100m in 11.59 and 200m in 23.48.

Fast emerging U13 Kenny Konrad doubled in 12.19 and 25.88.

Kayon Christie looked good in the U17 300m, running well clear in 42.11.

Elliott Welch took the U17 400m well in 53.98.

U15 Faraz Rafi was a double winner in the field with his discus win at 37.70m leaving his closet challenger 10m adrift, while U17 thrower David Mitchell bounced back brilliantly after injury to win the javelin by over four metres at 43.90m.

Peter Chambers was the club’s sole middle distance winner. He comfortably headed his 1500m, while Jordan Maurice U17 finished a close second in a high quality 800m in 1.59.79 minutes.