Bill Makuwa returned from injury to gain his second successive win in Striders of Croydon’s annual Switchback five-mile cross country race, writes Alan Dolton.

The host club’s runner, clocked exactly 29 minutes, holding off the challenge of Herne Hill Harriers’ Mike Cummings by just a second.

The third placed runner, Kingston & Polytechnic’s Ron Taylor, was more than two minutes adrift in 31.02. Striders’ Iain Harrison was just a second behind in 31:03.

With Tony Sheppard fifth (31.17), winning the over-40 category, Ben Fancourt eighth and second over-50 (32.40) and Bob Ewen 10th (33.09), Striders took the team prize.

Colin Oxlade of Croydon Harriers was fastest over-50 and seventh overall (32.34).

First woman was Catherine Higgs of Serpentine, who was 29th overall, in 35.40.

Debbie Jackson finished strongly to take second in 36.41, leading Herne Hill to the women’s team prize.

Striders’ Alice Ewen was third (36.46), with Steph Upton fourth (37.33), Carmen Somerset 10th (42.47), Hannah Musk 13th (44.04) and Jo Penny 14th (44.43).

There were a total of 103 finishers.