Striders of Croydon’s have won promotion to Surrey Women’s League Division One.

A second-placed finish in their final Division Two match of the season saw them also climb to second in the final standings.

Helen Furze led the way by covering the muddy five-mile course in 32 minutes 35 seconds to finish sixth.

Other leading Striders runners: 16 Suzy Yates 33.30, 24 Faye Stammers 36.06, 26 Josephine Thompson 36.27, 29 Alice Ewen 36.39.

Match result: 1 Kingston & Polytechnic 90, 2 Striders of Croydon 101, 3 Epsom & Ewell 102, 4 Hercules Wimbledon 157, 5 Sutton Runners 210.

Striders also showed their strength in depth by having the first B team to finish.

B runners: 34 Steph Upton 37.10, 47 Carmen Somerset 39.09, 54 Hannah Musk 39.53, 68 Linda Daniel 41.26, 88 Jo Penny 43.21.

Missing a couple of their leading runners, Striders men had to settle for third of the ninth competing clubs in Richmond Park, narrowly missing out on promotion.

The consistent Matt Morgan ran well to finish seventh, completing the five-mile course in 28:37.

Other leading Striders runners: 13 Justin Macenhill 29.29, 23 Steve Starvis 30.18, 32 Lee Flanagan 30.52, 36 Richard Lee-Smith 31.01, 56 Lee Wadsworth 32.07, 63 Barry White 32.29, 67 Rob Sharpe 32.40, 74 John Foster 32.50, 76 Mick Turner 33.00.

Division Two final standings: 1 Dorking 1,358, 2 Stragglers 1,371, 3 Striders of Croydon 1,392.

Striders compete in the East Surrey League cross country relay on Wimbledon Common this Saturday.