Hundreds of runners converged on Lloyd Park, Croydon, for the Surrey Cross Country Championships on Sunday.

Although weather was fine and courses free of snow - unlike when they event was postponed in January - treacherous muddy stretches provided an extra challenge.

Host club Croydon Harriers provided the runner-up in the U15 race in Peter Chambers, who has just returned after ill health.

He was backed up by Patrick Lucas in ninth, Andrew Fanthorpe 27th and Marvin Burke 34th as Harriers took the silver medal spot.

Stevie Lawrence was fifth in the U13 girls’ race, with Mark Plackett matching that achievement in the U17 boys’ race.

The U13 boys finished in fifth team spot, headed by Harvey Stainthorpe in ninth place.

The men’s team finished eighth after their 12km race. Despite finding the going extremely tough in spikes too short for the task, James Buchanan led the way for Harriers in 20th place.

The following day, four Harriers youngsters took part in an U13 Downs League race at Epsom.

Trinity boy Harvey Stainthorpe won the race, with Stirling Gibbons ninth, Stevie Lawrence 10th (second girl) and Andrew Statter 14th. Harriers won the team event ahead of Kingston & Polytechnic.

After three matches, Lawrence is second girl overall, with Statter fourth boy.

Harriers representatives compete in the English National Championships at Roundhay Park, Leeds, this Saturday.