HARLOW Running Club used their home advantage to great effect over the weekend, smashing the opposition in the last Run-In Cross Country League meeting to give themselves the chance to take the national title that they claimed two years ago.

Russ Madams and Pippa Jackson, who now live in Folkstone, made a special trip to represent their club and were rewarded with a first and second place in their respective categories, with Russ finishing over a minute ahead of clubmates John Burnett and Steve Read in second and third places respectively.

Brook Lafferty pulled out the stops to finish sixth, his best position of the season, while Alan Broughton finished a creditable eighth, this despite him being in the middle of training for the marathon. Graham Pugh was the first veteran home in 18th place.

Tracey Alexandrou, who is managing director of the Run-In store that sponsors the league, held off strong opposition from Stortford to finish just behind Pippa in third, while new signing Irena Barker finished her first cross-country of the season in 10th place to complete the ladies' scoring. Considering Jane Andrews was competing in the National Cross Country Championships in Bristol the day before, her 16th place was a creditable finish.