Robbie James led South London Harriers' challenge in the South of England Cross Country Championships at Parliament Hill Fields, Hampstead Heath on Saturday.

Robbie was 31st home of 800 runners competing over nine miles.

For various reasons, some of South London Harriers' usual frontrunners were missing on this occasion, leaving the club's staunchest competitors to take part in atrocious conditions.

After Robbie's 56 minute, 15 second run came Phil Scarles in 63:34 (189th), Martin Wood in 64:24 (215th), Steve Triner in 66:25 (279th), Clive Edgington in 67:00 (290th), Antonio Martins in 68:15 (320th), Peter Emery in 73:34 (493rd), Nigel Costiff in 76:59 (594th) and Barry Attwell in 79:45 (652nd).

In the boys' under-13 race over 2.5 miles, Peter Humphrey was 55th in 14:41, Ben Ladbrook was 101st in 15:21 followed by Matthew Benn (139th, 16:21) and Jamie Eve (151st, 16.41) giving the team 14th place.

In the under-15 event over three miles, SLH had only two competitors so did not contest the team competition. However, fine runs from Daniel Hooper and David McKinlay gave them 113th place and 185th place respectively in times of 22:44 and 25:29.

The under-17's race was over four miles and Francis Bell had a good run to finish 38th in 26:44 ahead of Pat Canavan (42nd) and Louis Chamberlain (110th, 29.49).

The senior women's event was again without some of SLH's normal stalwarts but superb performances from Alison Mackenzie (83rd, 43.43), Gill O'Connor (99th, 44.47), Nichola Chalke (199th, 52.19) and Marketa Martins (202nd, 52:29) assured the team 21st place.