CROSS COUNTRY: The U15 boys again proved to be the most dependable performers for Ealing Southall & Middlesex in the Southern Cross-Country championships in Hillingdon - with Karnvir Hayer claiming the best result of the day.

He finished second and the team ending up eighth. Both Hayer and Richard Charles were in the lead group early on, but Charles dropped out with stomach pains.

Hayer remained in contention until he was run out of the gold medal in the boggy final field.

Connor Hearn was the second to score in 58th, just seconds ahead of Chris Charles in 74th. Dalton McGuigan completed the team in 113th.

The senior women also had a good result to finish 12th out of 38 teams. Alison Hopkins made a steady start to the race and started moving through the field on the first long loop. She eventually climbed to 48th, her best ever finish in this race.

Fiona Kennedy adopted similar tactics. She caught team-mate Gemma Marrs halfway through the second long loop. She continued to gain places but lost ground in the last field. She finished 57th with Marrs 58th. Unfortunately for the team, Gemma was running in South London colours on this occasion.

Gill Morgan made a strong start to the race but was reeled in by Patricia Thomas, who took the third scoring place in 116th. Morgan was 122nd.

Kerry Baily was the best Middlesex runner in the U13 girls' race. She finished 43rd in a closely packed race. Shannon Powell was next in in 155th. The team finished 18th with the improving duo of Evie King and Rosie Bell completing the line-up in 172nd and 191st.

The U13 boys, unable to field a full team last year, had seven runners this time, led home by Fellan McGuigan in 104th. Duncan Pinder was 120th, Sam Shindler-Glass 141st with Tommy Fogarty-Cameron the last to score in 173rd. The team were 21st.

For the first time in four years the club also fielded a full U20 men's team for the race. Sam Ashcroft (52nd) came out on top, overhauling Luke Nicholas (66th) early on. Chris Hepworth was 77th, Martin Shelley 94th.

The club did not manage to field full teams in any of the other categories. But the best individual performance was Hannah Pollak's 27th place in the U20 women's race.

Helena French was 98th in the U17 women's race with Anthony Shaw and Myles Vale 145th and 158th in the equivalent men's race.

Ellis Redmond was best of the U15 girls in 192nd. Newcomer Rebecca Johnson was 201st, Grainne Gahan 219th.

Rob Brown, Richard Tomlinson, Andy Dodd, Mark Delahunty and John Blanchard were the club's only representatives in the senior men's race. Delays on public transport saw Bill Gristwood turn up just in time to see the race setting off.