By Matthew Kiernan

Croydon Harriers took on some of the best endurance athletes in Kent and Surrey on Saturday at the Priory Park cross-country relays.

The Harriers fielded two teams in the 4x2.5m event, finishing 12th and 35th respectively in the 44-team field.

Peter Chambers kicked off the A team's efforts completing his leg in the 11th fastest time, in the field of 179 athletes, in 14 minutes, 12 seconds.

He handed to Andy Del Nevo (74th, 16:39) in fifth, before Neil Aikman (82nd, 16:58) took over on third leg.

With the team in 13th at the third change-over, Ben Savill (36th, 15:29) lifted Croydon into 12th and in the process bettered the team’s 2011 efforts by three places.

The B team of Mohsin Harhara (152nd, 19:21), Robert Rye (157th, 19:38) and Colin Oxlade (126th, 18:08) completed the B team.

Their young club colleagues got their Downs League campaign underway at Epsom Downs racecourse in the wind and rain 24 hours later.

Isaac Flanagan impressed on his debut in the U11s race over 1.5m, finishing fourth in 11:35. Caitlin Dixon was 25th in the girls' category and Brendon Duo was 19th on his club debut.

The trio ensured the club finished eighth out of 14 clubs in the team race.

In the U13s, Angus Harrington notched a podium finish over the two-mile course, finishing third in 12:51.

Abbie Burrett and Ellie McCormack were seventh and ninth respectively in the girls' race, with the trio finishing sixth of the 10 competing teams.

Rob Spalding led the squad in the U15s race finishing runner-up in 11:25.

He led the defending team champions to runners-up spot in the team race with Omar Harhara (sixth, 12:15), Jordan Walters (12th, 13:08) and fifth-placed girl Emily Howe (13:49) completing the scoring quartet.

Josie Kavanagh (sixth, 14:26), Naomi Carty (ninth, 14:39) and Cora Sexton (10th, 15:33) completed the B team, with the trio finishing seventh of the 10 teams in action.