THE SECOND Birmingham Cross Country League Division One meeting took place at Sandwell Valley where Bromsgrove & Redditch Athletic Club runners produced an improved display from the first event.
The course was 10km of one small and three big laps and was firm underfoot.
The climbs throughout the park cut up as the race went on and it was Richard Horton of Loughbrough Students who claimed victory.
The B&R athletes registered a much-improved points total but unfortunately for them still finished bottom of this very hard division.
The team was led home by young senior Connie Smith in 22nd and then came Mark Appleton (125th), Andrew Freeman (148th), Kevin Lanckham (162nd), Robert Mole (165th), Ian Keyte (183rd), Tom Smith (191st), Darryll Thomas (195th), Calvin Scoltock (197th), Dean Hartshorne (220th), Sam Lake (230th), Phil Richardson (231st), Ian Nutter (254th) and Phil Anderson (256th).
Redditch-based athlete Joe Smith, representing Tipton Harriers, recorded his best finish in the Birmingham League as he clocked a superb eighth position.
The next cross country race is the third Gloucester League meeting, to be held at Katharine Lady Berkeley’s School near Wotton-under-Edge on December 17.