Ham-based Ranelagh’s Jon Pepper won the battle, but his club did not win the war on the opening day of the Surrey Men’s Cross Country League season on Saturday.

Pepper, whose first claim club is Brighton Pheonix, clocked 27 minutes 57 seconds to win the Division One race in Coulsdon.

But with the next best Ranelagh performances seeing Chris Illman [30:12] finish 17th and Phil Killingley (31:01] 34th it was no surprise the club finished fifth over all.

Ranelagh’s women finished seventh in their Division One match at Richmond Park with Megan De Silva [26:23] leading them home in 14th.

Bushy Park parkrun regular Paul Lowe finished third for Stragglers Running Club in the Division Two match at Newlands Corner, clocking 27:28 in the process.