Striders of Croydon faced strong opposition in the second Surrey Cross-Country League Division Two match of the season, on their home course at Lloyd Park on Saturday.

Their best performance came from Lee Flanagan, who ran a well-judged race to finish 33rd in a high-quality field, covering the undulating five and a quarter mile course in 31 minutes 35 seconds.

Bill Makuwa was hampered by a calf injury but battled on to finish 42nd (32.01) while Steve Starvis was 49th (32.36), Krzysztof Klidzia 53rd (32.52), Damian Macenhill 59th (33.10) and Rob Sharpe 68th (33.40).

John Foster ran well to place third in the over-50 category and 74th overall (34.10), while Barry White was 79th (34.23), Mike Stewart 87th (35.10) and Matt Chapman 88th (35.14).

Striders had 17 of the 143 finishers. The team climbed off the bottom of the table, but remain in the relegation zone in a very competitive division.

On Saturday, Striders are competing in the London Cross-Country Championships, at Parliament Hill Fields.