A BRAVE trio of Halstead Road Runners took on the Southern Cross-Country Championships at Parliament Hill, Hampstead Heath.

The race boasts a spectacular start, which makes for impressive viewing for spectators as the runners charge forward cresting the long hill.

More than 1,000 men from across the South of England participated in the famously muddy and hilly nine-mile race with Wesley Atkins (522nd) and Richard Candler (719th) representing the Road Runners.

Ladies raced in the same testing conditions over five miles with Sarah Frost (545th) the sole female representative from the club.

The Road Runners were out in force at the 53-12 Cross-Country League fixture at Writtle College.

Atkins (55th), Sam Wolton (85th) with his best finishing position of the season, chairman Paul Hinsley (96th) and Simon King (115th) were Halstead's scoring men.

But Ian Chandler (124th), Andy Carter (128th), Dan Hollinshead (130th), John Warne (151st), Richard Tiller (155th) and Chris Hill (171st) ensured there were plenty of yellow vests packing out the rest of the field.

Caroliena Cameron was first home again for the ladies, improving by one position on the previous week in 19th, while Kathryn Bronson, in training for the London Marathon, was the other scorer (25th).

The remainder of the ladies’ team were Melanie Candler (28th), Hazel Buist (33rd), Charlotte King (42nd), Wendy Carter (49th) who continued despite a nasty tumble, Lorraine Garnham (56th) and Nicole Smith (59th).

Sarah Frost (81st), racing for the second day in a row, still managed to put in a sprint finish with a smile on her face.

Halstead finished third on the day for both men, women and overall in Pool B.

They are level in second place with Tiptree going into the last race, however, neither team can catch Hadleigh Hares who will be promoted to Pool A next season.

Adam Buckle did the off-road Hadleigh Legacy 10k, which follows the tough 2012 Olympic Mountain Bike course. Buckle finished in 62 minutes 33 seconds.