An untimely attack of severe stomach cramp dashed the hopes of Worcester Park-based Belgrave international Phil Wicks to retain his South of England senior men's cross country title at Parliament Hill Fields on Saturday.

Wicks began to suffer soon after the start of the 15km race but, rather than drop out, he battled on around the three-lap muddy course in a vain attampt to help Belgrave gain their first set of teams medals in the event since 1971.

He was passed on the final lap by Belgrave clubmate and reigning Scottish cross country champion Mark Pollard, who went on to finish seventh out of more than 800 runners in 48 minutes 18 seconds.

Wicks, the reigning Surrey champion, finished ninth in 48:18.

With Simon Jones 18th in 49:34, team captain Will Cockerell 82nd in 53:38, triathlete Richard Stannard 85th in 54:09 and Tim Weeks 177th in 57:17, Belgrave were fourth team with 378 points, almost 100 points adrift of bronze medal position.

Belgrave would certainly have finished closer had James Fairbourn not taken a dramatic tumble. He finished the race in an ambulance, shocked and bleeding badly after a heavy fall on the testing course.

Two St Mary's students were battling for the honours but neither Andy Vernon, bronze medal winner at the European U23 championships in Spain, nor fellow international Keith Gerrard could match the speed of Frank Tickner from Wells City, who won in 46:14.

Vernon took the silver medal three seconds later, with Gerrard third in 47:00.

Thames Hare & Hounds second-claim member Huw Lobb, who trains at Battersea Park, finished fourth in 47:41.

Former Surrey champion Paul Rodgers, who dropped out of the Surrey championships at Croydon, was 17th in 49:33.

Epsom & Ewell's Surrey silver medallist Will Clark was third Surrey finisher, taking 30th place in 50:44, with Hercules Wimbledon second-claim member and Wimbledon schoolmaster James Trapmore 42nd in 51:34.

Thames Hare & Hounds' first finisher was James McMullan, who was 46th in 51:44, as they came ninth with 530 points.

Rest of TH&H team: Andy Weir (66th in 52:55), Nick Altmann (92nd in 54:26), Chris Daniel (101st in 54:41), Andy Howse (111th in 55:15), Simon Wurr (114th in 55:23).

Herne Hill were 13th with 722 points. Their first finisher was Rob Karn, 52nd in 52:11.

Rest of Herne Hill team: Ben Paviour (59th in 52:26), Keith Newton (63rd in 52:45), Jeff Cunningham (134th in 55:56).

Epsom & Ewell's Phil Sanger was 75th in 53:18.

Hercules Wimbledon closed in a team in the championship for the first time for several years.

Their runners were led by Aidan Hogan, 97th in 54:35, with Justin Kelly 154th in 56:43. The team finished 22nd.

Graham Brook was the first member of the Stragglers team which came 29th. He was 169th in 57:07.