Herne Hill Harriers’ men’s cross country team reluctantly handed over the coveted Surrey League title to local rivals, Thames Hare and Hounds, after losing the league for the first time in four years.

With 32 runners in the men’s race, Herne Hill Harriers had the biggest and the best team of the day, winning the final Surrey League fixture at Guildford on Saturday in resounding fashion.

But the Harriers’ were unable to overturn a 67 points deficit and Thames Hare and Hounds resilience on the day gave them a well deserved and well fought victory. Herne Hill Harriers’ young male athletes were also in action at the same venue earlier in the day and included another superb run by young under 13 boy Merhawi Tesfaldet, who won his own age group by a big margin and placed 2nd overall in a race that included runners up to and including the age of 17.

Runners are being invited to take part in the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile at Tooting Bec track on Sunday, March 21. The event is being held on a traffic-free route. Entry details: sportrelief.com/the-mile/tooting-bec-mile