Thames Hare & Hounds won the Sweatshop Surrey League crown at Newlands Corner, Guildford, on Saturday.

But they had to hold off a stirring challenge from Herne Hill Harriers, winners for the past two years.

With Chris Smith winning the five-mile race in 25 minutes, 39 seconds, Herne Hill refused to throw in the towel, but a 67-point deficit going into the final match proved too much.

As Smith headed the 165-strong field through the opening lap, Thames’ James McMullan appeared his main rival.

But in the end it was Reigate Priory’s former Surrey champion Paul Rodgers who Smith had to hold off at the finish.

Smith, ninth in the previous weekend’s South of England Championships, won in 25 minutes, 39 seconds, with Rodgers second (25:42) and McMullan (25:53).

Herne Hill’s Orlando Edwards was fourth (26:00) while Belgrave Harriers’ Paskar Owor, in finishing fifth, shared the overall individual title with McMullan.

Other Herne Hill runners: 6 Kevin Quinn 26.09, 9 Alan Barnes 26.28, 15 Jonny Henderson 27.09, 25 Julian Critchlow 27.29, 26 Dave Mulves 27.32, 27 Jeff Cunningham 27.34, 28 Keith Newton 27.40, 29 Iain Lockett 27.45.

Other Thames runners: 7 Huw Lobb 26.12, 10 Martin Shore 26.54, 12 Ben Reynolds (first veteran) 26.58, 13 Neil Chisholm 27.01, 19 Simon Wurr 27.27, 22 Simon Molden 27.26, 31 Chris Daniels 27.50.

Belgrave’s South of the Thames champion James Kelly (26:56) was eighth, while Kieran White (26:56) was first home for Hercules Wimbledon in 11th.

Despite being too young to score in the senior race, Liam White was 13th (27:00), with Hercules team-mate Alex Robinson 16th (27:10) the first junior both on the day and over the season (27:10).

Other Hercules runners: 27 Adam Przdryzmirski 27:37, 37 Ian Horrocks 28:12, 43 Dave Clarke (first over-50) 28:43.

Epsom & Ewell, promoted at the end of last season, managed to hang onto their Division One place.

Leading Epsom runners: 18 Phil Sanger 27.14, 21 Will Clark 27.24, 34 Matt Donnery 28.02, 40 Clayton Payne 28.29.

Despite finishing sixth, their best team performance of the season, Ranelagh Harriers were relegated with Guildford & Godalming.

Leading Ranelagh runners: 20 Phil Killingley 27:21, 42 Peter Harper 28:42.

Teams: 1 Herne Hill 167; 2 Thames Hare & Hounds 188; 3 Hercules Wimbledon 390; 4 Belgrave 409; 5 Reigate Priory 478; 6 Ranelagh 586; 7 Epsom & Ewell 607; 8 Guildford & Godalming 608; 9 South London Harriers 662.

Final standings: 1 Thames Hare & Hounds 763; 2 Herne Hill (holders) 809; 3 Belgrave 1,742; 4 Hercules Wimbledon 1,948; 5 Reigate Priory 1958; 6 South London Harriers 2,020; 7 Epsom & Ewell 2,296; 8 Guildford & Godalming 2,352; 9 Ranelagh 2,492.