Ugandan-born Paskar Owor put in a last-lap surge to win the senior men’s 12km race at Satruday’s Surrey Cross Country Championships in Lloyd Park.

The Belgrave Harriers runner finished more than 30m clear in 40 minutes, 15 seconds to finish ahead of Serpentine’s Nick Torry who, like Owor, was appearing in the race for the first time.

Torry had led at the end of the first of three laps and was 30m clear at the end of the second before being hauled back in by Owor, whose last win had been in a Sweatshop Surrey League match at Coulsdon in November.

Aldershot’s Paul Rodgers, winner in 2003, and Thames Hare & Hounds’ James McMullan had stayed in touch for most of the race, but had to settle for third and fourth in 40:38 and 40:54 respectively.

Herne Hill’s Alan Barnes, who was 150m adrift of the leading pack by the end of the first lap, was fifth (41:58), with Thames’ Neil Chisholm (42:05) sixth, Hercules Wimbledon’s Kieran White (42:18) seventh and Epsom & Ewell’s Will Clark (42:29) eighth.

Herne Hill packed six of the first 25 runners to win the team event ahead of Belgrave Harriers, who were missing Phil Wicks — winner for the past three years.

Senior men’s teams: 1 Herne Hill 87, 2 Belgrave 116, 3 Hercules Wimbledon 146; 4 Thames Hare & Hounds 154, 5 Epsom & Ewell 250; 6 South London Harriers 274.

Other leading Herne Hill Harriers: 10 Chris Busaileh 42.49, 11 Jonathan Henderson 42.53, 17 Rob Karn 43.45, 19 Dave Robinson 43.59, 25 Ben Paviour 44.59.

Other leading Belgrave Harriers: 14 James Fairbourn 43.26, 16 Lander Eguia 43.41, 18 Wick Cockerill 43.50.

Other leading Hercules Wimbledon runners: 9 Adam Przedrsymirski 42.34, 26 Ian Horrocks 45.02, 31 Gervase King 45.57, 32 Richard Xerri 45.52.

Other leading Thames runners: 21 Nick Altmann 44.10, 22 Andy Weir 44.27.

The warm sunshine that greeted runners was stark contrast to the deep snow and freezing temperatures that caused them to be postponed on January 9.

Perhaps it was inevitable that the weather should have the final word.

Just as the senior runners were disappearing, the sun disappeared, the skies darkened and there was a brief, but heavy, snow shower.