England's top cross country runner, Frank Tickner, made a surprise appearance in the second of this season's 2XU Surrey cross country league meetings at Denbies Vineyard, Dorking, on Saturday.

Although not a member of one of the competing clubs, Tickner was keen to get a race sharpener before the European cross country trials in Liverpool next weekend and organisers agreed to let him compete.

Tickner, the reigning English cross country champion who also finished runner-up in last season's UK Inter-Counties championship, looked in a class of his own as he sped away from the rest of the near 200-strong field to win by more than 200m in 24 minutes 21 seconds.

Behind him there was a close battle for the league honours as Hercules Wimbledon's Alex Bruce-Littlewood, competing in the league for the first timer this season, and Belgrave's Paskar Owor, who was a comfortable winner of the opening race on Wimbledon Common, were having a close battle.

Bruce-Littlewood managed to get away in the second half of the race to take the league honours by around 40m in 25:07 with Owor clocking 25:16.

Herne Hill and Thames Hare & Hounds had their usual battle for the team honours with Herne Hill stretching their lead at the top of the league to 46 points intensifying Thames' challenge to hang onto their title.

Herne Hill packed solidly with their scoring 10 among the top 32 with Alan Barnes and Chris Busaileh fighting it out for the honour of leading the team to victory. It was won by Busaileh who finished fourth (25:50), three seconds ahead of Barnes.

Jonny Henderson (ninth in 26:30), Brian Wilder (12th in 26:45), veteran Keith Newton (13th in 26:49), Jeff Cunningham (18th in 27:06), Ben Paviour (19th in 27:08), Tim Elsey (20th in 27:08), veteran Dave Taylor (21st in 27:16)and Sarwar Khan (32nd in 27:45) completed the scoring team.

Marathon international John McFarlane was (seventh in 26:21) was first finisher for Thames with Neal Chisholm (eighth in 26:24), veteran Ben Reynolds (10th in 26:43), Martin Shore (11th in 26:45), Matt Jones (15th in 26:54), Simon Wurr (17th in 27:05), Toby Pearson (24th in 27:25), veterans Chris Daniels (29th in 27:38) and Ian Harkness (36th in 27:55) and Gordon Pearce (40th in 28:08) the other team scorers.

Hercules Wimbledon consolidated their position in third place with teenager Liam White (sixth in 25:59) top junior, James Hogg (22nd in 27:18), Justin Kelly (27th in 27:31) and Phil Glynn (38th in 28:04, other leading finishers.

Matthew Donnery (16th in 26:56) led the Epsom & Ewell team home with Will Clark (30th in 27:42) and Phil Sanger (41st in 28:16).

Stragglers, who finished eighth on the day, were led in by Graham Brook (23rd in 27:21) with Anthony Jackson (34th in 27:52) and Ben Osborn (39th in 28:06) their other leading finishers.

Despite fielding 19 runners, Belgrave, Surrey League champions nine times, finished last on the day with Lander Eguia (31st in 27:45) their only other runner in the top 40.

Teams: 1 Herne Hill 153; 2 Thames Hare & Hounds 194; 3 Hercules Wimbledon 389; 4 South London Harriers 477; 5 Reigate Priory 539; 6 Dorking & Mole Valley 570; 7 Epsom & Ewell 580; 8 Stragglers 592; 9 Belgrave 601.

Standings after two matches: 1 Herne Hill 318; 2 Thames Hare & Hounds 364; 3 Hercules Wimbledon 806; 4 South London Harriers 930; 5 Belgrave 1024; 6 Stragglers 1090; 7= Dorking & Mole Valley and Epsom & Ewell 1210 ; 9 Reigate Priory 1238.