PETER Chambers shone for Croydon Harriers at the Surrey Cross Country Championships in Lloyd Park, finishing fourth in his first year at U17 level, <I>writes Matthew Kiernan</I>.

PETER Chambers shone for Croydon Harriers at the Surrey Cross Country Championships in Lloyd Park, finishing fourth in his first year at U17 level, writes Matthew Kiernan.

The 15-year-old Trinity School pupil was running against athletes a year older than him but completed the four-mile course in 26mins 32secs to just miss out on a podium place.

RAISING THE BAR: Peter Chambers, of Croydon Harriers, looks composed on the way to fourth place in the U17 boys race in Lloyd Park Picture contributed
THEY'RE OFF: The U17 boys race gets underway Picture by Martin Pitchley
JACK BE QUICK: Croydon Harriers' Jack Thoroughgood (210) comes under pressure in the U17 boys' race in Lloyd Park Picture by Martin Pitchley
SUPPORT: Croydon Harriers U15 Joshua Haasz pushes on Picture by Mike Fleet
GOOD EFFORT: Croydon's Kartik Iyer
TEAM SPIRIT: The Camberley AC U13 boys team after winning their event Martin Pitchley

Chambers was one of eight individual top 25 finishes through the age groups for Croydon Harriers in what was a solid showing by the host club.

In the championship's showpiece event, Croydon's senior men were spearheaded by David White.

The 23-year-old covered the 7.5mile course in 46:11 to finish 30th, despite being forced to stop and regroup after losing a shoe in the treacherous conditions on the opening lap.

The squad came 11th, with Robbie Powell (65th, 49:33), Colin Oxlade (95th, 51:31), David Brown (101st, 52:25), Jaran Finn (122nd, 54:37) and Julian Dillow (145th, 57:54) completing the scoring team.

Patrick Lucas claimed 10th in the U15 boys race, covering the 2.5mile course in 15:16. He was ably supported by Joshua Haasz (17th, 15:49), Harvey Stainthorpe (25th, 16:23) and Kartik Iyer (39th, 17:21), with the scoring quartet placing fifth in the team event.

More pleasing results in the equivalent girl's race came courtesy of Holly Haile (18th, 18:14) and Stevie Lawrence (23rd, 18:40) over the same distance.

Rob Spalding (16th, 15:23) and Omar Harhara (18th, 15:29) also impressed in their two-mile U13 event.

Josie Kavanagh, Abbie Burrett, Ellie McCormack and Cora Sexton packed well on their debuts in the championships, finishing ninth in the U13 girls team standings.

Other results: U13 boys (2 miles) - Joshua Burake (68th, 18:33); U13 girls (2 miles) - Francesca Pringle (74th, 25:58); U15 boys (2.5 miles) - Luke Baker (48th, 18:33); U15 girls (2.5 miles) - Charlotte Cavanagh (29th, 18:58); U17 men (4 miles) - Jack Thoroughgood (24th, 32:03); senior men (7.5 miles) - Andy Del Nevo (156th, 59:24), Keith Brown (159th, 59:59), Terry Lapins (166th, 62:35), Norman Hemming (169th, 63:11), Robert Rye (175th, 69:19), Eric Campbell (178th, 87:13).