VETERAN distance runner John Foster, from Striders of Croydon, produced an excellent run in the Sri Chinmoy 10km road race at Battersea Park last Saturday.

He finished eighth overall and first in the over-50 category in a time of 36 minutes 55 seconds. Club colleague Richard Lee-Smith was 10th in 37:23, with Simon Ambrosi 15th in 39:05.

Striders' former track captain Matt Morgan, now running for British League club Belgrave Harriers, made a welcome return to Striders colours in the Roundshaw Downs parkrun on Saturday.

He won comfortably, covering the five-kilometre course in 17:40. Alan Dolton placed seventh overall and second in the over-50 category (20:18). Nick Eaves ran a well-paced race to place eighth in 20:38 while Striders' first woman to finish was teenager Jemma Upton who placed 52nd overall in 27:34.

Striders had six other finishers: 27 Mark Hutchings 23:56, 28 Colin Cotton 23:58, 36 Chris Smith 25:28, 38 Matthew Smith 25:47, 61 Clive Smith 29:05, 70 Kevin Burnett 32:12.

STEVE Starvis produced Striders' best individual performance in the third Rosenheim League match of the season at Wimbledon Park last Wednesday (June 9). He came third in the 1500 metres in 4mins 35.3secs, while the club's leading points-scorer was veteran Steve Smith who competed in four different events, placing fifth in both the 100m and the triple jump.

With a depleted team, Striders had to settle for sixth place. They hope to field a stronger side in the next Rosenheim fixture at Battersea Park on Wednesday.