The growing strength of the women's section at Southampton Running Club was underlined at the National Cross-Country Relays in Mansfield.

The team did themselves proud with a battling 33rd-placed finish, distinguishing them as the second Hampshire club behind Basingstoke & Mid-Hants, who were just two places above them.

Steph Robson led the SRC girls home in ten minutes and 32 seconds, followed by Lesley Leavesley and Lynn Massey with 12.45.

The race was won by Hounslow, Windsor, Slough & Eton AC, while Hayley Yelling clocked the fastest leg time of 9.35.

Southampton's men, meanwhile, forced their way into 19th position.

Simon Plummer clocked 15.32 to finish the first leg in 16th place. His aim this winter is to make the Scotland cross-country team.

Recent signing Joe Maskell ran a great leg in only his fourth race for the club, but he dropped down four places, clocking a time of 16.05.

Army man Rod Finch, now getting back in some sort of shape after a long lay-off with a broken leg, moved the team back to 16th with a time of 15.33 and Ian Robertson, who has started the cross-country season with a bang, ran another strong leg, only losing three places with his time of 16.15.

London giants Belgrave Harriers were the easy winners, while Aldershot, Farnham & District's Chris Thompson ran the fastest leg.

Team Solent's junior middle distance squad are going from strength to strength, but they are still looking to recruit new members.

Coach Peter Haynes currently has get-togethers on Tuesday and Thursday evenings at Taunton's College in Hill Lane, Southampton, and has extended an invitation to any boy or girl, aged ten to 18, to join him. Haynes can be contacted on 023 8047 3261.

The under-13 boys were the heroes for Solent in the second round of the Wessex Cross-Country League at Salisbury.

Chris Dennis was first, Scott Legg second, Jamie Knapp fourth and Stewart Jepsom 12th, securing overall team victory.

There were third places for under-13 girl Elizabeth Freemantle and Alex Wall-Clarke for the under-17 men, while under-17 woman Emma Ranouf produced her best run of the season to finish eighth.