BOURNEMOUTH Athletic Club's veteran men's team took two silver medals in the South of England Cross-Country Championships on Hampstead Heath.

With the London Championships being held in conjunction with the event, more than 400 runners started at the foot of Parliament Hill.

Race favourite Mike Boyd of Herne Hill Harriers made a fast start, and, after the first lap of three miles, he held a 100-yard lead over BAC's Mark Hargreaves.

The Bournemouth man could do little to close the gap over the rolling parkland, but held on for the silver medal - his first major championship.

His club-mate Gary Eagle made a strong finish to take sixth place with Nick Kenchington and Tony Chutter finishing 22nd and 38th respectively.

This gave Bournemouth the silver medal in the team event, 10 points behind the defending champions Chelmsford AC.

BAC's Jenny Brown made her first appearance in the race since running the World Championships in March.

She surprised everyone with her fitness to take 13th place in the European Trials race in Margate.

On this showing, she stands an excellent chance of representing Great Britain again in next year's World Championships.

Daveena Tweed continues to rise through the ranks of the local road-racing scene and her ever-improving form saw her win the women's race at the Boscombe 10k race.

On a testing route, the Poole Runners' time of 41 minutes 38 seconds was particularly impressive and augers well for the speedier race courses next year.

Andy Clements won the men's race in 33 mins 46 secs.

The Poole AC veteran dominated right from the start to win his fourth race of the year.

In contrast, Bournemouth AC's under-17 track star Colin McCourt was second in 34 mins 34 secs on his first attempt at the distance.

Though short of full fitness, Mike Grist (36 mins 11 secs) and Duncan Hurdwell (36 mins 55 secs) gave BAC three runners home in the first eight.

First back for Poole Runners was John Bowley in 38 mins 4 secs ahead of over-50 winner Ron Walmsley in 39 mins 55 secs and Rupert Pepper 40 mins 25 secs.

Janice Palmer secured a personal best time of 46 mins 4 secs and Brian Panton was runner-up in the over-60 race, as was Mirian Gray in the women's over-55 section in 50 mins 58 secs.

Tweed finished 14 seconds ahead of Sue Williamson (Egdon Heath) in the women's race. BAC's Jane Barry (43 mins) was third and her team-mate Sarah Barrett ran 46 mins 27secs to win the over-45 category.

There was success in the junior races held on King's Park running track in conjunction with the main event.

Edward Benham recorded a personal best in the 11-15 year-olds 1,500 metres event as he took victory in 4 mins 40.5 secs from clubmate Daniel Cheney, second in 4 mins 56.8 secs and Mitchell Sykes fifth in 5 mins 31.8 secs.