Herne Hill Harriers coach Geoff Jerwood says fine weekend performances from two of the club’s cross-country stars are a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

Katie Snowden was part of the victorious Surrey side that on the SEAA Inter Counties Cross-Country Championships held in Biggleswade on Saturday.

Racing at senior level for the first time, the 21-year-old-finished fourth in the U23 group clocking 22 minutes 21 seconds, and 11th overall.

Meanwhile, Stacey Ward won bronze with her Essex team-mates and was the Harriers’ highest placed finisher, coming home in sixth over the 6km course in 22:00.

Jerwood said: “Both Stacey and Katie missed some training due to injuries, but we were pleased with Saturday.

“We see it as a stepping stone towards bigger targets in the new year.”

He added: “Stacey will build up through the traditional cross country route of the county and Southern Championship races in January, then the national and inter-counties races in February and March.

“Katie, as a track specialist over 800m and 1,500m, races much less frequently at cross country.

“But it is excellent endurance work for her and she may perhaps run another one in January before also potentially racing indoors on the track.”

Meanwhile, at the SEAA Masters Cross-Country Championships at the same venue, the Harriers over-50 men's squad won gold.

This follows the Harriers M50 team victory in the South of England road relays earlier this year, and several impressive individual performances during the cross-country season so far. 

The golden boys contributing to this most recent team win were Mike Boyle 14th, Graeme Moyse 10th and Gary Ironmonger 21st.

In other age categories, the Harrier's men's vets team manager Valdis Pauzers placed 26th overall in the M60 category, while in the M40 race team silver medals were won by Simon Coombes, who led the team with his individual bronze in third place, Robin Jones, Jonathan Ratcliffe, Fergus Power and Ben Hallifax, with the first three of these runners forming the scoring medal winning team.

The club was also well represented in the Women's Masters races, where Harriers' team of Gillian Wheeldon, Sarah Allen and Mandy Brown were the highest ranking W50 Surrey team on the day.