FVS TRI retained their second overall position for the second year running in the Sunday Cross-Country League. They finished second in the male open, female open, male vet, female vet and male B team competitions, beaten only by top Herts run club Garden

FVS TRI retained their second overall position for the second year running in the Sunday Cross-Country League.

They finished second in the male open, female open, male vet, female vet and male B team competitions, beaten only by top Herts run club Garden City Runners.

The last race in the five-race series was at Watford and was a combined five-mile hilly and muddy race for male and female competitions.

Individual honours went to Jackie Perry who won the Vet 45 competition and was also third female overall for the series which was scored on the best four races from five.

Lesley Dutton took the bronze in the Vet 45 category showing good consistent form over all five races.

Club chairman and head coach Keith Perry said: "I am very pleased to finish second overall and in every team competition as it shows our strength in depth and our ability to compete against the best specialist running clubs."

On the day, Steve Harrison returned from injury to win his third race of the series and Simon Hall was second for the club and third overall. For the women, Sam Tophill was first home in fifth followed by Jackie and Lesley who made up the winning veteran team on the day.

Peter Eames and Mike Russell were the only men to complete all five events over the last five months, with Anna Priestley, Lesley Dutton and Jackie Perry for the women.

Men's times: Steve Harrison 29:20, Simon Hall 30:29, Brian White 31:38, Gav May 31:47, James Grierson 33:24, Steve Chalk 33:26, Mike Russell 33:49, Jon Gillham 34:41, Sean Bradley 34:49, John Rose 34:57, Pete Eames 38:09, Andy Chadwick 38:12, Keith Perry 39:49, Mic Clark 40:00, Tony Shortland 40:54, Drew Lowrie 41:56, Paul Dutton 42:41, Kevin Bradley 43:16, Chris Penfold 45:14.

Ladies' times: Sam Tophill 37:05, Jackie Perry 38:01, Lesley Dutton 39:08, Paula Adams 40:52, Ellie Burton 42:35, Anna Priestley 45:35.

In the second MK Duathlon race of three, Andy Mussett cemented his lead in the junior competition with gold in 1-06:15 for the 4.5k run, 16k bike and 4k run.

First home for the club was new member Mike Diggins who finished in 1-02:36 for 24th overall and sixth vet.

Times: Mike Diggins 1-02:36, Andy Mussett 1-06:15, Mark Young 1-06:55, Jeremy Lintott 1-07:37, Stewart Kay 1-08:46, David Welch 1-10:42, Richard Easterbrook 1-15:34, Tony Hinchliffe 1-16:46, Drew Lowrie 1-16:55, Steve Mussett 1-23:19,

Jeff Ryan and Chris Suckling completed the arduous Endurancelife Devon Coastal Marathon.

The multi-terrain course took in steep cliff paths, boggy bridleways and narrow country lanes.

They were 89th and 90th out of a field of 150 with times of 5-37:25 and 5-37:26 respectively.

The winning time for the event was around four hours, showing the tough nature of the event.

Alex Turner competed against Sean Yates on Sunday in the Hardrider 25-mile sporting time trial.

On a hilly course, Alex managed 1-10:50 to finish in the top third of the field and only eight minutes behind former top pro Yates.

Ten members of Stevenage-based Fairlands Valley Spartans stepped up their London Marathon preparation at Bramley in Hampshire on Sunday.

Nine were in the 20-mile road race and several were rewarded with improvements on their 2006 20-times or outright personal bests.

Andrew Garrett was first Spartan finisher, 94th out of the 727 runners, in an excellent time of 2-15:26.

Times: Andrew Garrett 2-15:26, Simon Jackson 2-17:19 pb, Jim Brown 2-17:53, Roger Biggs 2-42:30, Rob Shaw 2-43:32 pb, Chris Leigh 2-56:12 pb, Paul Holgate 2-58:07, Carol Paul 2-58:29, David Paul 3-02:26, Frances Ridgway (10 mile) 1-20:28.

Despite the tough hills, Alison Suckling ran a new personal best of 3-16 at the Bury 20-mile race on the same day. She was 322nd out of 369 finishers.

Nine other Spartans were getting wet and muddy in Watford where they were competing in the final cross-country league match of the season.

Adam Smith delighted the club with seventh place overall in his first race.

Peta Wilson was first female Spartan and she was 16th in 41:14.

Men's times: Adam Smith 31:14, Alan Donald 35:54, Steve Smithson 36:26, Andrew Hull 40:12, Anthony White 42:01, Mark Freeman 44:20.

Women's times: Peta Wilson 41:14, Sharon Crowley 47:22, Lorraine Thomas 49:55.

Michaela and Mark Sanders are a Spartans couple with wanderlust.

Despite the heat and hills, they enjoyed the weekend's Malta Marathon. Michaela finished in 4-45 and Mark in 4-57.

Gerry McCabe was at the Roding Half Marathon which he ran in 1-40:35.