BEN Foster may have been bested by Tim Dalton of Severn AC in the Birmingham and District Cross Country League on Saturday but the blue hoops were still able to extend their lead at the top of the table.

The weekend’s fixture was over a testing six miles of muddy twists and turns in Droitwich and again Dudley Kingswinford Running Club arrived with massive numbers – 20 athletes on the start line – to try to consolidate their lead at the top of Division Three.

Although Foster was unable to add to a previous win at the venue from his last visit he was still a comfortable second, finishing in 37.55.

Rob Meredith was fifth place in 38.38, Matt Biggs finished in 11th in 39.42, James Wright was 12th in 39.45, Simon Hughes was 29th in 42.21 and Richard Bate was 30th in 42.29 to bring home the A team.

Again the B team were well placed with notable showings from Rob Sannwald finishing in 33rd in 42.45, Dave Norman was 35th in 42.48, Stuart Perkins was 40th in 43.14 and Daren Thompson was 45th in 43.27.

With DK winning the fixture on the day by 40 points they remain top of the division with a comfortable lead from Northbrook AC and Sparkhill Harriers.

Whilst the men were in Worcestershire the women travelled to Gloucester for their fixture. Tracy Alderson was first home in 77th in 26.49 just getting the better of Helen Tromans, who finished a single second and one place behind after missing a significant chunk of training through injury. Rebecca Warren was 134th in 28.55, Carol Fisher was 140th in 29.09, Lynn Sprague was 179th in 30.35, Karen Doy was 182nd in 31.02, Jacqui Elson-Whittaker was 184th in 31.04 and Hannah McGuire was 202nd in 32.27.