ST HELENS Sutton AC's senior men returned to Clarke's Gardens, Allerton for the last race in the local cross-country season, the Liverpool & District Championships and were again narrowly run out of the major finishing positions.

The course was the same as that used the previous week for the Merseyside Championships but with the race reduced to three laps making a total distance of 9km.

Frost had firmed up the going from the previous week making for faster running but Tony Smith continued to lead the way for the club finishing in 29th place. Once again there was good, close-up support from Barry Graney and Richard Farrar, who finished 31st and 32nd respectively, while Andy O'Connor was not far behind in 39th place.

Unfortunately there was then a gap to Anthony Davies who finished 59th and with club captain Ray Voce having to drop out with a calf strain, the club had to rely on veteran Stan Erlam to complete the counting team in 73rd position.

The consistent Andy Boyack was not far behind in 75th place and John Appleton in a rare appearance on the country was 82nd. Gary Freeman, who is still finding his feet in this type of competition, had to be satisfied with 88th place with John Irwin and Alan Davies completing another good turn-out for the club in 124th and 125th positions.