ALDERSHOT, Farnham & District AC claimed five of the team titles at last weekend's South of England road relay championships, which the club hosted.

The Under-17 women also provided the silver medallists and the fastest individual runner, Leonie Smith, who anchored AFD 'A' to their victory at Rushmoor Arena.

Hannah Jones had brought them in third on the first leg, but Charlotte Browning soon erased the 17-second deficit for the lead that Smith, the age-group's national 3,000 metres track champion, increased.

India Lee, taking over from Georgie Furze in seventh, had moved the 'B' team into the second place that Laura Tanner managed to hold.

The club's U/15 girls also claimed gold and the triumphant trio comprised the three fastest of the race. Stacey Preston's time on the opener was matched by Stephanie Twell, who took over from her. Emma Pallant was only seven seconds slower on the anchor.

AFD led all the way in the U/13 boys' event as well, but with both 'A' and 'B' runners. Michael Reed, competing for 'B' team, led the field home on the first leg with what proved to be the best time of the competition.

Behind him, Cameron Scott of Harrow turned out to be second best overall and the next to finish was third best overall. That was AFD 'A' runner, Lee Wilson.

Oliver Aitchison, Tom Goddard and Jonathan Hay ensured the golds came the 'A' team's way.

Sarah Burgin gained a dozen places, after taking over from Louise Eley, to put AFD into the lead with the third quickest time of the U/13 girls' event. Abigail Salter was the next fastest when anchoring the club to victory.

AFD's other win came against a strong quartet from Southend-on-Sea in the U/17 men's competition. Laurence Cox was second to Chichester's Tom Bicham on the opener. Stephen Blake took AFD into a lead of nine seconds, Martin Mashford increased the advantage, and Chris Friend had a winning margin of more than a minute, despite the efforts of Adam Hickey for Southend.

The previous day had resulted in a set of bronze medals when the senior men posted AFD's second best time in the 16 years their six-stage contest has been at Rushmoor Arena.

Following legs by David Udal, Brian Stopher and Richard Vint, Nick Anderson took the club into the frame. Then Chris Thompson, the European U/23 5,000 metres champion, gained the two places necessary for the lead.

Elliot Robinson lost out to Martin Dent who anchored Belgrave Harriers to their win, and, just before the line, to Bedford & County's Greg van Hest (17-27), who was second best on the day, five seconds slower than Thompson (17-22).

Dent and van Hest were not the only foreigners on show. Sunday's senior women's event was graced by Sonia O'Sullivan who was officially given the fastest time of the race but, unofficially, the quickest was recorded by her Thames Hare & Hounds clubmate, Benita Johnson, who competed for Australia in the World Championships.

Johnson, who was eighth over 10,000 metres in Paris, was not eligible to score and ran in her new club's 'B' team.