GOLD medals for the under-20 men, under-17 women and under-15 boys, plus individual bronzes for Stephanie Twell and Stephen Blake, were the highlights for Aldershot, Farnham & District AC in the National Cross-Country Championships at Parliament Hill, London.

Blake led his team to the inaugural U/15 boys' title, finishing 20 seconds behind Woodford Green's Mark Bailey who won the race from the northern champion, Robert Pickering of Bridlington.

The AFD lad was one in front of Adam Hickey, previously unbeaten this season and the South of England champion.

The team event was expected to be close after Hickey's Southend squad had defeated AFD in the area championship, despite the latter placing all four scorers in the first nine.

On Saturday, AFD had Laurence Cox sixth and Whittington 12th for a slight advantage with three from each club home. But while Daniel Sheppard closed in 23rd, Southend had to wait until 97th.

The U/20 men's triumph was anticipated as well as being quite convincing. Phil Banks, in sixth, led home David Udal, 15th, Steve Ablitt, 18th, and Ali Smith, 20th.

The U/17 women's victory was headed by Leonie Smith in seventh. Rachel Driver, 18th, Georgie Furze, 25th, and Megan Jones, 26th, helped AFD to overcome a good start by Cannock & Stafford.

What AFD could not overcome was the loss of both the defending champion, Charlotte Browning, and the southern bronze medallist, Emma Pallant, during the U/15 girls' event.

The redeeming feature for the club was the run of Stephanie Twell. One of the youngest in the field, she was just 10 seconds down on Danielle Walker, whose individual gold set up Royal Sutton Coldfield for a one-point win over AFD, and five seconds down on Megan Foley of Havering Mayesbrook, bronze medallist from the 'inter counties' a fortnight earlier.

Stacey Preston, another bottom-year in the age group, was seventh, one ahead of India Lee. Hannah Jones completed AFD's scoring quartet in 26th.

The club's U/17 men also took the silver medals. James Ellis was sixth, Chris Friend 26th, Martin Mashford 40th and Paul Bridgman 68th.

Sarah Pickett (27th), Emma Whittaker-Axon (36th), Tahli Gill (45th), and Amy Tanner (50th) comprised AFD's bronze-medal winning side in the U/20 women's race.

Their U/13 girls were led to seventh place by Abigail Salter who came 10th and the U/13 boys, headed by Josh Arnold in 29th, were eighth.

The senior men (Nick Anderson 46th) were 12th and the senior women (Issy Menzies (92nd) 46th.