SPEED merchant Lee Slater produced a storming run for Dudley and Stourbridge Harriers at the Worcestershire County Cross Country Championships which were held in Halesowen this week.

Slater stormed to second spot in the senior men’s race as he chased home race winner Matt Granger from Tipton Harriers, with Joe Smith from Bromsgrove and Redditch taking third place.

Close behind came fellow DASH runner Paul Waby, who claimed seventh place overall but was also the first veteran runner home – an excellent effort considering Waby is in the over-50 age category.

DASH runners provided plenty of support ,with Dave Ratcliffe just gettng the better of Dave Nation as the pair finished 18th and 19th respectively.

With Jordan Smith in 30th place and Scott Palmer 43rd, DASH were able to finish as the third-placed team.

Elliot Jones enjoyed an excellent run in the under-15 boys’ race to claim third spot behind winner Conor Smith of Bromsgrove and Redditch.

Another DASH runner, Jay Priantoro, was also well to the fore in 13th place.

Tom Slater dug deep to snatch third place on the line from Halesowen’s Charles Sapwell in the under-13 boys’ race.

Both were credited with the same time but were almost a minute behind impressive winner Jake Cavens from Worcester AC.

The under-13 girls’ trio of Grace Salter, Niamh Crowe and Chloe Priest just missed out on a medal when finishing fourth in the team category.