Gemma Viney made a welcome return to competition, finishing third in the Senior girls race at the Kent Schools Cross Country Championships at Hythe.

The 18-year-old Blackheath Harrier athlete has missed nearly 18 months of racing because of injury, and Saturdays race marked her first step back to showing the form which earned her fifth place in the National Championships in 1999.

Her performance at Hythe should ensure selection for the English Schools Championships, in March, where she should be joined by at least two more Harriers.

William Bolton was unable to successfully defend the senior boys title which he won last year, but his third place will ensure another county vest.

Kate Buglers seventh place in the senior girls race at the Surrey Championships at Reigate puts her in contention for a place in her county team.

In the younger age groups at Hythe, Ray Perkins was 11th in the intermediate boys race with Dan Ryan 24th and Dan Snow 25th, while Stephen Leach finished 23rd in the junior boys race.

Meanwhile, athletes from the club were involved in two races on different parts of Wimbledon Common.

Roy Smith was the first Heathen home in the South of the Thames Senior Cross Country Championships when he finished ninth over a testing 10-kilometre course in 35mins 42secs.

In the Veterans A.C. Championships, Ken Daniel and Peter Hamilton were second and third respectively in the over fifties race, with pride of place going to Bill Clapham who was first finisher in the over 65s event.

The London Marathon April 22 is fast approaching, and youngsters from the London boroughs will have the opportunity to be part of the big day with the staging of the 15th London Mini Marathon over the last 2.6 miles of the Marathon course from Southwark Bridge to The Mall.

More than 2,000 youngsters will take part in front of cheering crowds with the races featured on television.

The trials for the London Borough Of Bromley team is being sponsored by Blackheath Harriers and take place at Norman Park track on Sunday, March 11.

Entry is free and is open to all boys and girls aged between 11 and 17. From these races, six teams of eight runners will be selected to be part of the big day in April.

One of the places in each team will be a wild card selection, drawn from anyone who runs in the trial races irrespective of finishing position.

As an added attraction Mark Steinle, the first Briton home in last years London and a Great Britain representative at the Sydney Olympics, will be at Norman Park to encourage the youngsters in their efforts to make the team.

He will be joined by another athlete who has progressed through the Blackheath age groups from promising youngster to a nationally-ranked senior.

Anthony Draper is one of the fastest 800-metre runners in the country but is no stranger to the marathon course having won the London Mini Marathon on two occasions. He will pace-make a couple of the races.

The closing date for entries is Friday, March 2, and forms can be obtained from David Liston, 70 Sermon Drive, Swanley, Kent, BR8 7HT. Tel: 01322 663504.