In the race in incessant rain, on a slippery Fryent Park course at Kingsbury Adam Bowden, moved through to take the lead after a mile with 'local hero' Orlando Edwards in second place, closely followed by Des Shelley. By the end of the first of the two big laps Chris Smith had moved up and had  a narrow lead over Bowden, who had just had the first of two falls on the treacherous going.
However, Bowden's strength held out and he came home at least 15 to 20 metres clear of Smith. Bowden fell in the straight but was unlikely to concede the race to Smith. Smith, from Aberdeen, besides running for TVH is known, south of the river, as a second claim runner for Herne Hill Harriers. Edwards was a solid third at Kingsbury and part of the Middlesex team that beat the R. A. F and Civil Service for the Sefton Brancker Trophy, which was held in conjunction with the 'historic' North of the Thames event.
 Bowden said afterwards " I don't go well in the mud but I was pleased with my form recently as I ran 23.40 in the Wolverton 5.' He added ' I was a National class swimmer as a junior and I feel I want to have a serious go at the triathlon in the Summer. I think it will freshen up my athletics and something I really intend doing. If it did not work out I could still go back to athletics. I have found that the strength work and change helped me with the running this year with the few triathlons I did."
    It was interesting to see that amongst those that braved the deplorable conditions all day watching out in the fields was, ex-World record holder for the 10k Dave Bedford, who won the North of the Thames Senior Championships back in 1970 and again in his comeback race in 1977. The trophy was first awarded to the winner in 1931 but few take it away as it is so big and heavy!.
    Lisa da Silva' is always good to watch, a blonde with a flowing style, and she had won the Liddiard Trophy women's race earlier in the season on the very same course. Da Silva runs with her husband Manuel da Silva,(Who is a good runner in his own right), after work quite often which really is good for her. At Kingsbury, she was joined by Becky Penty, a planner for Sport England and, the first 'Under 20' runner Ella Waldman, for the initial stages, before going clear but chased all the way by Penty. Serpentine  continued their success by winning the team award.
    Impressive, as he has been in his last two race Richard Goodman (SB), led all the way in the under 17 and 20 race but Hillingdon were dominant in the team for the Under 17's and had a few high up in the Under 20' where Shaftesbury Barnet finished a team. Goodman is hoping to do the 3k, more than shorter distances in the Summer and  should be one to watch in the English Schools cross-country Championships.

Officials pray for some warmer weather during the Christmas period.