MATTHEW CLARK, Poole Runners' reigning UK cross country champion, continued his impressive rise to prominence as he marched to victory in the Wessex Cross County league event at Salisbury.

The Uplands School pupil cruised to a comfortable win in driving rain as the event was combined with the Avalon Cross Country League.

Daniel Cheney was fifth in the under 17 men's race following a powerful second lap to make up several positions.

Janice Palmer stormed to an excellent sixth place in the senior women's combined race, third in the Wessex League.

Women's captain, Daveena Tweed, brought the team home in 11th place overall to cap an impressive team score.

Sisters Charlotte and Vicky Ingham each landed sixth positions in the under 13 girls and under 17 girls respectively.

The club's strongest age group, the under 15 girls, had five finishers in the top 25.

Lauren Webb and Hayley Crawford in ninth and 10th were the pick of the bunch. David Patrick led the senior men home in 21st in the joint race, closely followed by John Towner and Dave Penwarden in 23rd and 27th positions.

In the under 13 boys category, Ryan Trew was the first Poole runner home in a fine eighth while Paul Green won the under 11 fun run and Leif Chandler was third.

In the off-road Clarendon Way half marathon Poole Runners took the team prize as a strong quartet of senior athletes packed near the front of the field. Mark Caldecourt (1:26.29) led the way in fifth place followed by Mark Lacy (1:26.32), Andy Johns (1:28.54) and Keith Long (1:30.03).

Poole Runners results Avalon XC League: Under-11s fun run: Alice Cadman, Lia Cadman, Leif Chandler, Catherine Clark, Paul Green, Alice Moore, Catriona Moore, Charlotte Sykes, Lewis Trew.

Under-13 girls: 6 Charlotte Ingham, 18 Rachael Cheney, 21 Emma Partridge, 28 Becky Lamb, 29 Helen O'Neile, 31 Louise Green, 36 Amelia John.

Under-13 boys: 8 Ryan Trew, 30 James Coates.

Under-15 girls: 9 Lauren Webb, 10 hayley Crawford, 13 Stephanie Newbury, 21 Sam Hoare, 25 Elaine Lewis.

Under-15 boys: 1 Matthew Clark, 14 Jonathan Boyle, 19 Nicolas Phillips, 30 Liam Searle.

Under-17 women: 6 Vicky Ingham, 15 Nicky Selby, 16 Lizzie Broadhouse.

Under-17 men: 5 Dan Cheney, 13 Matthew Jeanes, 17 Antony Oliver.

Senior women: 5 Jill Durham, 6 Janice Palmer, 11 Daveena Tweed, 23 Jane Searle, 31 Heather Brain, 38 Miriam Gray, 49 Gill Walmsley.

Senior men: 21 Dave Patrick, 23 John Towner, 27 Dave Penwarden, 30 John Bowley, 33 Chris Guerrier, 38 Jim Aylmore, 61 Jason Clark, 68 Geoff Scott, 69 Alan Lewis, 75 Ron Walmsley.

Poole AC opened the cross-country season with three second places in the combined Wessex and Avalon league meeting at Salisbury.

Daniel Reeks led the Wessex under-13 boys home, being beaten only by an Avalon runner.

George Atkins and Kathryn Lower were runners-up in the under-11 fun runs.

Chris Wilson, a regular in the top ten under-15 boys last season, began his senior year in the category with a fine third place.

In-form Jason Robbins led PAC's seniors home in 24th position, with veteran Dave Money 37th and Richard Atkins 41st posting a good opening score for their A team.

Wessex and Avalon Cross-Country Leagues at Salisbury - Poole AC Results: Under 11 Girls: 2 Kathryn Lower, Under-1 Boys: 2 George Atkins, 8 Adam Carpenter, Under-13 Boys: 2 Daniel Reeks, 4 Jack Farrow, Under-15 Girls: 34 Grace Benham, Under-17 Men: 6 Edward Benham, 15 Alex Crane, Senior Men: 24 Jason Robbins, 37 Dave Money, 41 Richard Atkins, 46 Roy Carr, 49 John Lambeth, 50 Pete Grounds, 55 Simon Speed, 65 Mark Pauley, 71 Darren Moors, 79 Nigel Harding, 85 Jim Barlett.

Poole AC's Pete Roper finished second in the Over the Hills 12km, completing the arduous Avon multi-terrain event in 43:45, five seconds behind former 'Grizzly' winner Mark Goodrich.