A tight corner. The leaders tackle a barrier during the South of the Thames Cross Country Association's Championship at Oakley Park, Bromley Common. Published in The Illustrated Sporting And Dramatic News, 13 February 1897. © British Library.

Laying the trail. H.C. Scard and W.E. White, mark out the course for the South of the Thames Championship held at Oakley Park, Bromley Common. Published in The Illustrated Sporting And Dramatic News, 11 February 1899. © British Library.

The leaders are clear. Two men have broken away from the field in the South of the Thames Championship held at Oakley Park, Bromley Common: A.E. Hutchins of Bexhill Hare & Hounds and D.G. Harris of Reading Athletic Club Harriers. Hutchins proved to be the winner but only a yard separated them at the finish, after 42½ minutes of running. Published in The Illustrated Sporting And Dramatic News, 11 February 1899. © British Library.

The South of the Thames Cross-Country Championship at Wiggie, Redhill. Won by the Herne Hill Harriers. Slippery going. 165 J.E. Deakin, Herne Hill Harriers (2nd). 167 F.J. Hulford, Herne Hill Harriers (1st). 219 A. Williams, Kent Athletic Club (3rd). Coming out of the plough, first round. A study of action. Second round, Hulford leads Published in The Illustrated Sporting And Dramatic News, 4 February 1905. © British Library.

The Surrey District South of the Thames 'Junior' Race at Epsom Downs. Soon after the start, and the race winner L.J. Cohen of Ashcombe A.C., President of the Association 1957-1958, is already near the front. Les Cohen is the man in the dark vest on the front rank of the field, nearest the camera. When his competitive days were over, he went on to become a high-ranking official with the Amateur Athletic Association.

First two men home in the Championship Race of 1931 – 398 W.A. Townsend (Swindon A.C.) 1st, and 422 T. Grant (Royal Marines) 2nd.

November 9th, 1946. The 'Junior' Race in Nonsuch Park Squadron Leader W.E. 'Bill' Lucas, D.F.C., veteran of 81 missions with Bomber Command during World War II and destined to run in the Olympic 5,000 metres in less than two years time, approaches the finish in the 'South of the Thames 'Junior' Race in Nonsuch Park, Cheam.

The South of the Thames Junior Race on Epsom Downs. 199 is Mike Hindle of Epsom & Ewell H, followed by clubmate Peter Bird

Stan Eldon of Windsor & Eton AC (423) is on his way to 14th place in the Championship race on 1st February 1964. Stan was winner of the International Cross Country Championships held in Cardiff in 1958, and was later awarded the MBE for his services to athletics.

The start of the Championship race in Brockwell Park, south-east London. The winner was Phil Wicks of Belgrave Harriers (19), just over a minute and a half clear of second place. Photo by Alan Mead.

A rare visit from a runner North of the Thames: guest Peter Chambers of Highgate Harriers crossed the line first but the Championship win went to Tonbridge AC's Ben Cole. Photo by Steve Boswell.

Aldershot, Farnham & District AC's Georgie Bruinvels takes the first of her Championship wins at Wellesley Woods. Photo by Steve Boswell.

Suzanne Swaine of Herne Hill Harriers, winner of the F40 Category in the Championship Race, leads a mid-field train of runners at Wellesley Woods. Photo by Steve Boswell.