South Kent Harriers’ Max Hamilton-Andrews entered this year’s Southern Cross-Country Championships with every intention of putting his best foot forward - instead his race was compromised by a lost shoe.

Hamilton-Andrews, alongside clubmate Darren Scrivens, was among 720-strong finishers at Beckenham Place Park on Saturday.

Wearing spikes for the first time, he set off for four laps - just short of nine miles - of undulating grassland however the race was anything but a stroll in the park.

Minding his own race Scrivens discovered his fellow South Kent Harrier in the mud, searching for his lost running shoe. In all it was estimated Hamilton-Andrews lost around five minutes.

Scrivens had a successful run, clocking 57min39sec to claim 36th place in a time more than three minutes faster than 2023, while Hamilton-Andrews eventually hit his stride, running shoe safely secured, passing plenty of athletes on the hills and finishing with a sprint in 1hr02min29sec for 493rd place. He later described the race as brutal!

The race winner was James Kingston from Tonbridge AC, who timed 42.50.