READING Athletic Club’s youngsters impressed at a very wet and chilly Crystal Palace in the Southern Road Relay Championships on Sunday.

In the 4x4.8km Under 17s race, Mattie Raynor made a great effort on the first stage to stay among the leaders, but eventually had to settle for 14th place out of the 49 competing teams in a time of 16m 12secs.

On the second leg, Tom Rickards (17.09) fought hard but lost a couple of positions, only for Ben Rollings (16.24) to produce a fine run to lift the team to 11th.

Team captain Joseph Mott’s strong effort of 16.35 then gained another place on the final stage to give Reading a very creditable 10th place.

The incomplete B team of Leon Bradshaw (21.01), Olly Moor (17.46) and Sam Kral-Waters (20.12) were in 36th place at the end of stage three.

In the U13 4x3.1km race, Edward Lewis put in a good effort on the opening leg for 23rd place of the 51 teams in 11.57, and Samuel Lindsey-Halls (12.24) maintained Reading’s position before Adam Tivey (12.25) gained a place. Aidan Marshall’s excellent final stage (11.48) grabbed 16th for Reading.

Dylan Madden (12.32), George Urwin-Mann (12.54), Lucas Tallon Viejo (14.22) and Victor Sanz-Bueno (13.48) combined well to finish 37th for the B string.

In the U15 race on the same course, Laurie Baker (11.05) opened well to give Reading 27th place of the 53 starters.

Ollie Craggs (11.04) gained five places on the second leg before Ben McCabe (12.02) and Charlie Shaw (11.42) ensured a 24th-place finish.

The B team of Connor Mackenzie (12.26), Daniel Cleare (12.59), Bradley West (13.52) and Elio Babb (12.46) finished 41st place.