SIX young Colchester and Tendring Athletic Club athletes represented Essex Schools in the prestigious English Schools Cross-Country Championships.

More than 2,000 athletes from across the country attended the event at Sefton Park in Liverpool, with over 350 runners lining up for the start of each race.

The Liverpool venue is quite flat and fast without the hills and other obstacles that normally pay a big part in cross-country events.

Laura Condron competed in the 4.2km senior girls' race and battled hard for her 57th place.

fought Laura Hillyard lined up in the intermediate girls' 3.75km event and fought hard for her position throughout the race, coming home in 235th place.

David Gibbon, Alex Gladley, Sean Wilson and Lloyd Heard all competed in the tough 6.5km senior boys' event.

Shortly after the start of the race, the heavens opened and they battled bravely through the conditions to cross the line in 59th, 150th, 183rd and 262nd positions respectively.

Heard battled bravely through stomach cramps towards the end of the race and the fact that he finished was a credit to him.

Next weekend sees a number of the club's athletes representing Essex in the end of season finale at the UK Inter Counties at Nottingham.