COLCHESTER Harriers' men claimed silver at the Essex Senior Cross Country Championships in Woodford.

The Green Vests' men were in fine form over the tough and muddy 7.5-mile Claybury Grove course.

Harriers' senior men although missing a host of star performers, courageously stuck to the task to pip rivals Springfield Striders to second place by a point.

Runaway winners Woodford Green won gold, with second claim Harrier Angus Holford finishing in tenth spot for the home team.

Jordan Rowe led the Harriers charge and despite having to stop with sickness halfway through the race, rejoined the course to finish a superb 14th.

Harriers' incredible ultra man Allen Smalls, who ran a marathon the next day, finished 20th.

The Green Vests' four other team scorers were Adam Sawyer (35th), Daz Farugia (36th), Paul Rodgers (37th) and Mark Harrod (43rd).

Just missing out on points was Colin Ridley (44th).

Other Harriers men to finish were Cameron Humphries (52nd), Gavin Scanlon (99th), Craig Mitchell (103rd), Russell Goodridge (117th), Chris Manby (120th), Simon Morgan (146th) and Michael Bates (155th).

Harriers' ladies were dogged by bad luck, with numerous runners dropping out late on due to injury and illness.

The quartet of the club's ladies who did make it to the line were then dealt another blow when leading lady Laura Shewbridge had to drop out while in tenth place after her contact lens came adrift on the last lap.

Rebecca Cooke (19th), Fffion Harris (21st) and Ellie Mayne (24th) all ran well for the Green Vests.

Ramadam Osman ran with a strapped knee in the under-20 Championship and still managed a fine fifth place, while Hannah Watson impressed with a sixth position in the under-17 ladies event.

Jake Young (eight) and Oscar Dawson (14th) were both well up, in the under-17 men's race.

Team result: 1. Woodford 42pts, 2. Colchester Harriers 188pts, 3. Springfield Striders 189pts.

Leading Harriers Park Run results, Great Cornard: 1 Wayne Cook (17m 49s, PB), 9 Drew Olley (19m 09s).

Mersea: 2 Ziggy Lambton (18m 32s), 5 Simon Smith (19m 24s), 17 Michael Burrows (22m 59s), first lady Debbie Cattermole (22m 33s).

Colchester Castle: 2 Jon Nears (17m 52s), 3 Fergus Crouch (18m 32s), 4 Andy Raynor (18m 35s), 6 Keith Marley (18m 45s), 9 Richard Boden (19m 40s), 10 Aaron Marley (19m 48s), 1st lady Milly Presland (22m 04s).

Sean Ketteridge won the Stanstead Stagger off road multi terrain marathon in three hours 17m.

Ketteridge and Smalls were joint winners of the Hanningfield Reservoir marathon.