COLCHESTER and Tendring Athletics Club were in action at the Essex Cross-Country League and the 53-12 Cross-Country League.

The talented Henry Dover, in his first year at under-13 level, left most of the field in his wake to gain selection for the inter-counties event at Oxford.

He finished third in the Essex League at Horseheath.

Elsie Gray finished ninth and just missed out on a county team place, but still had a good run.

Freddy Richardson ran his heart out for 18th while Jonathan Lord was 32nd in the under-17s.

Aiden Cahill came 22nd, with Charlie Regan 29th, in the under-15 boys, while Amy Thompson was 46th in the under-15 girls.

The senior race saw a father and son duo as Ben Miller (56th) beat dad Roy (194th), who was making his debut race for Colchester and Tendring.

The 53/12 League began on Sunday at Writtle College.

Colchester and Tendring juniors started the defence of their team trophy, which was presented before the race to Tom Palmer, with a second-place finish behind Ipswich Jaffa.

In excellent conditions for cross-country running, Palmer finished third and Matt Brayshaw came fourth.

They were followed by Henry Dover (sixth), Sam Shippey (12th) and Rocco Viljoen (24th), all of whom scored for the team.

Other strong runs came from Finn Rattray, who was 27th, and Rebecca Ventre, on her debut for CATs, who did well in 36th.

Others who put in strong performances were Stanley Hobbs, in 39th, Ally Thorndyke, in 41st, Fred Walton, in 45th, Erin Rogers, in 46th, and young Eliza Shippey, also making her debut, who completed the course in 81st.

The senior CATs featured Freddy Richardson, in 46th, Jonathan Walton, in 149th, and Warren Page, in 156th.