Harriers were represented by a full men’s team for the first time in years at the National Cross-Country Championships held over the very tough Parliament Hills course.

Led by captain Adrian Mussett, it was a lion-hearted effort by the green vests to finish 40th overall on the day.

Mussett, who is reigning Essex Cross-Country League champion found the going hard and the standard excellent and had to be satisfied with 94th position, roughly four and a half minutes behind the winner.

Chris Sellens produced a fine effort in 245th place in 46 minutes 3 seconds, with Allan Smalls in 339th in 47m 35s.

For Smalls this was a good warm-up as the talented ultra-distance runner has been selected for England in the 100km for his third cap.

This time it will be on the Atlantic coast of southern Ireland, with 25 four-kilometre road laps at Galway as his reward for consistently good results over the last few years.

The Harriers team in the National was completed by Philip Munro in 370th with 47m 57s, Paul Helliwell in 393rd with 48m 16s and Dan Wright in 1,183rd in 60m 45s.