COLCHESTER and Tendring Athletics Club made a fine start to the new cross country season at Gosfield School.

Their youngsters produced some impressive performances at the Essex Cross Country relays.

The day started with the under-13 boys' race where Henry Dover led the field from the start throughout the leg.

He handed the lead to James Brigstocke-Williams who maintained the advantage before passing to anchorman Leo Morley-Robertson.

Robertson enjoyed a gutsy run in his first championship and brought the team home for bronze, after a fast-finishing Woodford Green athlete snatched silver from his grasp. CATs' under-13 B team of Finn Rattray, Stanley Hobbs and Jude Swaine finished a creditable 11th.

There was more success to come for CATs in the under-15 boys' event, where Jack Wharton led off and came through in third.

He passed the baton to Matt Brayshaw who on his leg overtook two rivals to gain the race lead.

That left Aidan Cahill to pull further away from the rest of the field for a comprehensive victory and the gold medal.

CATs' under-15 boys' B team of Liam Morgan, Michael Knowles and Archie Hennington fought hard for eighth place, in the same race.

In the Girls' races, the under-17 team of Amy Thompson, Ally Thorndyke and Rebecca Ventre just missed out on the medals in fourth place.

Under-13 girls Rachel Sandercock, Ellie Thompson and Elsa Styles had a good run-out, finishing in the middle of the pack as did the under-15 team of Emily White, Georgia Bleck and Kaela Swaine.

CATs also entered a mixed senior team comprising of Elsie Gray, Glenn Hobbs, Tracey Chapman and Freddy Richardson.