RAMADAM Osman held off Colchester Harriers' team-mate Angus Holford to win the Mersea park run.

Both runners hit the pace in an effort to overturn Adrian Mussett's course record of 15 minutes 39 seconds.

It all went down to the wire, with Osman winning the sprint finish in 15m 42s and Holford just behind, in 15m 44s.

Harriers turned out in force at the event, finishing 14 runners in the first 16 finishers.

Adam Sawyer was third in 17m 04s, with Mark Harrod fourth in 17m 10s and young Max Caulfield fifth, in 17m 18s.

Then came the reliable pairing of Paul Rodgers (sixth, 17m 32s) and Allen Smalls (seventh, 18m 01s).

Ziggy Lambton (eighth, 18m 15s) and Richard Flutter (ninth, 18m 38s) completed a clean sweep for the Harriers.

Also running well were Kevin Higgins (11th, 19m 28s), Simon Smith (12th, 19m 46s), David Wright (13th, 19m 53s), Chris Manby (15th, 20m 06s) and Lee Caulfield (16th, 20m 21s).

At the Great Cornard park run, Harriers' Colin Ridley was runner-up in 17m 53s while Drew Olley was eighth in 19m 54s.

Nat Filer scorched to victory at the Colchester Castle park run in a time of 18m 12s, with Fergus Crouch runner-up in 18m 24s.

Andt Raynor ran 19m 09s for sixth place while Laura Shewbridge was eighth and first lady (19m 14s) over the very tough new course.

Michael Burrows ran a personal best (PB) of 19m 42s for tenth spot.

The Brantham Friday 5 saw Allen Smalls take the veterans prize after finishing third overall in 29m 46s, over an off road and hilly course.

David Wright was 18th in 32m 44s and Malcolm Statham was 31st in 34m 50s.

Jenny Richardson (36m 48s, PB) and Helen Thurlow (39m 04s, PB) were then followed by Fran Norris (39m 28s), Steph Horner (40m 30s), Rachel Rodgers (46m 50s, PB), Fay Smalls (48m 30s) and Rachel Richardson-Wright (51m 36s).