COLCHESTER and Tendring Athletic Club roared back to the top of the junior 53/12 Cross Country League at Harwich.

Tom Palmer was again first CATs athlete home in third place, followed by Aidan Cahill who was fourth.

Track specialist Sam Shippey, in his best cross-country performance for a while, finished seventh while the ever-reliable Henry Dover was eight.

CATs' last scorer was 12th-placed Charlie Regan, who is really improving at cross country this winter.

Sister and brother Kaela (23rd) and Jude Swaine (25th) made their CATs debuts with fine races.

Finn Rattray (26th), Rebecca Ventre (33rd) and Ally Thorndyke (34th) all performed well.

They were followed by a group of promising younger athletes: Amy Thompson (40th), Stanley Hobbs (42nd), Erin Rogers (43rd), Mazy King (49th), Emily White (55th), Olivia Woods (69th), Elsa Styles (72nd), Fred Walton (struggling with a heavy cold, 74th), debutante Lucy Thompson (79th) and Eliza Shippey (84th).

In the seniors race, Glenn Hobbs made his CATs debut in 93rd while Warren Page finished 157th, over the five-mile course.