COLCHESTER Harriers' under-17 runners led the way for the club at the Eastern Cross Country Championships, in Bury St Edmunds.

The Green Vests enjoyed a double victory in that age category at Nowton Park, with debutante Mary Ann Deasy and the up and coming Max Caulfield surging to victory.

Harriers' under-17 men's team won silver team medals, with fourth-placed Ermeas Afewerki and Joseph Boden completing the team.

Fergus Crouch missed out on a team medal by one place.

An impressive 70 Harriers athletes were in action at Nowton Park, with Joe Patterson (silver) and Oscar Dawson (bronze) claiming medals in the under-20 men's event.

Both the club's ladies' team of Andrea James, Becky Cooke and Ella Neale and men's team of Chris Sellens, Allen Smalls, Nathan Filer, Paul Rodgers, Paul Spowage and Richard Heath were bronze-medal winners.

Paul Spowage won over-50 individual silver, with Andy Raynor taking the bronze.

Harriers' ladies teams claimed third, fifth and eighth place finishes, with super runs came from Samantha Hart, Jo Marks, Cheryl Appleby, Jackie MacLlanen, Jenny Richardson, Ellie Cumner, Rachel Rodgers and Louise Yates.

Harriers men's B team were also fifth with Richard Flutter, Andy Raynor, Simon Smith, Simon Morgan, Jon Nears, Simon Miller, Russell Goodridge, Chris Manby and David Hilson all going well.

Colin Ridley enjoyed a superb run in the UK and Ireland Masters Cross Country event held in Ireland.

Representing England, Ridley finished fifth overall in the over-55 event and was part of the winning England team which took the gold medal.

Harriers' Sarah Stradling was a fine second at the Chelmsford 10km in 37 minutes 27 seconds, maintaining her excellent form over many years.

Michael Majors was fifth overall in a superb time of 34m 16s, while Kevin Higgins ran a personal best (PB) of 38m 49s.

Johhny Zeeuw ran 45m 33s, Oliver Saunders 47m 58s and Cormac Murray 55m 57s.

Tom Cresswell was a fine runner-up at the tough Hadleigh ten kilometre race in a PB of 57m 55s.

Keith Marley was 12th in one hour 1m 42s, while Helen Thurlow completed her first race over that distance in 1h 21m.

Dominic King continued his improving running at the Colchester Castle Park Run.

The Olympic race walker clocked 18m 05s for second overall with Ian Haw sixth in 19m 13s, while Jasmine West was second lady in 21m 11s.

Laura Shewbridge was first lady and eighth overall at the Ipswich event, in 19m 17s while Drew Olley was runner-up at Greta Cornard in 19m 05s.