High-flying Colchester and Tendring Athletics Club runners came away with the Essex Cross-Country League title, a team victory, an individual winner and three overall medals at the final fixture at Chingford.

With team spirit high, the senior ladies once again dominated their race over a seven-kilometre frost-covered course.

They packed three runners in the top four, led by the highly-confident Nicola Rogers, whose form this year has been brilliant.

She took the race by the scruff of the neck to cruise home a convincing winner in 24 minutes 45 seconds, 27 seconds ahead of her nearest rival.

Danielle Tatum looked strong as she coped with the conditions admirably for an impressive third place in 25m 40s, with the 22-year-old also taking bronze in her section.

Margaret Deasy showed terrific team commitment and although not fully recovered from a bad cold, she turned out for her club to finish an excellent fourth in 25m 57s.

Helen Bloomfield, who was also below par, was the backbone of the team in 16th in 29m 25s, while the much-improved Ellie Cumner worked hard to finish in her best position of the season for 18th in 30m 06s.

Club president Diane Wooller led by example with a fine 33rd in 33m 49s as she also won a silver medal in her section.

These tremendous achievements gave the Black Vests a comfortable team win, resulting in them winning the league title for the eighth time in ten years over their more fancied rivals Benfleet, Basildon, Southend and Chelmsford.

A remarkable accomplishment from a dedicated squad of athletes, who have had good support over the season from other team members Sian Gifford, Becky Adams, Lorri Douglas and Sue McCann.