HARWICH Runners fielded two teams at the Essex Cross-Country Championships, at Claybury.

Host club Woodford Green easily won the men’s event, also producing the fastest time of 39 minutes and 43 seconds, clocked by Tom Phillips.

A travelling contingent of ten runners from Harwich were in attendance at Saturday’s race.

Rob Reason led the charge, taking 27th spot in a highly-competitive field of 184 runners.

Mark Lloyd followed in 58th and Sam Gooding-Matthews in 76th, recording decent times on the difficult course. With six needed to score, the team was completed by Andre Besant, Aaron Rudkin and Richard Newman.

Remaining runners Nick Beales, Justin Cooper-Keeble, Matt Doran and Kieran Callaghan helped push runners from other clubs down the finish list and played their part as the club finished 13th overall.

The ladies’ race was won by Gemma Kersey, who led the victorious Basildon team.

The Harwich ladies did well in tough company, with Madeline Lewis first across the finish line in a black and white vest in 48th place.

In-form Carrie Hook and Elspeth Knott finished just 17 seconds apart in 67th and 69th respectively, with Michelle Greenfield completing the scoring team of four.

The ladies placed 14th overall.