HARWICH Runners hosted the second race in the 53-12 Cross-Country League, at Ramsey.

Having won their first race in Pool B, the host club were looking to consolidate their position as early leaders.

On a dry, fresh morning, there was huge success for their men, with three local runners placed inside the top six on the five-mile course.

Steve Cooper and Rob Reason were again fourth and fifth, albeit the other way round from the first race at Writtle.

Graeme Knott, meanwhile, ran his first race of the series, finishing sixth.

Behind these there were strong runs from Stephen Peck, in 15th, and Mark Lloyd, in 23rd.

Simon Day completed the scoring six, finishing ahead of Archie Barrington in 47th.

The men comfortably won the Pool B race ahead of Halstead.

There were also strong runs from Chris Payne, Mark Higgs and Niall Burke, who all improved on their positions from the previous week, and a debut for Simon Garner.

In the ladies' race, Kate Hodgkiss again led the way for Harwich, taking an impressive fourth place.

Claudine Benstead had a strong run in 15th and Ellie Haynes rounded off the scoring team with a terrific performance to take 23rd.

Also going well were Nicola Flatt and Helen Benham.

The ladies finished a narrow second to Tiptree but the combined score saw Harwich claim the Pool B victory for the second time in two races.

In the junior race, run over a shorter mile and a half distance, 111 youngsters took part, including 13 from Harwich.

Michael Knowles was placed highest for the second race in a row, taking 18th overall and eighth in the MU15 group.

Eddison Barker was seventh in his age category (MU13).

Daisy Ward ran well to take sixth in the FU13 group, with Isabella McCreadie also looking strong.

There was a stunning run from Jemmima Gardner to take sixth in the youngest age group (FU11).

Jamie Carter continues to impress again, finishing highest of all the year four representatives on show, and there was a promising debut from Warren Mann.

Saturday's Harwich Parkrun was certainly not set up for lots of new personal bests, with a tough out leg into the wind.

However, 14 of the 107 who took part achieved that.

Like last week, Josh Newlyn (19 minutes and 16 seconds) and Harwich Runner Claudine Benstead (22m 53s) returned home as first male and first female.

Second and third home were also Harwich Runners.

Mark Rutter was second in a time of 19m 24s, followed by Simon Harrison in 19m 26s.

The second female back was also a Harwich club member, Alison Evans, in a time of 24m 10s.

Lian Meachen is starting to hit form again and even with two weeks away on holiday, she returned for her fourth consecutive PB in 32m 7s.

She was the only member of Harwich Runners to achieve a PB this week.