Halstead Road Runners’ very own reining World Duathlon Champion Maurice Young began the defence of his world crown in Ely.

The 80-year-old competed in the Monster Duathlon over a five kilometre run, a 25km bike ride and another 5km run.

Due to adverse weather conditions, many competitors failed to finish it, however, Young, completed the tough course in two hours 30 minutes 25 seconds to win his age category.

Continuing with the veteran theme, marathon man Andy Wilmot travelled up to Nofolk to compete in the Poppyline 50-mile race.

This ultra test of endurance was no match for 70-year-old Wilmot, who completed the course in just over 15 hours.

Meanwhile, the cross-country season come to a close with Halstead taking ten athletes to the prestigious National Cross-Country Champrionships at the iconic Parliament Hill Fields on Hampstead Heath in London.

With more than 5,000 athletes competing in a total of ten races, the standards were really high.

However, Halstead held their own and in quagmire conditions were able to achieve some brilliant results.

In the five-mile female race, competing in a field of 865, Rosie Atkins led the ladies home, while Stuart Prestney once again proved his impressive form in a field of more than 2,000 men to lead the Halstead contingent home over the seven-mile course.

RESULTS: Ladies: 570th Rosie Atkins 46m 39s, 608th Wendy Carter 47m 44s, 666th Hazel Buist 49m 45s.

Men: 745th Stuart Presney 52m 1s, 1,066th Bradley Doe 55m 28s, 1,258th Juan De Gea 57m 39s, 1,338th Bob Langley 58m 37s, 1,398th Nathan Roulson59m 25s, 1,792nd Alistair Godfrey1h 7m, 1,836th Andy Carter 1h 8m 30s.