COLCHESTER and Tendring Athletic Club's Joseph Patterson ran for Essex at the English Schools Cross-Country Championships, in Norwich.

Competing in the senior boys' 7km event, he had an excellent run, coming a respectable 68th out a field of 334.

Essex's athletes won the overall cup - a superb achievement.

Will Page, running for Suffolk, also gave a good account of himself to finish in a worthy 119th position.

Mary Ann Deasy, despite feeling below par, stuck to her task and produced a creditable run in the senior girls' race.

Meanwhile, the Essex 3x5k Road Relays event was held at Harwich.

Colchester and Tendring's ladies' vets team were delighted to win bronze medals - a good confidence-booster for the new road season.

Ellie Cumner ran 21 minutes and five seconds, Jane Atkinson 21m 11s and Sian Gifford 22m 26s.

The Harwich Parkrun saw some outstanding times from two very talented young members of Colchester and Tendring.

Ten-year-old Kiera Jayne Atkinson finished second in a personal best (PB) 19m 7s, in a field of 93 runners of all ages.

Nine-year-old sister Kayleigh Ann Atkinson was also in brilliant form and finished sixth in 20m 12s (PB), with dad Kieron Atkinson ninth in a PB 20m 42s.

At the Colchester Parkrun, good efforts came from Ben Miller, who was third in 17m 48s, Elliott Black, 22m 7s (PB), Georgina Sturgeon, 23m 45s, and Elsie Baggot, 25m 2s.