COLCHESTER Harriers athletes were in dominant form as they hosted the latest 53-12 Cross Country League fixture at Abbeyfields.

The Green Vests boasted a fantastic turnout, as more than 400 runners competed on a cold but sunny morning.

Harriers' Angus Holford was a runaway winner, leaving team-mate Ramadam Osman after the first lap of three on the five-mile course which is a lot tougher then it looks.

Holford enjoyed his second consecutive league victory while Osman was happy with second spot.

Making up the Harriers' eight scoring men team who finished runners-up behind Ipswich Jaffa were Nathan Filer (17), Colin Ridley (22), Jon Nears (24), Dominic King (27), Paul Rodgers (32), Keith Marley (34) while Ged McMillan was 35th.

Edward Doherty (41) enjoyed a very good debut, while also showing up well were Paul Preston (48) and Gavin Scanlon (49).

Then came Alex Sales (53), Kevin Higgens (58), Richard Flutter (64), Chris Manby (76), Joe Boden (78), John Fryer (88), Dan Marks (89), Rob Ferguson (95), Russell Goodridge (96), Chris Panton (104), Michael Burrows (109), Dave Gayer (122), Pat Marsh (142), Simon Miller (143), Johnny Zeeuw (144), Martin Claydon (146) and Keiron Callaghan (163).

Harriers' ladies were also an unlucky second, beaten by two points by Ipswich Jaffa.

The Harriers' four scoring ladies - Laura Shewbridge (3), Andrea James (5), Celia Farisser (7) and Debbie Cattermole (13) ran extremely well.

Jo Marks (16) and Ffion Harris (18), along with Annette Oakman (20), were also firing on all cylinders.

Other Harriers ladies were Cheryl Appleby (37), Kate Gibson (42), Helen Thurlow (55), Louise Yates (59) and Rachel Rodgers (89).

Harriers' juniors were the third-placed team, with Ermeas Aferwerki second runner home in a field of 128.

Theo Gardiner (17), Jay West (20) and Charlie Walder (21) were the Green Vests' scorers along with Milly Presland (14th), who was the first female home.

Other juniors to run were Madeline Claydon (28), Harrison Leek (30), Daisy Hilton (38), Mollie Whiteford (39), Lizzy Woods (41), Emily Henderson (48), Isabella Minder (69), Savannah Harrison (71), Anna Ritchie (75), Emily McGill (79), Jes Longstaff (82), Alex Walden (87), Rebecca Collins (88), Michael Woods (95), Hannah Rodgers (103), Jennifer Woods (105), Holly Speller (106) and Charlie Palmec (112).

Harriers veterans maintained their lead at the top of the Essex Cross County League following the latest meet at Hockley.

Allen Smalls (36), Colin Ridley (38), Paul Spowage (49) and Pete West (78) were in fine form.

They also scored in the senior men's race where Harriers finished seventh, with Joe Patterson (20) leading the Green Vests home.

Chris Sellens (35), Gavin Scanlon (72), Simon Morgan (130) and Martyn Claydon (156) were also in action.

Harriers' under-17 men's squad of Ermeas Afewerki (16), Danny Millward (26), Joe Boden (29) and Fergus Cruch (30). Hannah Watson was sixth in the under-17 race, while Milly Presland continues to impress with a fourth spot in the under- 15 girls', where Madeline Claydon was also in good form in 11th and Grace Rothwell was 15th.

The Harriers' lone under-13 boys' competitor was Charlie Parmentor in 27th.

Three Harriers ladies braved the cold conditions with Denise Morley (15), Rebecca Cooke (16) and Ella Neale (17) taking part.

At the Castle Park Run, James Wright was first with Jon Nears runner-up.

Ian Haws finished third and Jasmine West was third lady, while Rachel Richardson-Wright completed her 100th Park Run.

The Chelmsford event saw Richard Flutter finish 12th in a massive field of 550, with Debbie Cattermole first female.

Heidi Steele returned to running with a victory at Maldon Park Run, while Drew Olley was third at Great Cornard and Edward Mitchell ran a fine 17 minutes 46 seconds to win the Mersea event.