COLCHESTER and Tendring Athletics Club's juniors strengthened their place at the top of the 53-12 Cross-Country League with a good turn-out at the Abbey Field, in Colchester.

Tom Palmer, in third, and Matt Brayshaw, in fourth, got them off to a good start.

Sam Shippey finished eighth and Charlie Regan, running his second race of the weekend, came tenth, while there was a promising debut from Jack Wharton, in 13th, to complete the scorers.

Rocco Viljoen (24th), Kaela Swaine (27th), Finn Rattray (32nd) and Jude Swaine were the next of the club's up-and-coming youngsters to finish.

One family provided three team runners and they were the Thompsons.

Amy came 43rd, Lucy 61st and Ellie 85th.

The Clarkes also had two competitors, with Matt 91st and Rebecca 111st.

Other good performances came from Stanley Hobbs (40th), Rebecca Ventre (45th), Fred Walton (52nd) and Katie Roberts (53rd), all completing the course in the top half of the field.

Emily White was 56th, Ally Thorndyke 57th, Rachel Sandercock 67th, Elsa Styles 84th, Olivia Woods 97th, Amiya Trott 100th and George Gray 117th.

Oscar Griffith (63rd), Brandon Nelson (64th) and Allahna Boone (86th) did well on their debuts.

In the seniors' race, Emily Donaghue finished 38th while Alan Palmer came in 213rd, making his CATs debut.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, a small select squad of athletes attended the Essex League races at Apex Fields, in Hockley.

Charlie Regan was 20th in the under-15s.

Elsie Gray was a very good seventh in her race while Freddy Richardson finished 26th in the under-20 category.

In the senior men’s race, Ben Miller finished ahead of his dad in 32nd place, while Roy Miller had his highest finish so far in 185th.