Thurrock Harriers competed in the first round of the Essex Cross Country Championships at Writtle Agricultural College on Saturday.

The age groups involved were the under-13s and under-15s and veterans, with the best individual performance coming from Finnlay Lowe, who was third in the under-15 boys race.

Shortly behind in the under-13s girls race was Jayne Elvin (sixth) as she earned an invitation to the inter-counties championships in March.

Cassidy Dike’s excellent eighth place in the under-13 boys race also gives him a chance of selection for that event.

He led the club’s best team effort of the day with Thomas Peacock 16th, Harry Tobin 25th, Jack Warren 29th and Noah Trencher 43rd. All just missed out on medals.

The men’s veterans team (50+) finished a respectable seventh in their event where over 20 teams closed in.

Paul Green secured an excellent 16th and Jon Metcalf had one of his best outings, finishing 27th. Eamonn Shelley was 33rd, Chris Applegate 50th, Martin Mack 52nd, Mick Bumstead 59th and Bernie Johnson 74th, which made up this strong squad.

In the 40+ age group Scott Rice looked good as he ran to a 20th place finish. He was supported by Keith Willett 34th, Nick Trencher 48th, Paul Mitchell 61st and Steve Ball 63rd, whose battling performances took the team to ninth place.

Other finishers in the FV45 group were Jodie Farrell in 14th and Sue Beck who was 61st in the veteran ladies event.

The under-15 girls team were ninth, with Hannah Peacock 25th, Leah Brewer 33rd, Emily Fall 35th, Kennedy Beardwell 38th.