GRANGE Farm and Dunmow Runners' men and ladies are topping the table after the opening race of the Mid-Essex Cross-Country League.

It was a frosty start at Little Baddow for the first race of the season as runners from five local clubs faced a challenging, hilly course across Woodham Walter Common.

Grange Farm and Dunmow Runners were represented by 15 men and nine women.

James Bosher won the race and led the Grange Farm’s men’s team to victory.

Also scoring team points for the club were Lee Pickering, in fourth place, Matt Bainbridge (fifth), Josh Sowman (sixth), Dan Reynolds (tenth), Alistair Brown (20th) and Kevin Marshall (23rd).

For Grange Farm's women, Claudine Davie finished in second place, with Kerry Harrington (third), Charlotte King (sixth) and Brady Ramsay (11th) also scoring team points to taking them into first place.

In the men’s race Grange Farm were followed by Springfield Striders, Braintree and District Athletic Club, Little Baddow Ridge Runners and Mid-Essex Casuals.

For the women, Springfield Striders finished second, ahead of Little Baddow, Braintree and Mid-Essex Casuals.

The second race of the series will be held at Rivenhall on January 7.