HALSTEAD Road Runners members were in action as the Essex Seniors Cross-Country Championships took place at Woodford Green.

The race attracts runners of a high calibre as they compete for a county medal and the chance to represent Essex in the inter-county championships. However, the field is far from exclusive with runners of all abilities enjoying competing for their club.

The ladies raced first, churning the course up nicely for the men.

Melanie Candler was first home for Halstead in 58th place, followed by Wendy Carter (77th), Nicole Smith (102nd) and Sarah Frost (137th) as the ladies' team placed 19th out of 29.

Unfortunately the men didn’t have enough runners for a scoring team.

However, it was good preparation for the forthcoming Southern Cross-Country Championships at the end of the month.

Wesley Atkins finished in 91st place, followed by Richard Candler (107th) and Jon Greenley (128th).

Meanwhile, Dan Smith and Andy Wilmot clocked up yet another long-distance event as they completed the inaugural East Hanningfield Trail Marathon in five hours 54 minutes.

Conditions were very sticky and muddy underfoot tackling every kind of terrain as runners navigated a circular route around Danbury.

Elsewhere, Great Britain duathlete Maurice Young completed his first race of the season, the Mince Pies Revenge Duathlon, at Stratford.

It was a one-mile circuit accessible from the Olympic Velodrome and Young completed the two-lap run, ten lap bike and one-mile run in 1h 18m.