THERE was joy for both Grange Farm and Dunmow Runners women and men at the penultimate race of the Mid-Essex Cross-Country League.

The club fielded teams of 12 women and 25 men and strong performances resulted in both teams taking first places.

Claudine Davie, finishing third, led home the Grange farm women, with Jo Bisset-Smith (5th), Kerry Harrington (6th) and Pru Hayhow (8th) also scoring team points.

They finished just ahead of Little Badddow, with Springfield Striders third, followed by Mid-Essex Casuals and Braintree and District Athletic Club.

Scoring team points for Grange Farm’s men were James Bosher, who finished in second place, Alistair Brown (3rd), Matt Bainbridge (5th), James Lurkins (6th), Lee Pickering (7th), Steve Read (9th) and Graham Freeman (12th).

Springfield Striders finished second, followed by Little Baddow, Braintree and Mid-Essex Casuals.

The final race in the series will be held at Braintree on March 12.