WITHAM Running Club made a flying start to the 53-12 Cross-Country League season with Rachel Sweatt winning the ladies' race in the opening round at Writtle.

She was one of more than 40 Witham runners who helped the club secure a strong start to the new season.

The first four female finishers from each club score for the ladies' team and the first eight male finishers score for the men, however, all runners can indirectly contribute to the overall scoring of the race.

Hoping to build on last season's success, where Witham finished third in Pool A, expectations were understandably high and the club was were keen to get off to a good start.

The runners did not disappoint and Sweatt got off to the perfect start by winning the ladies' race to help Witham to fourth place in the ladies' category.

Also scoring for the ladies were Liz Stuckey in 19th, Charlotte Elms in 23rd and Brigid Wallen in 39th.

The men’s team earned third place in their category, led home by Mark Finbow (16th) and Chris Martin (17th) with new recruits Nebay Debusay (27th) and David Stevens (36th) both scoring on their cross-country debuts for Witham.

Other men’s scorers were Heydon Mizon in 20th, James Crisp in 25th, Scott Darney in 29th and Andrew Lager in 51st.

Witham will try to hold on to the top-three spot when they run in race two at Harwich on Sunday.

Meanwhile, three runners from Witham tackled the Stort 30 Ultra Marathon.

Starting and finishing in Bishop's Stortford, the route is a 30-mile out and back along the River Stort, with Giles Sowerby first home for Witham.

Feeling not so fresh after Chelmsford Marathon the previous week, Sowerby still ran an impressive time of four hours five minutes 39 seconds.

A great run from James Blackshaw saw him earn himself a new personal best of 4h 23m 25s and a great run from Tracey Denby saw her complete the run in 6h 12m 26s.