ATHLETICS: THURROCK Harriers’ youngsters swapped their usual white and blue club vests for the red of Essex at the Southern Intercounties Championships.

Gemma Holloway picked up a team gold medal and finished fifth overall in the under-17 women’s race at Biggleswade, Bedfordshire, while a handful of Harriers’ promising under-13 runners impressed on their first appearances for their county.

Hayley Instance was the fourth Essex scorer in the under-13 girls race, finishing 46th overall and helping Essex to a fifth-placed finish.

In the under-13 boys, Harriers pair Jack Exley and Reece Scott both had good runs.

Exley was the fourth Essex counter to cross the line, in 29th place while Scott was 11 seconds further back in 41st spot. Essex finished sixth in the team standings.

Elsewhere, Harriers’ super veteran Pat Dobbs added another gold medal to his collection at the weekend when he won the Southern Veterans V75 Cross Country Championship.

The race was held in conjunction with the tough Reigate ‘Turkey Trot’.

l On Boxing Day the last Crown to Crown race of the year will be held at Westley Heights, behind the Harvester in Langdon Hills. The start time is 11am and many members of the Thurrock running community are expected to turn out and compete.