ATHLETICS: Harry Parker opened proceedings at Saturday's third round of the Essex Cross Country League with a commanding win in the under 13 boy's race. The races were held at an attractive new course at Horse Heath Point to Point Racecourse at Linton on the Cambridgeshire/Essex border.

In all categories Thurrock's young athletes were well to the fore. Harry led his team to third place. Finley Lowe was 10th, Dylan Harrod was 23rd and Teddy Norcott scored for the first time in 25th place. Also running Sonny Vehitt was 28th. A pleasant surprise came with the under 17 men's team runners up spot with Jodi Meredith 11th, Sam Smith 16th, Oliver Mann 21st and newcomer Joe Logan, a promising 24th. This solid quartet showed they are good bets for medals in the County Championships on the 28th of this month.

Top three placing went to the under 13 girls team. Holly Dowsett-Ward ran well to finish 10th, Demi Briggs was 11th, Leah Brewer 17th and Hannah Peacock completed the quartet who made third place. Emily Fall also ran in 22nd place.

An excellent performance came from Amber Pullinger who took runners up spot in the under 15 girls event. Frustratingly this section were one short of a full team, finishing fourth with Hayley Instance 10th and Lucie Ball 19th.

The under 15 boys team was fourth. Taylor Newell is in the form of his life and this Saturday finished eighth. Jack Exley achieved a very good 10th place. Sarab Dhillon came in 15th (PB), Mason Hambleton ran his best ever cross country race to finish 19th. Also in the race Henri Willett ran well to finish 22nd. Ben Prior was a solid 23rd.

Gemma Holloway is in the middle of a very busy race programme and took second place in the senior ladies event. Like the under 15 girls this team were also one short so despite great runs from Toni Noble 23rd, Jodie Farrell 33rd (a PB) the team result didn't reflect the quality of those performances.

The senior men turned out a squad of eight but were missing their leading performers. This gave Keith Willett a V40 a chance to lead in the team in 64th spot. He was followed by Don Lawless (73rd) with two more athletes from his V50 age group Eamonn Shelley and Jon Metcalf finishing 76th and 87th.

Brothers Keith and Tim Martin made a valuable contributions to the team effort. Keith's 85th place was a PB and his brother, Tim, came in 96th place.

Harriers finished 11th place of 20 teams. Mick Bumstead is coming back to his best and has ambitions for the County V60 race at the end of the month. On Saturday he was 104th. The other finisher was the improving Iain Scott in 132nd place.