ATHLETICS: THIS Saturday will see the best runners in the county do battle at the Essex cross-country championships.

This year’s event, hosted by Southend AC, will be held at Hadleigh Country Park, the venue for the 2012 Olympic Games mountain biking event.

Colchester and Tendring’s Lawrence Riches is arguably the most likely of all north Essex runners to achieve success at the event.

a run for his money by team-mate Joe Alexander.

Race times for the event are: 11am –under 13 boys 3k 11.15am – under 13 girls 3k 11.35am – under 15 boys 4k 12.00pm – under 15 girls 4k 12.30pm – under 17 men 5k 12.50pm – under 17/under20 women 5k 1.10pm –under 20 men 8k 1.30pm – senior women 8k 2pm – senior men 12k