COLCHESTER Harriers claimed a hat-trick of medals at the Essex Cross Country Relay Championships.

More than 50 runners turned out for the Green Vests, as the winter cross country season kicked off at a very hilly Hockley course.

It was a tough test for the Harriers, especially as the weather was bordering on hot.

But although injuries weakened the Harriers in the senior men’s race, the ladies, mixed and under-15 boys' teams all claimed team medals.

Sarah Stradling was again in superb form, leading the ladies to silver.

Stradling took the lead for the ladies on the second leg, after Laura Shewbridge's good first leg had settled Harriers into second position.

Rebecca Cooke ran a fine anchor leg and was unlucky to finish second, behind a strong Springfield Striders team.

Harriers' mixed team were involved in another tight contest, eventually claiming bronze behind Orion Harriers and Thurrock Harriers.

The Harriers quartet to take the medals were Andrea James, Chris Sellens, Colin Ridley and the evergreen Denise Morley.

Harriers' under-15 boys produced a silver team medal performance thanks to Max Caulfield, Ziggy Lambton and Danny Millward while their under-17s were unlucky to finish fourth, with great runs coming from Fergus Crouch, Jake Young and Oscar Dawson.

Results, Colchester Harriers (2.7-mile cross country legs): Ladies A: Laura Shewbridge, Sarah Stradling, Becky Cooke, second team; Ladies B: Hannah Watson, Ella Neal, Helen Bloomfield, sixth team; Ladies C: Debbie Cattermole, Fran Norris, Rachel Taylor, 13th team; Ladies D: Tonie Wilson, Rachel Rodgers; Mixed A team: Colin Ridley, Denise Morley, Chris Sellens, Andrea James, third team; Mixed B team: Annette Oakman, Jon Nears, Heidi Steele, Mark Harrod, fifth team; Mixed C team: Vicky Presland, Becky Bjotter, Craig Mitchell, Richard Flutter, eighth team; Men's B team: Robbie Smith, Paul Rodgers, Ged McMillan, Keith Marley, ninth team: Men's C team: Craig Mitchell, Russell Goodridge, Chris Manby, Tim Ballard, 14th team; Men's D team: Simon Smith, Dan Marks, David Wright, Richard Pickering, 21st team;

Men's E team: Ady Frost, James Waterson, Simon Morgan, Craig Harley, 24th team; Men's F team: Angus Holford, Pat Marsh, Chris Panton, Kevin MacAlinden, 19th team; under-15 girls: Jasmine West, Lily Waterson, Jasmine Marley, ninth team; under-15 girls' (B): Isabelle Minder, Hannah Rodgers, unknown, tenth team: under-13 girls' Milly Presland, Francesca Williamson 15-02, Grace Gardiner 12-56, 14th team; under-15 boys: Max Caulfield, Ziggy Lambton, Danny Millward, second team; under-17 men: Fergus Crouch, Jake Young, Oscar Dawson, fourth team.

Harriers' Rachel Richardson-Wright was well up in her age group, at the Windsor triathlon.