WOODFORD Athletes enjoyed a day of mixed fortunes in the Essex County Championships in Basildon at the weekend, with the men's team earning an excellent bronze medal, while the women claimed fifth.

Kevin Murphy was the standout performer for the local club, as he ran a well-measured race over the 8.2 mile course to finish just ten seconds behind winner Sam Farah in sixth, just one place outside the five automatic spots which would have seen him qualify for Essex's Inter-Counties team.

Tom Phillips closely followed in 15th while Angus Holford (32nd), Harold Wyber (33rd), Martin McLean (42nd) and Jim Roche (43rd) also ran well, although it wasn't enough to topple eventual champions Chelmsford and defend their crown which they won last year.

Meanwhile, the women's trio of Diana Kennedy, Kat Gundersen and Bernie Pritchett ran well in the absence of star performers Kat Sparke and Linzi Snow.

Kennedy came in first for the club in 12th, while Gundersen was two places further back in 14th and Pritchett took 16th.

Elsewhere, Woodford Green with Essex Ladies' Kat Sparke confirmed her status as a top class long distance runner with a 13th place finish in the Great Edinburgh International Cross Country.

Simon Plummer, meanwhile, overcame a chest infection to record a fantastic second place in the South West County Championships last week.

In the junior classes, a number of Woodford athletes impressed, with under 20 runner Ronnie Sparke taking a superb silver medal. In the women's equivalent Georgie Sales won her race, while team-mate Jessica Docking took sixth, and Amelia Holford claimed ninth.

The men's U17 team won an excellent bronze, with Robert Meadows taking individual silver, while Darren Southcott (13th), Alex Cornwell (16th), Ben Phillips (20th) and Karim Ali (21st0 also enjoying strong runs.

In the women's race in the same category, Sidnie Sales was first over the line for the club in 11th, followed by Kate Stockings (14th) and Becky Hewitt (20th), while Liam Blakie was fifth in the boys' U15, with James Stockings and B Shilston also running well.