WOODFORD’S men’s team recorded a tremendous third-place finish at the South of England Road Relays event.

Consisting of alternate long and short stages, the race saw 12 of the local club’s runners take to the road and perform superbly to take the bronze medal.

Matt Shone led the way for Woodford on the first eight kilometre stage, coming in sixth from a high-quality field. Tim Prendergast ran an excellent second leg in the five kilometre shorter course, while Daniel Augustus lifted Woodford into third.

Craig Berg took on the fourth stage. The club dropped to fifth with runs from Bertie Powell and Kevin Murphy, but Hywel Care and Stuart Maxwell closed the gap on third, before Matt Gunby, Ben Hope, Ewen Malloch and Martyn Cryer finished the job.

The women’s team were forced to settle for fifth place, however, finishing 90 seconds outside the medals.

Meanwhile, Woodford’s Under 17 men’s team struck gold at the Essex Young Athletes Road Relays, with Liam Blake running the decisive leg after good work from Dan Yaxley and Robbie Meadows.

The U17s women were third, thanks to impressive runs from Sophie Fuhr, Lauren Freeman and Claudia Conway.

The U13 boys came fourth, as did the girls’ U15 team.

Elsewhere, Orion’s Under 15 girls’ team led the gold rush for the Chingford-based club, as the team of Armani Antoine-Chagar, Jay Andrews and Lauren MacGregor blitzed the opposition, while Chagar also won individual gold for her scintillating run.

Frankie Conway grabbed gold in the U17 men’s race with an excellent run, while he teamed up with Chris Atkins and Danny Penfold for bronze in the team event.

The U13 boys’ team of Jack Waller, George Hoy and Cheyenne Antoine-Chagar claimed silver.