COLCHESTER HARRIERS' ever-growing group of talented athletes were out in force on day one of the Essex Championships.

And there were some brilliant results from the youngsters who attended.

Annabelle Abbott kicked off the day's proceedings with a fantastic five-second personal best (PB) in the under-15 girls' 1,500 metres, finishing in a time of five minutes and 22.41 seconds.

She just missed out on the final.

The 200m races saw Amie Speller, Kelly Sutton and Emily Moore taking to the start line in the under-15 girls' age category.

Speller, Sutton and Moore all made it through to the semi-final.

Sutton had to withdraw, due to an injury she received in the heat, while Speller and Moore progressed to the final.

Moore ran a fantastic 200m final to win in 26.85s, a new PB, and take the gold medal, while Speller took a fantastic fourth place, in a time of 27.72s.

In the under-17 women's 200m, Bethanie Moore, Kaneesha Johnson, Jessica Cutts and Sophie Fisher all battled it out, producing some fine sprinting.

Cutts gained a new PB of 26.95s and Fisher achieved a PB of 27.67s, while Moore and Johnson both made it through to the final.

Johnson took gold, outsprinting world gold medal winner Christine Onorugu's sister, Victoria, in a closely-fought race between some excellent sprinters from the county.

Johnson ran a new PB of 25.11s, while Bethanie Moore sprinted to a new PB of 26.22s.

She just missed out of a medal.

The under-17 men's event threw up some more exciting races, where David Lo and Cameron Irvine took on the challenge of the 200m.

Lo and Irvine both made it though to the semi-final stage, where Lo raced to a place in the final, where his determination won him a bronze medal in a time of 22.8s.

Simon Underwood, in the under-13 boys' age group, ran a new PB in the 200m, with a time of 31.16s, and jumped out to 3.79m in the long jump.

Chloe Young also ran a new PB of 21.79s in the under-13 girls' 150m.

Ella Neale got through the heats and finished fourth in the final of the under-17 women's 1,500m with a new PB in 5m 01.64s.

Johnson also took part in the javelin, throwing out to 27.80m for a new PB.

TIPTREE ROAD RUNNERS' Nick Reynolds had a strong run to take second place with a time of 30m 26s in the Bocking Carnival five-mile off-road event.

Mark Brewer ran 34m to take sixth place, while Roger Duffield finished 13th overall and first V60 in a time of 37m 36s.

In earlier races, Duffield competed in the Clacton five-mile road race, finishing 12th in 37m 26s.

At the Sawston Fun Run, Rob Hadgraft completed his 750th race in this 4.75-mile event, finishing in 35m 17s.

At the Welcome Back seven-mile trail run in wet, muddy conditions at Terling, Dave Comish was first home for the club in 52m 41s, followed by Duffield in 65m 29s.

Barry Dobson and Carolyn Bownes completed the course in 72m 27s.