WOODFORD GREEN Athletic club's Chris Brogan was disappointed after narrowly missing out on the gold medal in the Essex Veterans Cross Country Championships on Saturday.

Chris, who has just returned to England after living in Ireland for two years, showed he had lost none of his old stamina by leading for the majority of the race.

Unfortunately he was overtaken at the very end to finish second in the over-40s class at the event at Claybury Park.

Brogan was closely backed up by club mates Tony Pamphilon (9th) and David Cox (12th), with Andy Coleman completing the scoring four with the 16th place.

These excellent placings saw Woodford take the silver medals in the team event, just behind a strong Chelmsford side.

A break down in communications left Woodford's international veteran Bill Wootton missing out on the over-50s class.

With Wootton not realising that the programme had been changed it was left to Steve Herrington to lead the team home in tenth spot.

And with 12th and 14th places respectively for Vic Wilson and Eddie Bovington, plus Roger Green coming home in 28th, Woodford managed to grab second spot.

Two of Woodford's leading youngsters helped Essex win the girls and boys under 15s Inter-counties races at Bury St Edmunds on Saturday.

Although Mark Burgess was a little disappointed with his 15th place, Linzi Snow was a little more upbeat with her seventh spot in the girls race.