Matt Adcock got his first ever Chiltern League category victory, winning the vet 40 section for Watford Harriers in the fourth round at Wigmore Valley.

Julian Critchlow, now competing as an Over-50, finished in fifth place overall and virtually ensured the league title in his category, while newcomer Phil Reynolds finished just 18 seconds behind.

Duncan Martin (20th), and Zac Mcdonough (39th) provided good support, while Chris Ellis (41st), Mikk Bradley (42nd), Stuart Buckingham (51st), Nick Harris (55th) and Paul Rutley (63rd) also ran well.

In the Under-17 men’s category, Ben Rochford finished second to lead the team to first place, with support from Harvey O’Brart (4th), Cory Keane (7th) and Lewis Sills (10th).

The ladies were led home by Liza Croft in tenth, ahead of Moira Craft (12th). Angela Halford (23rd) put in another strong run, while Janine Blasi (32nd), Jackie Drew (33rd), Nicoleta Economu (43rd), Angela Babit (56th) and Christine Dearman (62nd) also competed admirably.

In the Under-15 boys, Tom Rayner ran well for fourth place, and Owen Dearman finished in 17th.

Chloe Dearman was sixth in the Under-17 ladies, while there were some strong runs from Hannah Trotman (seventh), Rachel Crowder (21st), Caitlin Johal (38th), Rebecca Coulson (58th) and Yasmin Basil (61st).

In the Under-11 boys, Rob Swan finished eighth, supported by William Jarvis (45th), Ralph Williams (56th) Lewis Clark (71st) and Haydn Williams (80th).

Molly Jarvis achieved 18th in the Under-13 girls, and Cameron Clark came 20th in the Under-13 boys.

Meanwhile, Caroline Whittaker was the performer of the day for Watford Joggers on Sunday as she finished sixth in the fourth leg of the Cross Country League at Royston.

Whittaker ran an impressive time of 40.40, while Angela Halford, Clare Bonnick and Jane Molloy were in support to finish 35th, 38th and 80th respectively.

Jane Welch (83rd), Roz Fullylove (115th) and Angela Edwards (121st) also competed well for Watford in freezing conditions.

In the men’s section, Robert Gaddie was the highest placed Jogger in 34th with a time of 37.54, with Colin Taylor only five places behind, crossing the line in 38.10.

Mark Studdart (50th), Tom Lacey (66th), Marcus Edwards (91st), Paul Emery (101st) and Huw Hamer (122nd) all produced respectable performances and James Gamble (125th), Andy Dean 128th), Nick Slade (148th), Keith Taylor (172nd), Malcolm Salmons (193rd) and Kelvin O’Shea (196th) also faced the conditions in an impressive turn-out.

n Watford runner Eleanor Hunt’s successful winter season has continued with excellent results in her most recent cross country races.

Hunt became Hertfordshire’s Under-17 women’s cross country champion with a superb performance over a challenging 6.1km course at Haileybury School in extremely muddy conditions.

Running for Shaftesbury Barnet Harriers, Hunt finished more than half a minute ahead of the second placed competitor.

She also travelled to Sevenoaks in Kent for the Senior Knole Run, a major schools race of 2.2 miles in which more than 130 girls competed.

Representing St Albans School, Hunt came home in third place, just eight seconds behind the winner, and helped her school to fourth place in the team event.