Woodford Green with Essex Ladies high jumper Ayama Akim won a gold medal at the World Masters Championships in Brazil, while Keith Newton picked up a bronze in the triple jump.

Akim won the W40 high jump title in Porto Alegre with a height of 1.67m and Newton wasn’t far away from matching the feat, as he came third in the M40 triple jump with 12.88m.

Closer to home, Woodford’s Senior Women came 16th out of 99 complete teams that finished at the English National Cross Country Relays at Berry Hill Park.

Georgie-Lou Sales led out first and brought the team home strongly in 31st position with a time of 11.19.

Taking over on the second leg was middle-distance specialist and England international Emily Moss who started fast but lost a few places at the end to finish in 22nd with a time of 11.24.

On the final leg, off the back of half-marathon training, Kat Gundersen set off hard and closed a further six places, before also starting to struggle in the final kilometre.

Gundersen held off late pressure though, to bring the team home in 16th place with 11.32.

Four young teams from Woodford also made the long trip north to take on the best in England.

The Under-15 girls withstood a heavy downpour to secure an excellent 15th from 100 teams starting.

Rosie Poole led the team out and held on well to come in 42nd over the 2km course in 7.52.

Bella Hoy wasted no time on the second leg as she tore through the field to come in 17th in 7.31.

With the rain teaming down, Jodie Ratcliff improved two places further up with an excellent 7.50.

The Under-13 girls, all new to the event, did well to secure 37th spot, again with more than 100 teams starting.

Kyesha Robinson set off for the green and white hoops to come home in 32nd in 8.02 before Mia Hirons ran bravely to get round in 8.52 to come in 39th place.

On the last leg, Megan Caswell had her best race to date, finishing in 37th with 8.25.

The Under-13 boys got off to a great start with a fine opening leg from Alfie Poole, who placed 22nd in a time of 7.27.

Young David Badmus found the going tough but gave his best in running 8.23 for 45th.

Joe Gellor, also a bottom year Under-13 boy, ran well to move back up to 41st in 7.55.

Canaan Solomon ran first leg for the Under-15 boys and, after leading most of the circuit, was overhauled by Raynor of Mansfield towards the end.

Solomon’s time of 6.25 was the third fastest leg overall for this age group.

Solomon handed over to Owen Armstrong, who was carrying a broken arm and had to wear an extra layer to cover his cast.

Armstrong dug deep to get round safely in 7.27, bringing Woodford home in 15th spot.

On the last leg, Jack Shury ran nine minutes exactly to see the club come 64th.