JESS Harvey struck gold for the Erme Valley Harriers in the recent Devon Cross Country Championships in Exeter and was among the club's athletes to secure county selection.

Harvey came first in the U20 women's race with an overall fifth place on a course which was reasonably dry despite overnight rain.

Her time was just 54 seconds behind the overall race winner Emma Stepto from Cornwall.

In the same race, Carie-Robertson Bell finished in third place in the U17 category.

She and Harvey will now both be selected to compete for Devon in the inter counties events after Christmas.

In the same race, Jayne Reed was 55th overall and eighth in her age category.

In the U15 girls' race, young Sarah Woodyear had another impressive run, finishing 11th overall, and is now hopefully going to also be selected for the South West Inter Counties at Bicton.

In the U13 girls' event, Sally Mogridge was 29th and Rebecca Bracher 30th in a very high-quality race.

In the U13 boys' race, Travis Bramley earned his county selection with a very gutsy sixth place overall having run for the Ivybridge Community College team in the English Schools' cup final the day before.

In the same race, Nathan Brown had a very good run, taking two minutes off his 2010 time to earn a 10th overall position.

Brown had also competed for the college team the day before.

The Harriers had just one finisher in the U17 men's race, Luke Honey, who finished just outside the medals in fourth place. This will be enough, however, to ensure his county selection.

In the senior men's event, the best finisher was Andy Perry in 58th place, just ahead of Alistair Bristow in 68th.

The club also had Jo Bracher and Russ Mogridge in 106th and 107th respectively. Unfortunately, Eliot Buckner and Steve Watson had to drop out of the race due to injury.

The club also had some good performances in the U11 development race with Robert Stockdale finishing third, Matt Evans seventh and Jo Perry 12th. Young Layla Roger finished 36th.

On Sunday, Miranda Hardacre took part in a indoor meeting at Cardiff, recording a very good time of 42.68 seconds for the 300m to win her heat in style.

The club can now take a well-earned rest until Bicton, apart from the annual run around Burrator on Boxing Day.