GEMMA Holloway was the star south Essex performer at the Southern Cross-Country Championships in Brighton.

The 17-year-old Thurrock Harrier, below, won a bronze medal in the under-20 women’s race at Stanmer Park.

Having taken the lead early on, the Palmer’s College student found herself locked in a battle with two older, Great Britain internationals and had to concede ground in the latter stages.

But she was able to hang on for a superb bronze medal.

Holloway was one of just a few top athletes from Essex to contest the Southerns.

Two of her younger team-mates, Harry Parker and Hayley Instance, were also in action with Parker finishing 26th in the under-13 boys race and Instance 21st in the under-13 girls race.

Southend AC had a number of runners on the south coast, with their women’s team finishing 19th overall in the team standings.

They were led by Claire Cornwell in 57th, followed by Sarah Jeffery (106th), Holly Gillard (130th) and Natasha Lagden (187th).

In the gruelling 15km senior men’s race, Rhys Gillard finished in 148th spot.

A trio of under-20 men were in action, with Joe Ray first back in 64th place, followed by Dominic Le Mare (88th) and Henry Snell (106th).

Annabel Matthews-Smith was 36th in the under-20 women’s race while Adam Jordan (60th) and Michael Hodges (133rd) contested the under-17 men’s race.

The youngest athlete to make the Southend-Brighton journey was Craig Wheeler who finished 187th in the under-15 boys race.