ADAM Hickey gave everything to win the biggest race of his senior career but ended up just missing out at the UK Intercounties Cross-Country Championships in Birmignham.

The 27-year-old Southend AC athlete made a big effort to win the senior men’s race at Cofton Park, pulling away from his main rival Dewi Griffiths on the final lap of the 12km course.

But the Welshman fought back and then attacked Hickey on the final hill of the course to win by five seconds.

It was another case of so near yet so far for the on-form Hickey who also finished runner-up at the English Cross-Country Championships.

There was a silver medal too for Gemma Holloway (Thurrock Harriers) who had been struggling with injury leading up to the event but still managed to beat everyone bar run-away winner Bobby Clay of Kent.

The Essex team just missed out on a team medal as they finished fourth overall, with Benfleet RC’s Victoria Hiscock the third Essex scorer in 49th position.

Canvey’s Jessica Judd had the best cross-country run as a senior as she finished fifth in the senior women’s race.

She said afterwards: “Best day at Inter Counties, so happy with fifth place, great way to end the XC season. So happy it's over.”

The Essex women’s team were, like the juniors, fourth overall with former Benfleet RC runner Stacey Ward running strongly to finish in 15th while Basildon AC’s Emma Houchell was the fifth scorer in 76th position.

Two Essex teams did win medals, both in the under-15 age group.

The under-15 girls had two south Essex runners in the scoring quartet with Amber Pullinger (Thurrock Harriers) and Joanna Rimmington (Southend AC) both running superbly to finish in 31st and 36th places respectively.

A littler further back were Hayley Instance (Thurrock Harriers, 116th) and Grace Goodall (Benfleet RC, 178th).

The under-15 boys team had no south Essex representation but Thurrock Harriers’ Taylor Newell was just outside the scorers, coming home in 171st place.

Jodie Judd continued her strong cross-country season by finishing 15th in the under-17 women’s race with Sinead Clark (58th), Jemima Walker (135th) and Niamh Smith (193rd) all part of the Essex team.

East Essex Tri’s Harrison Smith was 60th and third Essex scorer in the under-17 men’s race, while Basildon AC’s Brandon Thorpe was 182nd.

In the under-13 girls race, Basildon AC’s Abi Ives led the Essex team home in 41st place, with her club-mate Kierra Scott finishing in 196th position.

Thurrock Harriers’ Harry Parker was the lead Essex runner in the under-13 boys’ race, coming home in 48th.