SHAY Joyce made a perfect return to the English Cross Country Season after returning from a very successful spell running in the USA.

The Burnham athlete ran two races back to back on the weekend and won both events.

On Saturday, in torrential non-stop rain, he led his Orion Harriers Cross Country Club team to victory over a very tough and muddy 7.5 mile cross country course on Farthing Down in Coulsdon, Surrey.

After the first mile was completed, Joyce led a small leading group of a dozen before going down a steep descent into Happy Valley.

But, at halfway, Joyce had already stolen a good 50-metre advantage over his rivals and on the first steep ascent he made further headway on the slippery Surrey Hills.

It was at three to four miles he made a real effort to get away and held a lead to finish half a minute clear. On Sunday, Joyce turned out for his second club, the Little Baddow Ridge Runners Club, in the Mid-Essex Cross Country League Fixture over five very muddy miles at Danbury.

After a steady first mile in the pack, Joyce took it on, moving away strongly, in spite of feeling the previous day’s efforts in his fatigued legs.

He again proved the strongest runner in the race with a one minute clear win by the finish.