A Tale of two Cross Countries.

The Essex Cross Country league fixture brought us to what might be called the half term break for after the early season fixtures the next call comes in January, seven days after the county championships. This most recent meeting however, held at the Hadleigh country park, leaves Chelmsford still in the chase for team and individual honours.

The senior women head their group although Havering took the win in this fixture after placing second to the `green and golds` previously - however omitting each team’s lowest placing the latest league points show as two against three with Chelmsford in the `driving seat’. It was Megan Williams leading us home here with her third place followed by Antonia Moore 12th, Emma Cox 17th and Laura Durn 25th completing the scoring quartet. Wendy King placing 28th looks favourite for the season’s veterans over 50-year top spot. Anna Nuttall 36th and Samantha Kelly 62nd also in the veterans’ class ran well being well into the top half of the field.

The under 17 men`s table again a tight affair - this time Havering having the single point advantage despite Chelmsford`s win here with Jacob Parrott 2nd, Daniel Pollard 3rd and Thomas Carter 7th. Jacob also in the hunt for an individual award being third at this stage. Also, Katie Cox at under 17`s, finishing third this time round, sits in second place for the season but alas team wise we have been lacking throughout the campaign although here there was an individual success for Emmie Lole making her debut for the club.

For the under 11 boys Chelmsford shows in the table both in second and third place with the athletic club having a single point advantage over the Endurance team, with three wins Southend look to be certain winners. Samuel Miller of Endurance however is well placed for an individual award currently being second after his third place here. Other placings Lewis Boarer 10th, Ben Padfield 12th, Toby Hatt 13th, George Jaggard 20th, Thomas Jaggard 28th, George Hunneybun 42nd and Rory Casey 44th. For the under 11 girls both the club and Endurance share 4th spot with Brentwood firmly in the top spot. Hannah Hogben 7th here has an outside chance individually. This latest race also saw Coco Phillips 11th, Evie Law 16th and Alice Coker 22nd.

SS Athletcs head the under 13 girls table with Chelmsford out of the chase not helped with only two youngsters at this fixture - Sadie Davis 3rd and Scarlett Metcalfe 14th.  Even this however was beyond the under 15 girls being absent from the starting line-up - however from the earlier meetings Francesca Phillips is still in the chase for an individual award.  SS Athletics are firmly in control of the under 13 boys title, having won at each of the past meetings but Dylan Law has placed second in each and looks set to be amongst the leading individuals. Here he was supported by Freddie Blaketer 4th, James Pollard 14th and Noah Hammond 29th.  At under 15 level Jamie Gilbey with two wins is in control of the individual top spot having two first places but this must depend on not missing attendance at Colchester and Basildon for fixture four and five. Jake Boarer gave solid support here with third place here with Thomas Burgoyne 14th and Daniel Smith 41st the team took second spot - league position fifth.

It has been a season for failing to put out full teams as athletes have been seeking a higher-class competition and one can appreciate that those with dreams of glory - may be even Olympic success in the future, after all that is the hope all with ambitions be it a county championship upwards. An example of this was the number of our members contesting the Liverpool Cross Challenge and here they achieved results with Megan Harris topping the charts with victory in the under 23-year category. Then at the other end of the age spectrum Mason Sanford placed second in the under 13-year boys race. The under 17 women's event found a trio of our athletes all within the top ten with Jorjia March 6th, Ezrah Harrold 8th and Lottie Wilkin 9th. In the men under 20 range Jacob Hurrell finished 9th with Arthur Ballard 60th and Sam Plummer 95th in the top half of the finishers. Stepping up to the under 23`s William Nuttall placed37th and Joseph Perry 64th.   Yes, it is easy to see how these were missed in the league fixture but well understandable.

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Report written by Roy Meadowcroft.

It was Ladies day at Hainault Forest.

The second fixture of the Essex Cross Country season brought about a mixed bag of results for Chelmsford for a number of those gaining success in the first meeting did not face the starter this time round. Team wise pride of place goes to our senior women who repeated their position at the top of the points result with Havering closely behind them. Our squad saw Hannah Bolton coming up with her best placing of 4th with Rachel Broome closely behind in 7th. With Sophia McCall 17th and veteran Wendy King 19th our scorers were home although Emma Cox 20th, Emily Cooke 22nd and Laura Durn 23rd were also in close contact whilst Anna Nuttall 34th and Samantha Kelly 63rd were well inside the top half of the field of 152 finishers. What a contrast to our other female age groups. In the under 17`s we saw a good run by Katie Cox to finish second but there was no further support.  To the under 15`s and here Francesca Phillips and Orla Martin 6th placed 6th and 7th with Vivien Prelevic 22nd in support. At under 13 level just two members turned out Leila Robinson highly placed in 6th with Scarlett Metcalfe 15th whilst the under 11`s saw Olivier Bilby 4th and Coco Phillips 12th.

On the male side top of the role of honours goes to Samuel Miller of the Chelmsford Endurance team, second in the first meeting to Southend`s Oscar Perreton the positions were reversed. Again, a very close call - a prelude to future battles! Endurance team also had Lewis Boarer 10th, Ben Padfield 10th and Thomas Arnold 13th with Jacob Smithyes 5th, Toby Hatt 8th and Arthur Moreiro 14th. The under 13`s also brought another good run by Dylan Law as he took second spot and his support came from James Pollard 11th and Noah Hammond 15th. At under 15`s and still an incomplete team as Jake Boarer placed 10th with Edward Delaney 24th and Kyaya Fakazi 27th. The under 17`s only calls for teams of three but here we put out four with Joseph Delaney 3rd, Daniel Pollard 4th, Ben Smith 11th and Luke Webb 13th. With 18 points we were to place second to Havering`s 17. Final race of the day and the senior men were well represented and were to place fourth in team and individual with Lewis Harknett leading us home with Tom Rehal 17th, Ethan Reilly 26th, Zach Bridgeland 33rd and veterans Mark Sanford 77th, Peter Waite 88th completing the scorers. Others completing the race Lee Martin 98th, Bobby Priest 120th, Sam Eida 152nd, Peter Tullett 160th, Dave Phillips 161st and Mike Bridgeland 186th from the field of 250

Report written by Roy Meadoecroft.

For the full gallery click here.

A Brace of European Masters Titles for Paul Grange.

Congratulations to Paul Grange - a double European champion. These results slipped through the net but picked up courtesy of Instagram. Yes, the European Masters Championships staged in Rabeira Brave, Portugal, saw Paul lifting both the 800 and 1500 metre titles for over 45-year men. After `cruising` through his heat of the 1500 in 4m 15.32s he returned the following day for his first success with a time of 4m 06.62s.  Six days later and the 800 heats brought a heat time of 2m 03.86s leading onto a final win in 1m 56.67s - a full three seconds ahead of his nearest rival from Poland.

GREAT RESULTS, WELL DONE

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft