It's all to play for after the Penultimate Essex XC League at Hilly Fields.

As has been said in other spheres, what a difference a week can make.

That most certainly applied to Chelmsford youngster in the Essex cross country league fixture held on the Hilly Fields, Colchester course. Having picked up seven team sets of medals in the Essex Championships at Basildon in the six events for under 13`s, u15`s and under 17`s for girls and boys - yes seven from six does go for the latter group had

collected both silver and bronze it was to be only the under 17 girls that managed to muster a full complement, thankfully with only three required in this competition.

Starting with the under 13 girls only Leila Robinson in the green and gold faced the

starter and she came up with her best performance to finish in third spot. Worse was

to come with CAC not having a single competitor at the age level. Ironically it was the

under 17 women that fielded a trio for they had failed to achieve this in earlier meets.

Jessica Walker put in a good run to finish third whilst Katie Cox an ever present followed her home, with Amelia Goodall 11th a total of 18 points put them level with Basildon but with their scorer seventh they took top spot - and with it the seasons trophy such has been their consistency. With her ever-present record and being towards the fore Katie is a certainty up for an individual award, the same goes for her sister Emma in the under 20 age group, although not at Saturday`s fixture, nevertheless if she contests the Basildon race would likely take second spot for the season. Going to the senior women's race and with the minimum of four athletes they had to be content with a third place behind Colchester H`s and Havering. This builds up to a great finish for the league title with Havering and Chelmsford on five points and Colchester on six. Our squad here found Hannah Bolton 4th, Rachael Broome 13th, Wendy King 22nd and Anna Nuttall 33rd - and interestingly all four could feature in the end of season awards. Wendy having already contested all four races is assured of being the leader of the over 50 age group, Anna currently places equal second in this group but having only contested three races has the need to race in the final race at Basildon to qualify. Hannah and Rachael as seniors lay third and fourth in the points tally but here it is very much an open affair for like the two leaders all have missed one meeting and find it essential to turn out.

To the boys and in the under 13`s there was another interesting duel with Dylan Law

taking the honours from Rowan Stringer of Colchester & Tendering. Rowan currently holds the advantage over the season by one point so clearly an exciting conclusion in abeyance. In this event Noah Hammond was our only other runner finishing 18th. At under 15 level Joshua Dalton placed 17th with Ed Delaney 22nd. For the under 17`s we saw Daniel Pollard placing third and fourth - positions they also take in the season’s points tally. Both however have missed one meeting so have the need to compete at Basildon. For the senior men`s event we again saw the CAC colours to the fore. In previous races Jacob Hurrell had won at One Tree Hill whilst Thomas Woodward had placed second at Hadleigh. This time round it was William Nuttall taking the plaudits for his first place. Ethan Reilly placed tenth and then we had to rely on our veterans with Peter Waite 59th, Ken Hoye 72nd, Nick Hunter 81st, Peter Tullett 126th and Mick Bridgeland 166th from the field of 217 finishers. Three of these ever-dependable feature in the points tables. Peter Waite heads that for over 55`s as does Peter Tullett in the over 65`s - be it only a narrow eleven points advantage over Billericay`s Mark Gowers. In the over 45`s Nick Hunter takes seventh spot - with third place only 27 points ahead. Although not officially part of the league awards to the under 11`s, and in the chase here is Samuel Miller from the Chelmsford Endurance team being second on count back. This latest race saw him third with Lewis Boarer 7th, Toy Hatt 9th, Arthur Moreira 22nd, Georg 30th, George Jaggard 25th, Max Porter 30th, George Hunnybun 40th and Rory Casey 44th.

For the girls Olivia Bilby took seventh place with Coco Phillips 10th, Evie Law 16th and Cleo Robinson 20th.

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft

Photo: Mike Jeffery

There was Gold in them there Basildon Hills.

It’s the season for gold, frankincense and myrrh - but one week later it was to be gold, silver and bronze that Chelmsford athletes were to bring home from the Essex Cross Country Championships at Basildon.

This time round it was the male contingent taking most of the acclaim, starting with the under 13-year boys event as Mason Sandford and Dylan Law came through to take the top two placings and with Freddie Blacketer fifth they were well in control of the team result and this was confirmed as James Pollard completed the scoring four with his 18th place for a score of 26 points ahead of Colchester and Tendring`s score of 30. Also in this event Arthur Cooke placed 20th and Noah Hammond 23rd well in the top half of the field of 64.

Next up and though not in the frame for individual honours fine packing from Josh Humphries 7th, Jake Boarer 10th, Jamie Gilbey 11th and Fred Ferman 15th  their score of 43 points put them ahead of Basildon`s 54 to take the under 15 team title and with Joshua Dalton 22nd, Thomas Burgoyne 26th, Ed Delaney 35th and Daniel Smith 55th for a team placing seventh for the `B` team.

There was no doubt as to the team title for the under 17 men with Havering in command and scoring just 16 points. However, CAC had satisfaction of picking up both silver and bronze team awards with the `A ‘team comprising Daniel Pollard 5th, Joe Delaney 8th, Max Chivers 9th and Austin Kelly 11th with Jacob Parrott 13th, Tom Carter 15th, Ben Smith 18th and Luke Webb filling that third place for the `B` team.

For the under 20 men event, we were to field only two athletes with Joseph Grange 4th and Finn Rattray 8th – perhaps suffering with athletes returning to university which no doubt brought noticeable names missing from the senior events. Not that one might have noticed in the men's event which found Chelmsford putting out fifteen members. It was good to see the Chelmsford colours to the fore here with Callum Charleston. Although now a member of Aldershot Callum retains his second claim status for county events. Winner of the title in 2024 it was second place last year to Southend`s Adam Hickey who has many titles to his credit. This time Callum reversed the roles with a convincing victory. Team wise Woodford Green, so many time winners, again took the top spot but Chelmsford with support of Callum saw Sam Waite 12th, Ethan Reilly 17th, Lewis Harknett 24th, Seb Cirillo 30th and Scott Thomas 40<sup>th</sup> 10th and had the edge over Southend for the silver medals. Good showing for the `B` team with Luke Fitz-John 58th, Tom Murphy 64th, Peter Waite 71st, Chris Burgoyne 78th, Joe Wells 83rd and Antony Goodall 89th all in the top half of finishers. Still Chelmsford colours showed with Nick Hunter 112th, David Phillips 132nd and Peter Tullett the over 65-year title holder placing 141^st.

Brentwood dominate the younger girls age groups - indeed taking five of the six individual awards from the under 13 and 15`s so no surprise they topped the team spots. Chelmsford however was to prove next best - in the under 13`s Leila Robinson 5th, Bella Kehoe 6th, Jodie Robinson 14th and Jessica Hobson 18th completed the scorers with Scarlet Metcalfe 28th in reserve. With Brentwood 1, 2 and 3 Chelmsford`s packing was superb with the next five home. Ava King led this with Isla Kehoe, Beatrix Cooke, Lily Sanford and Francesca Phillips following in with Orla Martin 21st in the top half of finishers.

They maybe not all be the regular scorers for the under 17`s but Emmie Lole and Daisy Stollery were to take the gold and silver and with backing from Amelie Shipton 6^th and Jessica Walker 8th there was no doubt as to the top team with Amelia Goodall finishing 19th.

Finally, to the under 20 women, yes finally for we were to be unrepresented in the senior women, anyway the under 20`s brought more gold as Keezie Beeton took the title with Larna Morgan 6th and Sophie McCall 7th.

Although not part of the championships and therefore no medals awarded either for individual, or teams Chelmsford were represented by athletes of club and endurance teams in under 11 races. In the boys race Samuel Mill finished 6th, Toby Hatt 10th and Ben Padfield 17th.  From the girls Hannah Hogben placed 4th, Olivia Bilby 8th, Cara Phillips 13th, Evie Law 20th, Chloe Smith 35th, Harriet Randell 27th and Cleo Robinson 29th from 46 finishers.

Galleries of all races can be found here.

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft.

December Round-up

In the weeks leading up to Christmas we saw our members contesting events over the cross country and in track and field  - from international meetings down to county level. Most notable must be the selection of Megan Harris for the Great Britain team for the European Championships in Portugal where in the event for under 23-year-olds she was second team member through in 19th place. Congratulations Megan - and to coach Hayley who has taken her to this level.

In the Essex cross country championships for veterans staged in Epping Forest there was success for Peter Tullett as he retained the title in the over 65`s category, this event also saw Mick Bridgeland placing 7th.  A full team contested the over 40`s and here they were led home by Tom Murphy 22^nd with Nick Hunter 31st, Sam Eida 42nd and David Phillips 46^th sixth team placing was taken. In the women's event there were good runs from Laura Durn to place 5th in the over 45`s whilst Anna Nuttall took 6th place in the over 50s.

For several of our younger members there was the honour of representing their schools in the English Schools team championships staged in Rugby having qualified via the area event. In the intermediate class Frankie Philipps 12th and Lily Sanford 15th led the Chelmsford County High to 4th spot narrowly missing out of the medals. Outside the scorers Vivien Prelevic placed 72nd. Moving to the senior girls and Amelie Shipton 10th and Emmie Lole 13th were representing St Martin`s School and again these performances took their team to 4th. Individually the best performance was to be that of Harry Wright in the senior boys placing 4th for the Fitzwimarc School.

What surely must be the final track and field fixture of 2025 two members came away with medals from the under 15-year South of England championships held at the Lee Valley Centre. Isla Kehoe took the 1500 metre title with a time of 4m 56.99s whilst in the pentathlon Shindara Ayo-Adeyemo with 2515 points was just edged out of top spot.

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft.