No fewer than seventeen of our members were included in the Essex teams for the English Schools cross country championships staged at Pontefract, Yorkshire with the junior girls bringing about the best result as they took second place behind Surrey. Brentwood`s Summer Smith tasted a rare defeat being placed fourth when leading the county in but it must be remembered that the schools age groups differ from that used in club competition and here four of the top six were of the older club range. Full marks then to our Ava King and Ezrah Harrold placing 6th and 7th, with Erin Kelly 23rd and Francesca Phillips 79th achieving those second place medals
There was also place medals for the intermediate boys where Jacob Hurrell led the team to third spot with his eighth place. In this event Harry Wright was fourth home for Essex finishing 52nd, whilst the intermediate girls also claimed the bronze medals. In this event Brentwood's Olivia Forrest gained top spot whilst Daisy Stollery placed 38th and Lottie Wilkin 139th from the field of 343 finishers. In the senior age groups Chelmsford athletes led their teams home with Joseph Grange 11th in the boys race in which Finn Rafferty placed 47th and Gregory Martin 104th.
In the girls race Kiera Atkinson finished 14th with sister Kayleigh 62nd and Lucy Nuttall 135th, to the junior boys and Jacob Parrott 41st and Fred Ferman 82nd helped Essex to a fourth place.
And so the cross country season draws to its close - not so for the National Championships which should have been earlier this month but cancelled due to weather is to now be staged in September - with the age groups as per this past season. Our under 13 girls must be in the frame for medals then.
Report written by Roy Meadowcroft
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