With six team wins out of six Chelmsford dominated the young athletes results at the third fixture of the Essex Cross Country League fixture on Colchester`s Hilly Field courses.
The under 13 girls headed the way as Isla Kehoe and Beatrix Cooke took the first two places whilst newcomer to the ranks Hattie Blackburn placed fourth and Jessica Hobson 9th giving a points score of only 16 against the 21 of the S S Club, Zenobia Williams finishing 14th was very handily placed as a back up to the scorers. With the boys, despite missing Mason Sanford who was winning at an Eastern Association meeting at Bury St Edmunds, a tally of 33 points gave an advantage of five over closest rivals. Our squad were led by Joshua Dalton in third with spot with Thomas Burgoyne 5th, Sebastian Cook 8th and James Pollard17th all scoring but close by came Daniel Smith 18th and Charlie Jackson 20th.
No doubt about as to the winners in the under 15 girls as the first three past the post wore the green and gold. Francesca Phillips was closely followed by Izzy Eida and Amelie Shipton and with Chloe Haycock 16th the tally of 22 points gave an advantage of eight over Basildon. We also had Stephanie Smith 20th and Lily Hartman 22nd in the top half of the field.
An individual winner from the under 15 boys in Jacob Parrott. Joseph Delaney 5th, Fred Ferman 7th and Daniel Pollard a score of 23 points with Basildon (30 points) second as with the girls race. Khaya Fakazi completed our runners placing 25th.
There was another individual win from Jacob Hurrell in the under 17 men repeating his success in the first meeting. With only three scoring at this age level Austin Kelly 5th and Thomas Carter 8th wrapped up the team result.
To the under 17 women and with Jessica Walker 4th, Emma Cox 6th and Katie Cox 14th gave a further win over Basildon.
With the senior women team our 50 points were to put us behind Havering 41 and Colchester Harriers on 44. Megan Williams was our leading runner being 4th followed by Lucy Nuttall 12th, Rachael Broome 13th and veteran Wendy King 21st. Our other competitors were Sophie McCall 34th and Anna Nuttall 38th.
To the senior men and alas with only five runners we were to relinquish our top spot in league two. It was a complete veteran turnout with David Fewell 20th, Will Parrott 71st, Nick Hunter 85th, Peter Tullett 160th and Mick Bridgeland 208th.
Not part of the league races for the under 11 age group continue to draw good numbers. The girls have seen the same two heading the result with Lianne Esterheysen (Brentwood) and our Leila Robinson well to the fore with the boys. Bela Kehoe 6th, Olivier Bilby 14th, Bailey Kehoe 19th, Nethan Dahanayake 24th and Isabelle Perks 29th were other placings. The boys result went to Dylan Law giving Chelmsford a win with Freddie Blacketer 3rd, Arthur Cooke 9th, Harris Fuller 11th, Jacob Smythes 16th and Henry Ball 22nd.
Regarding league positions at the current time can mean little for possibility at season end. As an example in the under 13 girls Chelmsford place ninth with scores of 20, 1 and 1. That 20 was for none attendance at the opening fixture. After the fifth meeting a team has their worst score discounted thus with good pacing's in the remaining meets league titles can be won. As well as teams this same position applies to individuals - i.e. you can miss one race and still place high.
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Report written by Roy Meadowcroft
