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