It's Over and Out for this Seasons Essex XC League.

It was a poor showing for CAC for the final Essex League meeting of the season staged at Basildon, perhaps one could say matching the weather of late, dismal, for only nineteen athletes contested the twenty categories on the programme closing in with just two teams which accounted for eight of those runners.

Our senior women were in the frame for top spot for the league title with Havering, but it was not to be for despite great runs from Hannah Bolton and Megan Williams finishing 3rd and 4th with support from Rachel Broome 17th, Emma Cox 19th and Sophie McCall 22nd Havering again just had the edge to lift the seasons trophy. The under 17 women started the day with holding on to second             spot in the table for Basildon were clear ahead. Katie Cox put in another grand race to finish second with Jessica Walker 4th and Amelie Goodall 10th their 16 points left them just two adrift of Basildon but did assure them of that second spot in the table. How things could have been better with the attendance of other `members` through the campaign in county events. How we can pick up medals in county events but have no involvement at under 13 and 15 level here was strange, at least in the under 11 race Olivia Bilby showed her consistency placing fifth - a position also gained in the seasons table. 

Difficult to follow that no teams whatsoever from the male side of the club, In the under 11`s Lewis Boarer came up with a great run to lead the field home with Toby Hutt placing 10th. Praise to the Chelmsford Endurance team again led by Samuel Miller 6th with brothers George and Thomas Jaggard 17th and 24th and Max Porter 25th. From the under 13`s James Pollard placed 16th and Noah Hammond 17th, whilst in the under 15`s Jake Boarer ran well for fifth place with Sebastian Cook 23rd. Under 17`s and yet again just two turning out with Daniel Pollard 4th and Joseph Delaney 5th but most surprising we saw only three in the senior race although only Zach Bridgeland 18th is in that class for we now had veterans Nick Hunter 57th and Peter Tullett 86th.

So, after many seasons of team trophies, this season the cupboard is bare but on the individual front there were a number going forward to receive awards. Six were claimed from the women with Katie Cox second in the under 17`s with sister Emma, running at senior level, also second in the under 20`s. From the senior’s consistency earnt Hannah Bolton a second place with Rachel Broome third, but we can also include from the over 50`s veterans class Wendy King first and Ann Nuttall third for although missing this last race had performed well during the previous four meetings. Also worthy of mention in the under 11`s Olivia Bilby placed 5th with the Endurance team having Coco Phillips 9th and Evie Law 12th. The Endurance team`s Samuel Miller must take pride of place from the under 11 boys as his consistency over the five races earnt him the silver award. Lewis Boarer and Toby Hatt of CAC placed 7th and 9th. From the under 13`s James Pollard and Noah Hammond placed in the top ten whilst Jake Boarer placed 5th in the under 15 boys. Moving to the under 17 men and Daniel Pollard and Joseph Delaney rate four and five. Not surprisingly there are no senior men mentioned, and we move to the over 45-year veterans with Nick Hunter seventh. Top spot however from the over 55` via Peter Waite. For the second year Peter Tullett shows his consistency claiming the over 65`s crown - an age including Mick Bridgeland placing fifth.  

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft.