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.