Four Individual & Five Team wins See CAC Dominate Round 4 of The Essex XC League.

The penultimate fixture of the Essex Cross Country League staged in the grounds of the Writtle college saw Chelmsford come up with five team wins -  and four individuals taking pole positions. Most convincing success came from the under 15 girls an event which Brentwood`s Summer Smith won but then Francesca Phillips, Izzy Eida, Amelia Shipton and Lily Sanford taking placings two to five for a score of just 14 points put them comfortably ahead of Brentwood`s 36 and Basildon's 39.  Also well placed was Stephanie Smith 12th whilst Chloe Hancock finished 33rd. Over the season Francessca has placed 3rd, 2nd, 1st and 2nd again and is guaranteed first place award whilst Izzy with 4th, 4th, 2nd and 3rd must look to be in the top three. Team wise however the league title will be going down the wire with Basildon, Havering and Chelmsford on equal terms.

With the boys under 13 led home by Mason Sanford and Joshua Dalton being first and second followed by Jake Boarer 8th Charles Jackson wrapped up the team win with his 15th spot, Others here were Daniel Smith 24th, Sebastian Cook 32nd and Jason Pollard 34th. Our 26 points just shaded out S,S,Athletics on 28. Again the league title is very open with S,S. Having an advantage of just one point. Mason despite two wins has missed out on two races as he had been contesting championship events but Joshua with two placings of third plus a second is in the running for an individual award but having missed one race must turn out in the final fixture to make this happen.

Another first came from the under 15 boys with Jacob Parrott following his success in the previous meeting again taking the leading position. Joseph Delaney in third place like Jacob could place well in the season`s ratings but again must turn out in the final fixture at Southend as both missed the seasons second meeting. Anyway with Daniel Pollard 14th and Luke Webb17th first team placing was assured with 35 points ahead  of Basildon on 50 and Southend`s 52. Our other placings here were Khaya Fakazi 28th and Oscar Stollery 31st. Basildon head the league table but discounting our lowest placing of 6th puts us back in contention if another team win can come our way in that final meeting.

Once again Jacob Hurrell took the under 17 year men's race-for  his third of the season - having missed out on one race here is another that needs to be at Southend. Here at Writtle Austin Kelly 9th and Thomas Carter 11th gave us team success with 21 points over the two Colchester clubs each with 41 points. Our lowly placing of 8th in the second fixture can be discounted and thus Chelmsford currently head the table.

The senior men took their third win of the season and head the second division as they look to gain promotion to the top division. Our scorers here were Gregory Martin 9th, Ethan Reilly 19th, Sebastian Cirillo 30th, Will Parrott 57th, Nick Hunter 62nd and Lee Martin 66th .Our score of 243 put us comfortably ahead of Benfleet's 480. Peter Tullett placing 147th - a total of 249 finishers - is in the over 60`s group and well in contention for top spot.

Again the senior women had to take second spot to Havering whose 30 points edged our 32 despite another win for veteran Rebecca Luxton with Megan Williams following her through. Rachel Broome 10th and veteran Wendy King 19th completed our scorers whilst Laura Dunn 26th and Anna Nuttall 33rd amongst the 138 finishers. With the later two  also in the veteran category they topped the the team result in this ahead of Grange Farm and Colchester Harriers.

No. I have not overlooked the under 13 girls - first of the league races on the programme - but her they had to give way to both Brentwood`s 32 points and the S.S. Team`s 34.  Close call for with Isla Kehoe 2nd, Beatrix Cooke 3rd,Jessica Hobson 10th and Olivia Clark 22nd our score was at 37. By my reckoning S.S. and Chelmsford  are on equal footing in the league table whilst Isla is well placed on the individual front for an award.

As stated previously the under 11`s do not form part of the league but do draw good fields. For the boys Dylan Law was well to the fore in second spot with Freddie Blacketer 6th, Harris Fuller 8th, Jacob Smithyes 11th, Arthur Cooke 16th, Toby Hatt 21st and  Benjamin Padfield 22nd. For the girls Lianne Esterhuysen, Brentwood, and Leila Robinson have dominated the event being first two in each of the four races. Surprised however that this time round Leila had opted for the red and gold of Braintree rather than the green and gold of Chelmsford who here had Bailey Kehoe 13th and Isabelle Perks 18th.

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Report written by Roy Meadowcroft

Hilly Fields Proved to be no Obstacle for our Athletes.

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

2024 Junior Presentation Evening.

For the  annual presentation evening for the young athletes, the under 13, 15 and 17 year olds the clubhouse was decked very impressively in the club colours and this aptly reflected the performances of our young athletes during the year. There was a buzz about the room as one entered, not just from the youngsters but from parents also as all caught up on news since the last club fixture eight weeks back. The support these parents have given has been appreciated.

No fewer than 34 members appear highly placed in the U K ranking lists - and they show up in a total of 60 events. Perhaps no surprise then that they should retain the EYAL league title and the final cup match. Of course there were other achievements away from club meetings when medals were gained in various championship`s right through to national level. With so many at this level it must have been difficult for team managers in selecting those for the club awards.

Outstanding from the under 13 boys Mason Sanford ranked number 14 in the UK for his 1500 metres whilst given wins for the club at 800 metres and thus he was an obvious choice for the middle distance award. Other boys at this age level had been regular attendees at the league often competing in numerous events. Awards were made to David Brown (sprints), Motiejus Norkus (hurdles), JAMIE Roberts-John (jumps) and Bevan Judd (throws) - his hammer throw ranking 6th in the UK. Max Good, Nathaniel Vickers and Toby Stothard were awarded for their contribution at various disciplines.

From the girls Shindara Ayo-Adeyemo took the jumps award, a real all-rounder Shindara finished the season ranking 14th in the shot and 13th in the pentathlon. Beatrix Cooke with a ranking of 25th over 1500m was awarded the middle distance trophy with Breanna Dosumu (sprints), Maya Colese-Siklodi (hurdles), Maddie Moss (throws), Brooke Nowell, Macie Hall and Orla Martin were rewarded for their contributions as team players.

To the under 15`s and two very outstanding athletes lead the way. Joshua Babalola won titles  with the English schools the number one event - he also ranked number one for the hammer and these efforts now rewarded with thrower of the year. This must have been a close call for Jeremy Andersen was also to rank number one in the UK in the shot putt apart from good ratings in the discus and pentathlon thus his award was now for outstanding performances. The sprint trophy was to go to Zachery Ikharebore,  George Dixon (hurdles), Jake Read (jumps) and Joe Delaney (middle distance). Luke Webb and Jakub Skamla were rewarded for their improvements and outstanding efforts.

For the under 15 girls three awards were easily awarded. That for throws to Monica Malagala who ranks as UK number two in both shot and discus plus number eight in the hammer. Ezrah Harrold who rates at number two over the 800 metres and at six for the 1500m was the obvious choice for the middle distance award whilst the hurdles award went to Chelsea Clarke, an event which gives her a ranking of five - she also rates highly in the triple jump and pentathlon. Amy Pugsley claimed the jumps award, with her second place ranking in the triple jump being her best event although she also appears high amongst the high jump and pentathlon. The sprints award went to Alicja Yalaju  whilst Maddie Poulter, Josephine Walsh and Ava King received recognition for their achievements. It would have been noted from league results all had been consistent competitors.

Such is the standard from the under 17 men all those to receive awards appear highly in those UK rankings. James Becker (sprints), Edward Hughes (hurdles), Charlie Pyner (jumps), Jacob Hurrell (middle distance) and Stephen Adesina (throws). Daniel Brown, Jack Hignett and Oscar Dove  also have placings in those rankings but with the performances of those above lost out on their specific events but performances during the season in club fixtures and championships deserved their awards.         

With the under 17 girls Matilda Hewitt - ranked ninth in shot putt and also appearing in the discus and hammer events was to be the winner of the throws award. Likewise Sophie Catchpole (hurdles) and Amelie Scott (jumps)  and Milana Thorpe with her multi events performances all rank as seventh in the UK.   Olivia Hall (sprints) and Sienna Shipton (middle distance) plus Lucy Bulman  and Sophia Gavrilovic were recognised for outstanding performances by the team manager.

All the above were team manager awards, now long standing club awards followed with Ezrah Harrold and Fred Ferman collecting the 1500 metre trophies for the under 15 age group whilst Monica Malagala and Jeremy Andersen claimed the shot putt trophies.. The Melbourne Park shields were awarded to Harry Marshall and Matilda Hewitt with the trophies for most improved athletes going to Harry Lee and Sophie Catchpole. Finally Jacob Hurrell and Amelie Scott were awarded the trophies as Athletes of the year.

Report Written by Roy Meadowcroft

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