Essex League Round 2 Success for CAC

The second fixture of the series brought a mixed fortune for Chelmsford with three team wins but against this is offset with failure to turnout full scoring teams in three events.

Again our under 13 year girls have to be the stars of the day as they packed five in the top seven home, Havering`s Summer Smith won as at One Tree Hill in the first meeting but then followed Izzy Eida ,Francesca Phillips ,Beatrix Cooke ,Emma Pickering and Lily Sanford whilst Isla Kehoe was not far behind in 11th place. Such packing brought a most convincing win. Win number two came from the under 15 boys with Jacob Parrott 6th, Josh Reynolds 7th, Ben Smith 8th and Thomas Carter 12th ensuring they again topped Havering for the leading team.

As in fixture one the under 17 men proved to have the best trio out although this time it was a completely different squad with Archie Durham 3rd, William Sweeny 4th and Harry Wright 11th.

Although bettered by Colchester Harriers it was a good performance by our senior women to take second team placing with Rebecca Luxton 6th, Megan Williams 8th, Hanna Bolton 12th, Molly Drane 23rd and Rachel Broome 32nd in the field of 158 finishers.

The senior men had a full compliment of scorers - but comprised of veterans - and placing 12th in division one will be in danger of relegation unless they turn it round. Here Will Parrott placed 65th, Peter Waite 66th, Nick Hunter 73rd, Sam Robinson 170th, Mick Bridgeland 204th and Peter Tullett 225th in what may be a record of 282 finishers. Of the incomplete teams the under 13 boys missing just one lad had Khaya Fakazi 15th, Charles Jackson 22nd and Thomas Burgoyne 24th and they had to be content with sixth team placing.

There was another fine run by Daisy Stollery to finish third in the under 15 girls repeating her placing at One Tree Hill and must be challenging for a place in the relay team who missed this one as they prepare for another major relay event.

At under 17 level Emma Cox our only contestant placed a good 8th position.

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Report written by Roy Meadowcroft

Southern Success at the Scrubs

More medals for our under 13 girls and under 17 year boys - and again they were gold. This time round it was the South of England cross country relay championships staged in the shadows of Wormwood Scrubs prison.

Our girls team consistent of the trio of previous events made sure of not being caught as Heidi Woodley, 7m 36s (4th) was in the leading pack on lap one and from here Ava King, 7m 19s took then into the driving seat and leaving Erin Kelly, 7m 30s, to bring them home ahead of Chiltern Harriers. Good showing also from the `B` team with Beatrix Cooke 8m 02s, Francesca Phillips 7m 34s and Orla Martin 8m 13s in a most respectable 8th spot.

With the boys it seems a different make up of the team on each occasion. This time Archie Durham with his 9m 53s brought the team through 6th after the first leg and from here Sam Plummer, 9m 14s, took them into the lead, which Jacob Hurrell, 9m 33s, maintained to the finishing line.

There were further medals with our under 15 girls coming away with bronze. Ezra Harrold on stage one with 7m 02s came through in second place and from here Lottie Wilkin, 7m 15s, took the lead. Amelie Shipton with 7m 19s faced a battle on the final stage for Brentwood had proved previously that in Olive Forrest they have a rare talent and this took them to the gold with an aggregate time of 21m 14s. Now there was a real battle from Eastbourne who had been moving up and on the line claimed silver by just half a second although Amelie Shipton, running 7m 19s, can still be pleased with that.

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Report Written by Roy Meadowcroft

Four Team Wins at the First Essex League.

With four team wins it was a good start for Chelmsford in the opening meeting of the Essex League cross country season on the One Tree Hill course.

First away were the under 13 girls and with last weeks National road relay winners missing this one our `B` team of then now really asserted themselves as our colours were to show six inside the first eight home. Isabelle Eida led them home in 2nd with Francesca Philipps 3rd, Lily Sanford 4th, Isla Kehoe 5th, Beatrice Cooke 7th and Orla Martin 8th. Thus, with four scoring, our 14 points put us way ahead of Brentwood's 45.

The under 17 men`s team also took a comfortable victory finishing with 8 points from Southend's 25. There was also an individual winner in Jacob Hurrell who just edged out Gregory Martin in a very tight finish whilst William Sweeney was close up in 5th place. Completing our turnout was Benjamin Watley placing 25th. It was a far closer call for our under 15 boys as with 29 points they pipped Havering by just two points. Good packing here with Austin Kelly 5th, Joshua Eida 7th, Jacob Parrott 8th and Ben Smith 9th whilst Thomas Carter placed 17th. Our senior women`s team were also to get the better of Southend winning with 44 points against 56. In a field of 142 finishers Maegan Williams finished 4th closely followed by Kiera Atkinson, Rachel Broome placed 17th ahead of Wendy King 18th - first over 50`s competitor through. Molly Drane placed 23rd to complete our squad. Although having to take second team place by three points behind Basildon there was a great run from Fred Ferman to be the individual winner. Support was from Casper Norris 6th, Oscar Stollery 15th, Khaya Fakazi 19th and Sebastian Cook 24th. Mixed fortunes from our senior men. We started off well with Zack Bridgeland in 5th spot and Finn Rattray (U20) 13th, Will Parrott (O40) 67th and Adam Colgrave 89th. Now we had to turn to Mick Bridgeland (an over 65year) to finish 207th and Gerry DanieL (OVER 70) and usually to be seen on the judges stand coming through with disc 253. A team score of 634 pushed us down to 10th place. This however was at least a full team unlike the under 17 women which saw Lucy Nuttall 5th and Emma Cox 10th. With other clubs lacking numbers we did however still take 5th spot. Rather a surprise however in the under 15 girls for only Daisy Stollery faced the starter and she put in a great run to finish in third place.

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Report written and compiled by Roy Meadowcroft