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

Two National Titles at the Road Relay Champs

Well, what a month it`s been for our youngsters in the start of the winter season.

Essex titles in the cross country relays, Southern Counties titles at the road relay championships and now two - yes two - NATIONAL TITLES. These wins came from our under 13 girls and the under 17 men in the English Road Running Association championships staged in Birmingham with clubs throughout the country entered.

A field of 59 teams set off in the under 13 girls and Heidi Woodley was up there with the leaders coming through in third spot with a time of 14m 26s. Now Ava King soon brought our gold and green colours to the fore clocking a time of 14m 28s and Erin Kelly with 14m 17s maintained this lead to the finish with an overall time of 43m 11s ahead of Warriors Pentathlon of Merseyside 43m 24s and Aldershot 44m 06s. In such company our second team did well to place 14th with Isabelle Eida 15.23, Lily Sanford 16.21 and Frankie Phillips 15.11

To the under 17 men and here Greg Martin timed at 12m 16s came through in 16th place but well in contention as Joseph Grange, 11m 41s, pulled us into third spot. With Jacob Hurrell ,a member of our team in the previous wins, not available Sam Plummer, previously with Colchester & Tendering, was brought in and with another 11.41 came to the fore - our wining time 35m 38s ahead of Cambridge 35.48 and Norwich 36.23.

No further medals but still excellent performances. The under 15 girls were to place a very creditable 7th with Hetty Harrison 15.06, Lottie Wilkin 14.34 and Ezrah Harrold13.51. Amelie Shipton running as an individual on the first stage had clocked 14.49. Winners here were Lincoln ahead of Aldershot but praise to our near neighbours, the recently formed Brentwood who placed third. The under 13 boys via Casper Norris - 15m 14s and 38th, Fred Ferman 13m 36s, towards the best of the race and now 15th and Khaya Fakazi 15m 03s maintaining that spot. Our senior women although not in the hunt for medals were able to field two teams, promising for the season ahead. Maegan Williams, 16.08, Jodie Judd back from her studies in America, 16.53, Kiera Atkinson 16.16 and Ruby Vinton 16.25 placed the team 32nd whilst Hannah Bolton 16.06, Rebecca Luxton 16.18, Wendy King 17.50 and Sophie McCallum 18.25 finished 45th.

A full gallery of the event can be found here

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft