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

Medals at the Eastern Pentathlon Champs

Our multi events athletes have been in great form of recent weeks in National and South of England events and they finished off in style at Peterborough in the Eastern Counties meeting with two gold and two silver medal performances. The under 15 girls provided us with a first and second placings with Milana Thorpe the victor over Amy Pugsley whilst Chelsea Clarke just missed out on a clean sweep as she placed fourth. Completing our competitors in this event Kate Case was 9th. For the under 17`s Sophie Catchpole in her third pentathlon of the season put in her best score and this clinched first place after having a second spot in a previous event. To the under 15 boys Harry Lee, with a PB in the shot putt and which also propelled him to a personal best score placed second - only losing out on the major place with the last event. Marcus Fazackerley was also in contention placing third.

At under 13 level Benjamin Ryder finished in 7th place.

Report written and compiled by Roy Meadowcroft

2 Golds & 1 Bronze at SEAA Road Relay Champs

Straight from that double triumph in the EYAL competitions of the track and field season our youngsters claimed two titles in the South of England road races staged at Aldershot. Add to that two were able set the fastest times for their stages.

First success came from the under 13 girls. Heidi Woodley on the first stage with a time of10m 54s had put them in a promising third position of the 48 teams toeing the start line. Ava King timed at 10m 57s then moved into the lead leaving Erin Kelly to run the 'glory leg` with the third best time of the race with 10m 39sto break the tape. Our `B` team finished a very respectable 7th in such a class of competition with Isabelle Eida 11m 23s, Lily Sanford 11m 51s and Francesca Philipps also on 11m 51s.

Our other gold medal performance came from the under 17 men`s team. This race had attracted a field of 68 teams and Jacob Hurrell with 14m41s came through the first leg in 9th spot. Now Joseph Grange was moving past all ahead and recording 14m 06s set best time of the event. Gregory Martin 14m 37s duly brought the team home some 90 seconds ahead of Norwich. There were also medals for the under 15 girls with Daisy Stollery 11m 14s (12th), Lottie Wilkin 10m 41s and Ezrah Harrold 10m36s.

To the under 13 boys and it was an outstanding performance from Fred Ferman running the first stage in 9m 57s - a time which no other could match throughout the event. Oscar Stollery 11m 46s and Khaya Fakazi were to bring us home inn 11th place. Other races found us 12th in the under 15 boys via Joshua Eida 10m 26s, Jacob Parrott 10m 37s and Austin Kelly 9m 46s. In a very strong field the senior women placed 20th with Maegan Williams 23m 01s, Kiera Atkinson 23m 00s, Rebecca Luxton 23m 29s and Hannah Bolton 23m 47s. The senior men's event had found 107 on the start line. The promising thing here was our ability to put out two teams of six runners- all be it that the `B` team consisted mainly of veterans.

To view the picture gallery for this event click here.

Report written by Roy Meadowcroft