The final Essex cross country league of the season took place at Southend`s Hockley course with Chelmsford topping three of the ten age group tables with six second places. On the individual awards that came their way, it certainly looks good but with many missing previous meetings this should have been improved on.
The under 13 girls was an example here for only two of the winning county title team turned out with Isla Kehoe having an excellent run to place second with Jessica Hobson 9th and Zenobia Williams 21st they had to concede to SS Athletics the league title. For Isla consistency over the season brought her to top spot in the individual awards.
Things only got worse with the under 15 girls – with only one competitor they were ruled out from the start. Another fine performance from Izzy Eida however gave her the individual runners up berth behind Frankie Phillips whose consistency in the previous four meetings enabled her to keep ahead of the charts. The team honours here went to Brentwood Beagles.
There is no doubt that the recently formed SS Athletics are setting the pace at under 13 level as they claimed top spot in the boys to go along with that by the girls and also having the number one individual. For Chelmsford Thomas Burgoyne 4th, Jake Boarer 5th, Joshua Dalton 7th and James Pollard 19th brought them a second spot on the day and also in the league table. For Joshua his points tally also brought another second place. With the under 15 boys Jacob Parrott took second place here and this gave a commanding lead for the seasons individual top spot. With Joseph Delaney third -both in this race and the seasons rankings - Daniel Pollard 6th and Max Chivers 12th this gave them a team win and with Basildon dropping to a third place Chelmsford take the title on count back. To the under 17 men and here Austin Kelly 5th, Thomas Carter 9th and Max Chivers 12th placed second behind Basildon and this just managed to keep ahead in the league stakes. Austin Kelly`s run brought him a third place award over the season. With the under 17 women, led by Jessica Walker 5th and with Emma Cox 7th and sister Katie 11th there was a team victory over Basildon but this did not overturn the deficit from previous meetings Jessica was however another individual coming away with an award - third place.
The senior women's competition over the season has been a duel throughout between Havering and Chelmsford and it was the same here. With Megan Williams 3rd, Rebecca Luxton 5th, Rachel Broome 9th, and Lucy Nuttall 12th a score of 29 points brought victory on the day but not sufficient to take the league title. For the season individual honours for Megan, Rebecca (over 40 age group) and Lucy (under 20 year) Sophie McCall another under 20 and here placing 18th comes into the reckoning. Wendy King (over 50`s) placed 25th and collects top spot.
For the senior men it had seemed a formality to take the second division title having three team wins behind them. The old saying goes `never count your chickens before they hatch` and it was certainly the case here, for not fielding a complete team they were to place sixth and Benfleet took advantage to take the title.. Gregory Martin, an under 20 athlete, placed 9th ahead of veterans Nick Hunter 64th, Lee Martin 65th, Peter Tullett 102nd who surely most take the over 65 year award. Mick Bridgeland another over 65 placed179th
As yet to form part of the league the races for under 11 year old boys and girls continue to draw attention, and rightly so for they are the future of our sport and where future Olympians will come from. Leila Robinson after four second places this time claimed the top spot in the girls result with Olivia Bilby 7th and Isabelle Perks 14th. In the boys race Freddie Blacketer had a good run placing third whilst Jacob Smithyes placed 7th, Artur Cooke 9th, Ben Padfield 26th and Henry Ball 27th.
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Report written by Roy Meadowcroft
