Staged at the new venue of Wollaton Park, Nottingham, our under 13 girls again achieved an incredible first which I feel will not be noted by many. Yes of course Essex were led home by Brentwood`s Summer Smith who has had a wonderful season with first places in all races but of the remaining seven places in the Essex team all were taken by Chelmsford. Ava King 6th, Erin Kelly 8th and Heidi Woodley 23rd completed the scoring team for 38 points to take the title ahead of Yorkshire 79 and the North East on 116. Now Francesca Phillips placed 30th and this would have brought about a club score of just 67 to have beaten all of the counties, yes a remarkable achievement.
Other placings in the field of 298 finishers were Lily Sanford 85th, Isabella Eida 97th and Emma Pickering 226th.
From other races Fred Ferman in the under 13 boys had what must be considered as the best performance placing a most respectable eighth in such a major meeting. The under 15 girls led home by another Brentwood athlete Olivia Forret in pole position found Ezra Harrold 30th and Daisy Stollery 51st - Essex a most respectable fourth behind Scotland, Surrey and Yorkshire. Essex also placed 4th in the under 20 men and here Finn Rattray finished 27th and William Nuttall 47th. It was also 4th for the under 20 women with Chelmsford well represented with Kiera Atkinson 25th, Sophie McCallum 69th and Sophie McCall 109th.
From other events Joseph Grange 13th and Gregory Martin 72nd were in the under 17 men`s race, an age range in which Kayleigh Atkinson 25th and Lucy Nuttall 138th were in the women`s race. In the under 15 boys Austin Kelly placed 59th and Jacob Parrott 153rd whilst in the senior women Rebecca Luxton - classed as a veteran but still showing much younger athletes the way home finishing 63rd and third Essex athlete home.
Report Written by Roy Meadowcroft
