I cannot recall any club showing such domination in county cross country championships such as Chelmsford showed in the junior events staged at Basildon, SEVEN out of a possible TEN team results coming their way with one being a second spot. Individually two winning performances with ten others picking up seconds or third place medals.
First race away were the under 13 girls and in this it had looked to be a battle between the Brentwood club who had been led home by Madison Kindler whilst having places fourth and sixth - a score at this stage of 11 points. Chelmsford meanwhile had Beatrix Cooke second, Isla Kehoe 3rd and Orla Martin 5th thus on 10 points. It was Jessica Hobson coming through in 11th place to ensure the victory. For Brentwood it was a disappointment not to have a fourth member and the second team placing went to Woodford with 47 points.
There was no doubt as to team victors of the under 13 boys as they packed their team into the top eleven home. For Chelmsford gold runs from Mason Sanford (2nd) and Joshua Dalton (5th) plus support from Daniel Smith (19th) and Sebastian Cooke (22nd) gave them second place ahead of Woodford. Others in this event were Charlie Jackson 23rd and James Pollard 27th. Again Brentwood looked to be on cause for a win in the under 15 girls as they had Summer Smith and Heidi Woodley being the first two home, Chelmsford however claimed the next four places with Ezrah Harrold, Ava King, Isobelle Eida and Lily Sanford for a score of 18 putting them well clear of Brentwood`s 32 and Havering`s 44. Also well placed were Erin Kelly 9th and Amelie Shipton 11th.
Again it was superb packing from the under 15 boys as Joseph Delaney and Jacob Parrott took the silver and bronze medals whilst Max Chivers placed fifth and Daniel Pollard 12th for a comfortable team win - again ahead of Brentwood. Chelmsford`s athletes were completed with Kwasi Fakazi 28th.
Brentwood must be ruing that races are four to score as they again were on course with three in the top four in the under 17 women.. Olivia Forrest is dominant at county level and again claimed the Essex title. It was a great race however for Lottie Wilkin as she prevented a clean sweep by them taking the runners up berth. With Harriet Matthews 7th, Jessica Walker 8th and Emma Cox 11th their 28 points put them well clear of Woodford`s 66 and Havering`s 75.
It was another title for Jacob Hurrell as he won the under 17 men`s event and with Austin Kelly 11th, Ben Smith 17th and Dylan Robbins 21st it was a team win with 50 points over Woodford 56 and Basildon 59. Very handily placed in reserve was Thomas Carter 24th.
At under 20 level it was no contest with Chelmsford the only club putting out the required four members. In the women's event Lucy Nuttall claimed the silver medal and the support came from Molly Drane 4th, Sophie McCall 6th and Larna Morgan 8th. For the men it could not have been more dominate as Joseph Grange, Sam Plummer and Will Nuttall filled the top three places whilst Finn Rattray was close by in 5th.
And so to the seniors', and here no medals could be expected but the men came close as a team finishing in fourth spot behind Southend, Woodford and Colchester. Callum Charleston, a member of Aldershot but with Essex birth right and second claim to Chelmsford, finished second behind Adam Hickey, Southend. Our members in the largest field of the day were Tom Rehal 11th, Thomas Woodward 27th, Samuel Waite 33rd, Seb Cirillo 36th and Scott Thomas 70th, Other`s not scoring were Nick Hunter 77th, Thomas Murphy 92nd and Peter Tullett 154th - all veterans with Peter in the over 65`s.
Sadly with the women the green and gold was difficult to spot for only Laura Dunn 22nd carried our hopes.
Although not a county championship an under 11 year race was included in the programme and it is congratulations to Dylan Law for being first past the finishing line. Other Chelmsford competitors were Freddie Blacketer 5th, Jacob Smythes 12th, Toby Hatt 18th and Lewis Boarer 23rd. The girls results saw Hannah Hogben 10th and Olivia Bilby 12th.
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Report written by Roy Meadowcroft