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
