Essex Schools Cross Country Championships, Basildon, 22 January 2005

It was a good day at the races as HMAC athletes were well to the fore in the Essex Schools Cross Country Champs at Basildon today. 

With the Schools' events contested with different age groupings to usual cross country fixtures, it is always difficult to predict form as athletes compete against many others they don't usually face.

In the junior boys' event there were two excellent results from the local entrants as Matt Bloy led from start to finish to win the Junior Boys' title, with Steve MacLachlan close behind in silver spot. Grant Twist in 5th and Joe Webster in 7th also won coveted top 8 places, to win selection for the Essex team in the English Schools Championships in March.  Michael Donovan did well to place 16th.

Another gold went to Katie Richardson in the combined Intermediate & Senior Girls' race, with Megan Foley returning from injury to take second in the senior competition. Robyn Matson in 6th and Vicky Smith in 9th are contenders for the senior girls' team, while Hayley Thomas, in her first year in the Intermediate age group, placed 8th to gain a national schools' place. An improved Rachael Newman was an excellent 12th, one place ahead of Clare Robinson, with Charlotte Humpheryes 18th.

Ross Clarke also returned to competition after injury with an excellent second place in the Inter boys race, and there were good runs from Michael Watkins in 4th and Ashley Reece in 5th, to join him in the county squad, while Brad Tungatt was not too far off in 10th.

Ingrid Deane was back to her best with a fine run to claim bronze in the junior girls event.

HMAC Members' results

Junior Girls:

3rd - Ingrid Deane 12:28

Intermediate Girls:

1st - Katie Richardson 13:13; 8th - Hayley Thomas 14:29; 12th - Rachael Newman 14:54; 13th - Clare Robinson; 18th - Charlotte Humpheryes; 20th - Amie Adams; 59th - Rachael Kerr

Senior Girls:  

2nd - Megan Foley 13:37; 6th - Robyn Matson 14:15; 9th – Vicky Smith 14:59; 22nd - Jenny Szantai

Junior Boys:

1st –  Matt Bloy 14:29; 2nd - Steve MacLachlan 14:45; 5th - Grant Twist 15:01; 7th - Joe Webster 15:04; 16th - Michael Donovan

Intermediate Boys:

2nd - Ross Clarke 17:11; 4th - Matthew Watkins 17:34; 5th   –  Ashley Reece 14:35;  10th - Brad Tungatt 18:12; 21st - Chris MacLachlan 

Senior Boys: