Essex Cross Country Championships, Basildon, 15 January 2005  

A mild day and dry conditions provided an ideal backcloth for 2005's first Cross County Championship at the tough Basildon course. The Havering Mayesbrook contingent did not disappoint coming away with two team golds, an individual title plus

Just seven days after lifting both age group titles in the Essex League, both u15 squads repeated the trick against stronger opposition in the County championship.

Once again the u15 girls dominated the team event to finish in 1st place in front of Chelmsford and Basildon. Ingrid Deane and Hayley Thomas finished in fine 7th and 8th place and were soon followed in by Clare Robinson and Georgie Sales who made up the winning quartet. There were fine runs from the other three girls who needed a fourth runner to have finished in a good team position.

After their successful Essex League campaign the U15 boys knew they were likely to face a close contest with Colchester for the team honours and so it proved with Havering triumphing by just one point, scoring 27 to their opponents' 28. Matt Watkins led the team from the front with an excellent 4th place, closely followed by Chris MacLachlan in his best race yet in 6th, ahead of brother Steve moving through the field strongly over the hills in 8th, with Matt Bloy closing the scoring foursome in 9th. Good support was from Daniel Winters in 15th, newcomer Michael Donavan in 30th and Paul Adair in 33rd.

The senior women were always like to gain a podium place if they could field their best squad and although missing the injured Lauren Deadman did not disappoint. International Faye Fullerton led from start to finish to take the individual prize, and she was followed very closely by Debbie Appleton, who finished in third place. After that a team medal seemed secure and it was left to Denise Harris, who continued her fine club runs in 15th place, and Lesley Felton, nursing a sore back in 37th place, to ensure a team bronze. The scorers were ably supported by Julie Gildea and Ellie Mole in 67th and 76th place respectively.

The senior men ran well over a tough 12k course in which around half the field failed to finish in under the hour. Rob Warner in particular had an excellent race leading the team home in 24th, with Matt Bland not far back in 31st. Graham Pritchard and Chris Coates were in close order in 54th and 55th, as were the brothers Collins, Neill and Tony, in 61st and 66th, with Gary Howard also completing the course. 

After a consistent season which had seen them win Essex League bronze hopes where high for a top three team placing for the under 13 boys, but it was not to be as the Havering boys found the competition tough and managed only 5th with 81 points. The team was led home by Daniel Shanney in a familiar (but excellent ) 8th place. Simon Brown showed improved form to finish 14th, followed by Thomas Shanney in 19th place. The team was completed by Liam Bush in 39th, with support from Steve Payne in 41st. 

In the under 13 girls' equivalent there were also medal possibilities but despite good runs this squad also finished fifth. Sidnie Sales ran a very good race for 8th and was followed in by Emma Fox and Rebecca Luck in 17th and 22nd respectively with Georgia Davies in 31st making up the scoring quartet, with three other team finishers.

Results

Under 13 Boys:

8th - Daniel Shanney 13.32; 14th - Simon Brown 14.06; 19th - Thomas Shanney  14.09; 39th -Liam Bush 15.36; (Team 5th - 81 points) 41 Steve Payne 15.42

Under 15 Boys:

4th - Matt Watkins 16:07; 6th - Chris MacLachlan 16.19; 8th - Steve MacLachlan  16.28; 9 Matt Bloy  16.46;(Team 1st - 27 points) 15 Daniel Winters 16.58; 30 Michael Donavan  17.44; 33  Paul Adair 18.15

Senior Men:

24 Rob Warner; 31 Matt Bland; 54 Graham Pritchard; 55 Chris Coates; 61 Neil Collins; 66 Tony Collins; (Team ? - 291 points)  91; Gary Howard

Photos Courtesy - Pete Warner

Under 13 Girls:

9th Sidnie Sales 12.57; 17th Emma Fox 13.24; 22nd Rebecca Luck 13.44; 31st Georgia Davies 14.16; (Team 5th - 79 points) 39th Jess Humpheryes 14.51; 45th Hannah Knight 15.07; 53rd Faye Dench 16.28

Under 15 Girls:

7th Ingrid Deane 18.56; 8th Hayley Thomas 19.02; 10th Clare Robinson 19.28; 12th Georgie Sales 19.54 (Team 1st - 37 points) 13th Charlotte Humpheryes 20.13; 16th Rachael Newman 20.29; 29th Rachael Kerr 23.44

Senior Women

1st - Faye Fullerton; 3rd - Debbie Appleton; 15th - Denise Harries; 37th - Lesley Felton; (Team 3rd - 46 points) 67h - Julie Gildea; 76th - Ellie Mole