Essex Cross Country Champs, Basildon Saturday 10 January 2009
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A great day in dismal and cold conditions saw club athletes win three gold, three silver & three bronze medals at Saturday's Essex Cross Country Championships at Basildon. |
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Havering Mayesbrook senior women defended their title thanks to an inspired run from Lauren Deadman, ably supported by the University contingent. Lauren was in the leading group from the start, but from the first hill of three on the two-lap course she started to pull away until by the finish she was nearly a minute ahead of her nearest rival. Sara Luck (7th), Harriet Scott (8th), Robyn Matson (11th) and Vicky Smith (24th) all enjoying a break from their studies showed the club’s strength in depth - without having the services of Faye Fullerton, Alexa Joel or Debbie Appleton - by running superbly to win the team event by a comfortable 18 points. As ever the dependable Jane Hallam (51st) and Angie Thompson (56th) completed the team. I addition there were further team medals for all the girls' and women’s teams. The under 15 girls’ team won the gold medal by a single point from Southend as they were led home by Eleanor Bounds (5th), closely followed by Becky Stanley (7th), Amanda Blaxland (8th) and Rachel Sadler (13th) to complete the scoring and Shannon Sullivan (24th). The under 13 girls kicked off the day's events and caught the worst of the course conditions as it was icy underfoot and misty over ground. Avril Loynes (8th) continued to lead the way and with the close support of Lydia Hallam (10th), Lindsay McLachlan (13th), Hannah Bloy (18th) and Jessica Fazakerley (31st) the team won the bronze medal. Not to be outdone, the under 17 women won team silver. Amber Turner (6th) and Zoey Littlechild (7th) fought a hard battle to make the top ten and with two more athletes in the top 20, Jennifer Holland (12th) and Gemma Phillips (17th) and the ever dependable Michelle Lovell (28th) the team completed medals in all female age groups. There were two team silvers and an individual bronze for the boys' teams. The under 13 boys finished in an excellent silver position. Freddie got his tactics spot on, conserving himself for the toughest part of the course in the second half of the race to win individual bronze with his best performance of the season. Nick Duffy had his best result of the season in 6th place, with Finbar Smythe, finishing strongly in 11th place and an excellent Sean Wilson, one of the youngest members of the team filled the fourth scoring position in 12th. Unfortunately in-form Nick Shade had been suffering from a stomach bug all week and it just wasn't to be his day, struggling home in 32nd. The under 17 men had a great race to win silver. Medal with 44 points. Callum Sutton had an excellent race finishing 5th, followed by Daniel Shanney, who added to his string of good results in 8th. Thomas Shanney 15th and Joseph Waked in 17th completed the scoring four. Jamie Buckley-Stanton was 19th and Liam Bush 22nd place but Dean Leftley injured his ankle and failed to finish. There was no medal for the under 15 boys with Adam Edwards in 14th and Ryan O'Mahoney making the top 20 as the team finished fifth. It was a solid end to the season for a team who have a lot of good things to build on. Grant Twist in his first race since returning from injury had a steady run and finished in a very good 8th place in the under 20 men's race..
Another poor turnout by the senior men was only brightened by the first appearance this season of Glen Hill. Hill who fitted in this race to go with his marathon training worked his way through the field to take a fine 17th place. Rob Warner started strongly but felt the effects of the heavy cold that had interrupted his training the week before and finished in 29th. Mat Bland was the only other senior to take part and finished in a good 39th.
The good series of results mean that the club will again be strongly represented in the Essex team in the forthcoming Inter-Counties Championships.
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HMAC Results
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Under 13 Girls: 8th - Avril Loynes 13:56;10th Lydia Hallam 14:09; 13th - Lyndsey McLachlan 14:23; 18th - Hannah Bloy 14:23 (Team 2nd - 49 pts) 31st - Jessica Fazakerley 16:33
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Under 15 Girls:
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Under 17
Women: Team: 1. Basildon 25; 2.HMAC 42; 3. Thurrock - 50 |
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Under 13 Boys:
Team:
1.
Southend 24;
2. HMAC - 32; 2.3. Chelmsford 60 |
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Under 15 Boys: Team: 1. Southend 28; 2. Basildon 48; 3. Chelmsford 63 .... 5. HMAC - 82
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Team: 1. Southend 27; 2. HMAC - 44. 3. Woodford Green & EL 51 |
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Senior Women:
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| Under 20 Men: 8th - Grant Twist 28:24 | |
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Senior Men:
17th - Glen Hill 48:09; 29t |
| Photos: Gary Howard | |
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| Photos: Kevin White | |
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