Essex Cross Country Championships, Basildon 7 January 2012

Clubs athletes came back from Saturday's Essex Cross Country Championships with seven medals, including golds for Lauren Deadman & Hoseah Gikungu. 

Lauren's victory in the senior women's race, marked a fine return from injury and came in her first race in club colours this season and only her second cross country race.  Lauren took the testing hilly Basildon course in her stride, leading from start to finish, and although always tracked by club colleague Alexa Joel, she gradually moved away to win the Championship in spectacular style by a margin of 43 seconds. Alexa’s impressive running for second place and the silver medal added to the celebrations, and she was some two and a half minutes ahead of the third placed athlete. Vicky Smith’s good run made it three in the top six, but with several injuries Havering Mayesbrook missed out agonisingly on a team medal to add to a hat-trick of recent wins. The dependable Jane Hallam completed the scoring in 48th closely followed by Juliet Ward in 52nd place as the team were fifth.

Hoseah Gikungu's Essex victory confirmed his county dominance after four straight Essex League wins and he came home almost half a minute clear in the Under 17 Men's event.  With  Josh Conners in 18th place, Andrew Holland 22nd and Tom Brennan 25th, the U17 men's team added silver. 

The improving Gemma Phillips continued her fine winter with a silver medal performance in the Under 20 women's competition, just three seconds off gold after leading until the last 100m, with Patsy McWeeney in 12th. Lydia Hallam took a step back towards her best form after recent disappointing runs with a good bronze in the Under 15 Girls' event. The team placed fifth thanks to Rebecca Ward (29th), Heidi Surman-Wells (30th) and 41st placed Zoe Rudgeley. Also in action were Robbie Nunn, Louise Lear and Abi Spink.

The medal roll was completed by the Under 17 women's squad who won team bronze, led home by sixth place Isabella Woods, with Beth Hall making the top 10 and Lindsay McLachlan (15th) and Lindsey Wiggins (27th) completing the scoring.

With half of the squad missing through illness and injury it took much pre-event arm twisting by team manager Peter Warner to ensure that the Senior Men had a complete scoring six. Led home by Grant Twist with another great run in 7th place, not far in front of Rob Warner in a good 11th, Matt Bland was next home in 29th with Ian Anthony getting better with every race in 33rd . Simon Hart overcame his nemesis to take 54th with late entry Chris Smith completing the team in 76th.  

The Junior Men’s team only had two representatives but both did very well on the hilly course. Adam Edwards was first home in 11th place and Massi Dendani was not far behind in 18th.

The Under 15 Boys were fifth as Ed Thompson (22nd), Sean Wilson (24th) and Elliott Nunn  (26th) were in close order with Sam Dell's 31st place completing the quartet.  Amy Baggs led home the Under 13 Girls in 14th with 22nd placed Gemma Archer-Hayley, Jessica Ward (30th) and Katie Mitchell (35th) making up the seventh placed team, with Olivia McAlpin & Rebecca Brown getting useful experience.

Aaron Westwood (30th), Michael Vanderhook (39th) and 44th placed Eddie Rudgeley were the incomplete the Under 13 Boys squad

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to Full Results 
                              

 

Under 13 Girls: ;  14th- Amy Baggs 15:49; 22nd - Gemma Archer-Hayley 16:20; 30th - Jessica Ward 17:05; 35th - Katie Mitchell - 17:24 ;(Team 7th - 101 pts) 36th - Olivia McAlpin 17:34; 41st - Rebecca Brown 18:01; Team: 1. Chelmsford 18; 2. Orion 43; 3. Woodford G&EL 51 .... 7. HMAC - 64;

 

Under 15 Girls: 3rd - Lydia Hallam 17:25; 29th - Rebecca Ward 20:18; 30th - Heidi Surman-Wells 20:29; 41st - Zoe Rudgeley 21:23 (Team 6th - 103pts); 47th - Robbie Nunn 21:50; 48th - Louise Lear 21:52; 52nd - Abi Spink 22:30 Team: 1. Chelmsford 41; 2 Woodford G&EL 44; 3. Basildon 67.... 6. HMAC 101

  

Under 17 women:  6th - Isabella Woods 20:49; 10th - Bethaney Hall 22:19; 15th - Lindsay McLachlan 22:06; 27th - Lindsey Wiggins 27:26 (Team 3rd - 58 pts) Team: 1. Chelmsford 15; 2. Basildon 28; 3. HMAC - 58;

 

Under 20 women:  2nd - Gemma Phillips 20:03; 12th - Patsy McWeeney 24:29

 

Senior Women: 1st - Lauren Deadman 29:57; 2. Alexa Joel 30:40 6th - Vicky Smith 33:59; 48th - Jane Hallam (W40) 41:59 (Team 4th - 58 pts)  52nd Juliet Ward (W45) 42:59 Team: 1. Colchester H - 36; 2 Benfleet - 52; 3. Chelmsford 53; 4. HMAC -  57

 

Under 13 Boys:  30th -Aaron Westwood 18:29; 39th - Michael Vanderhook 20:33; 44th - Eddie Rudgeley 21:53 ; Team: 1. Basildon 28; 2. Southend 63; 3. Orion 66

Under 15 Boys: 22nd Edward Thompson 17:58; 24th - Sean Wilson 18:28; 26th - Elliott Nunn - 19:00; 31st - Sam Dell 21:37  (Team 5th 103 pts); Team: 1. Chelmsford. 2. Southend 34; 3 Basildon 47 ...5 HMAC - 103

Under 17 Boys:  1st Hoseah Gikungu 16:19; 18th - Josh Conners 19:10; 22nd - Andrew Holland 19:38; 25th - Tom Brennan 20:07  (Team 2nd - 66 pts)  4;Team: 1. Southend 31; 2. HMAC - 66



 
Under 20 Men:  11th - Adam Edwards - 31:29; 18th - Massi Dendani 37:49  

Senior Men: 7th - Grant Twist 39:22; 11th - Rob Warner 39:43; 29th - Mat Bland (M40) 41:58; 33rd - Ian Anthony 42:18; 54th - Simon Hart (M45) - 45:08; 76th - Chris Smith (M35) - 47:43   (Team 5th 210 pts); Team: 1. Chelmsford 68. 2. Woodford G&EL 114; 3. Southend - 182..5 HMAC - 210

Link to  Full Results 
 

Photo: Roger Deadman

Photos: Gary Howard