Rebecca O'Neill notched up the best win of her career when she won the Essex Schools Junior Girls' Cross Country title against older opposition at Basildon on Saturday.

Rebecca bounced back from her disappointing run in the final Essex League event the previous weekend, when breathing difficulties cost her an individual league medal, to take full advantage of the absence of the county U13 medallists – her training partner Eleanor Bounds and Thurrock’s Jessica Judd. Sidnie Sales was fourth, confirming her place in the Essex Schools' team for the inter-counties’ event and for the team for the national schools’ championships, which take place at Leeds in March. Sharmila Golan was 21^st.

In the Intermediate Girls' event Jennifer Holland was top club athlete in bronze medal position, with Georgie Sales one place behind her in fourth and Zoey Littlechild in sixth. Rebecca Luck’s 15^th place earned her Essex selection for the schools’ inter-counties, while Alex Beard was 21^st.

Another club bronze came in the Junior Boys' event when Mike Jones’ fine form earned him third place. Jamie Buckley-Stanton did well to come 11^th.

In the Intermediate Boys’ race Daniel Winters put himself in the frame for national schools' selection with his top six finish. Grant Twist placed ninth, with close packing from Matt Bloy 14^th, Michael Donovan 15^th, and the Shanney twins, Danny & Thomas, 16^th and 18^th respectively. Another good run, earning Essex selection was Rob Jones' seventh position in the Senior boys’ event, and Christina Holland’s sixth place in the Senior Girls.

Results

Senior Boys: 7. Rob Jones 23:12;

Inter Boys: 6. Daniel Winters 19:07; 9. Grant Twist 19:22; 14. Matt Bloy; 15. Michael Donovan; 16. Daniel Shanney; 18. Thomas Shanney; 27. Josh Dunne; 52. John Whitehead

Junior Boys: 3. Michael Jones 15:26; 11. Jamie Buckley-Stanton

Senior Girls: 6. Christina Holland 18:47;

Inter Girls: 3. Jennifer Holland 17:24; 4. Georgie-Lou Sales 17:34 6. Zoey Littlechild 17:55; 15. Rebecca Luck; 21. Alex Beard; 27. Becky Owen;

Junior Girls: 1. Rebecca O’Neill 13:00; 4. Sidnie Sales 13:14; 16. Rachel Sadler;  20. Sharmila Golan44. Nicola Peachey; 48. Jessica Seekings