Essex Cross Country Championships, Basildon, 4 January 2003

Debbie Sullivan was a convincing winner at Basildon today regaining the Essex cross country title that eluded her last year after a four-year wining sequence. 

After the heavy rain of recent weeks the course was wet and slippery in places but in better shape than the Gloucester Park Stadium track which is under water.  On a bright but cold day Debbie tucked in behind Colchester's Grace Greenhalgh and Linda Jackson of East London RR on the initial loop. As the race unfolded Grace's challenge faded and on the first big lap it was the in form Jackson, winner of the London title in November and the Essex vets title in December, who took on the pace up the first hill. But Debbie was biding her time and broke free on the start of the second lap, just over half way round the 7.7km race.  She opened up a clear 15 secs lead which she maintained through to the finish to come home for gold.

Behind her Laurie Cossey went with the early pace in the top dozen but found a combination of missed training, through illness and injury, and the choice of too-short spikes for the muddy conditions, restricted her to 18th place. Vet Lesley Felton ran a solid race to come through 25th while former walks international Irene Bateman finished ahead of Ellie Mole for the fourth scoring slot as the team placed fifth, 14 points away from a medal.  

Eventual winner Debbie Sullivan (511) tracks Linda Jackson (in red - 2nd) and Grace Greenhalgh (77 - bronze medal)	Linda Jackson (506) leads Debbie Sullivan (511) up the first hill.
Laurie Cossey	Lesley Felton
Irene Bateman	Ellie Mole
Debbie Sullivan opens up her lead

There was good packing from the club runners in the men's event.  There was a welcome appearance from Des English, who made a late decision to take part after being under the weather. And if he was unwell it didn't show as he ran comfortably early on and moved steadily through the field before launching a storming finish over the last 300m to overtake several runners to come home in 18th. Trevor Keys was placed in the top 20 for much of the race and held on to finish 23rd), while Jason Lendon (25th) and Rob Warner (30th) made the top 30 in a big field. Graham Pritchard was also in with a chance of a top 30 placing until his shoe came off on the last of the three laps, and he had to settle for 46th. Martin Chester (79th) completed the scoring six as the team finished in fifth place, while Tony Collins also took part finishing in 127th

Des English	Des English - storms through to place 18th
Trevor Keys	Trevor Keys
Jason Lendon	Jason Lendon & Graham Pritchard
Graham Pritchard	Martin Chester
Sorry to  Tony Collins - made a mess of pic of you &didn't know till I got home!

Results

Senior Women (7.7km): :

1st - Debbie Sullivan 31:15; 18th - Laurie Cossey 36:32; 25th - Lesley Felton 37:44; 48th  – Irene Bateman 44:02;  (Team: 5th - 92 points) 49th - Ellie Mole - 44:23 

Senior Men (11 km):

18th - Des English; 23rd  – Trevor Keys; 25th - Jason Lendon; 30th – Rob Warner; 46th - Graham Pritchard; 79th – Martin Chester; (Team: 5th - 221 points) 127th – Tony Collins