Essex Young Athletes Cross Country Championships, Stubbers, 14 December 2002

Team work was the order of the day as the club's young athletes came away from Stubbers with three team titles and a team silver at the Essex Cross Country Championships, which the club hosed at Stubbers on Saturday. In the individual stakes there no golds but three silvers for Katie Richardson (u15), Bradley Tungatt (u13) and Martin Heys (U20), while Megan Foley added an u15 bronze.

In the first race of the day Anni Dunn (Coopers Coborn School & Chelmsford AC) came through to beat Southend's Natasha Bailey but there was no stopping the Havering Mayesbrook foursome. Although not in contention for individual medals Hayley Thomas (5th), Michaela Roberts (6th), Clare Robinson (8th) and Francesca Clark (10th) all finished in the top ten of the strong field to score an unbeatable 29 points to win team gold. The club's strength in depth was reflected  as Rebecca Heath, Amie Adams and Alex Watkins all came inside the top 20.

The equivalent boys' race produced a dramatic finish which also brought team gold for the Havering Mayesbrook squad. As the runners came round Coys Lake and up South Hill Matthew Watkins was battling for the lead with Basildon's James Shane, with Bradley Tungatt in sixth and brother Scott and Paul Adair inside the top ten. But as the runners came back in sight with around 800m to go it was Bradley who had made his move to go past Shane while Matthew Watkins was battling for bronze.  In the most exciting finish of the day Basildon's Shane overhauled Bradley in the final ten metres to win gold, while Matthew was edged out of the medals in the run in. But with Paul Adair 7th and Scott Tungatt 9th the team's 22 points brought them an emphatic team success.

The under 15 girls race also produced a cat and mouse battle as the main three contenders watched each others' moves. Favourite Cathy Conway (Orion) and Katie Richardson renewed their rivalry, with Megan Foley, who is racing sparingly on the country this winter, also putting her hat in the ring. As they came up the hill Megan seemed to be biding her time but Conway was not to be denied and as she struck for home to open up a decisive 8 secs gap, it was Katie who held off Megan in the battle for silver and bronze. With Robyn Matson storming through with a late run for sixth while Vicky Smith held on for tenth the quartet notched an impressive 21 points tally to take team gold.

There was also a strong showing in the under 15 boys' race, dominated by Southend.  Ashley Reece continued to show improved form to place sixth, while Ross Clarke got away from Aaron Churchouse late on to place ninth, with Aaron one place back. Paul Andrews' 19th position ensured team silver.

The under 17 men lost out on a medal, as Chelmsford's better packing brought them bronze by two points, 53 to 55 points. Andrew Meech was first clubman home in 8th, ahead of Joe Golding in 11th, Rob Howe (14th), with Daryl Rogers in 22nd completing the unlucky foursome.

The late withdrawal of Sara Luck through illness robbed the club of a medal chance in the combined under 17 and under 20 ladies race. Ria Lyons was 7th in the u17s while Hayley Mottram battled for 9th in the under 20 stakes.

There was a silver medal in the concluding event, the men's under 20 race, as Martin Heys was a clear second, while Andrew Hunter placed sixth.

Results

Ria Lyons

under 20 women:

9th - Hayley Mottram 25:51; 12th - Emma Baglin 28:16

Hayley Mottram

 

Under 13 Boys:

2nd - Bradley Tungatt 12:55; 4th - Matthew Watkins 13:12; 7th - Paul Adair 13:23; 9th - Scott Tungatt 13:27; (Team 1st - 22 points).  18th  – Grant Twist 14:02;  40th - Simon Brown 15:22; 51st - Tony Chambers 16:51; 53rd - Dean Atkins 17:51 ( B Team - 9th)

Bradley Tungatt (32) &Matthew Watkins (31)

Paul Adair

Under 15 Boys:

6th - Ashley Reece 16:46; 9th - Ross Clarke 17:07: 10th - Aaron Churchouse 17: 27; 19th - Paul Andrews 18:16 (Team 2nd - 44 points). 36th - Christian Newton 21:02

Ashley Reece

Ross Clarke (28) & Aaron Churchouse (30)

Under 17 Boys:

8th - Andrew Meech 20:41; 11th - Joe Golding 20:56; 14th - Rob Howe 21:09;  22nd - Daryl Rogers 22:27; (Team 4th - 55 pts) 

Andrew Meech	Joe Golding
Rob Howe

Under 20 Men:

2nd - Martin Heys; 6th - Andrew Hunter

Martin Heys

Andrew Hunter