Essex Cross Country League, Basildon, 12
October 2002
The Havering Mayesbrook club looks set for another good year in the Essex Cross Country League after a strong start in the opening fixture at the tough Basildon Gloucester Park course on Saturday. Three individual wins and two team successes have put the club in a good position to challenge Chelmsford for the league title fought out over five fixtures this winter.
There was double delight in the under 13 boys event as identical twins Bradley and Scott Tungatt sealed an impressive cross country club debut with a one-two finish, leading their team to victory in the process. Bradley claimed individual honours, ten seconds clear of his twin Scott, with Joe Webster (14th) and Grant Twist (19th) ensuring team victory, while six other club members completed the course. The winning margin would have been greater had an unwell Matthew Watkins not had to drop out when placed in the leading bunch.
Katie Richardson was an emphatic winner of the under 15 race leading from the gun to come home clear of her Colchester rival Charlotte Taylor. Robyn Matson survived a mid race bad patch to finish fifth, with Helen Roche next home in ninth, and Lauren Clark, three places further back in 12th, as the team finished in runners up spot. Eight other club athletes competed with the B team placing sixth and the C team in ninth.
Sara Luck was also never headed as she cruised to victory over the hilly course in the combined under 17 and under 20 event. Hayley Mottram and Ria Lyons battled it out and crossed the line together, 11th and 12th home, Hayley getting the judges' verdict, placing second in the under 20 event, while Ria was 10th under 17 home. Laura Moore (17th) and Carmel Munson (21st) completed the scoring foursome who placed second in the team stakes.
A third place for Hayley Thomas led her teammates to a team win in the first race of the day, the under 13 girls race. By the time the race got underway the heavy morning rain had stopped but had freshened up the course. Excellent packing saw little Ingrid Deane (6th), Clare Robinson (7th) and Michaela Roberts (8th) come home in close order. Five other club athletes finished, as the B foursome placed fifth.
Laurie Cossey made a determined start to her winter season as she placed third in the senior women's race. The 20 year-old 800m specialist put her track season behind her to show her best ever form on the country. Veteran Lesley Felton ran a solid race in 8th, while Eleanor Mole (21st) and Linda Smith (25th) completed the scoring four, while former walking international Irene Bateman beat a few runners in finishing 32nd.
Andrew Meech was first home for the under 17 men, run in conjunction with the senior women's race. His 10th place was one better than teammate Daryl Rogers, in 11th, with Rob Howe one place back. Sprinter-jumper Luke Stott tested his stamina in 17th to complete the scoring four who placed second.
For the fifth placed under 15 boys Ashley Reece was best placed in 6th, with Andrew Luck ten positions behind, while the depleted senior men's squad, missing a number of athletes off on a training weekend, were led home by returning Trevor Keys in 19th, with Graham Pritchard, sill recovering from injury, four places back.
Results
Under 13 Girls:
3rd - Hayley Thomas; 6th - Ingrid Deane; 7th - Clare Robinson; 8th - Michaela Roberts (Team - 1st); 13th - Francesca Clark; 15th - Rachel Newman; 19th - Alex Watkins; 21st - Louisa Woods; (B Team - 5th) 31st - Chantelle Tungatt
Under 15 Girls:
1st - Katie Richardson; 5th - Robyn Matson, 9th - Helen Roche, 12th- Lauren Clark,
(Team: 2nd Under 17 Girls/ under 20 women: 1st - Sara Luck; 11th - Hayley Mottram
(2nd - u20); 12th – Ria Lyons; 17th - Laura
Moore; 21st - Carmel Munson; 22nd - Jennifer Szantai (Team: 2nd Senior Women: 3rd - Laurie Cossey; 8th –
Lesley Felton; 21st - Eleanor Mole; 25th - Linda Smith; 32nd - Irene Bateman (Team
??)
Under 13 Boys: 1st - Bradley Tungatt 13:11; 2nd
- Scott Tungatt 13:21; 14th
– Joe Webster 14:25; 19th – Grant Twist 14:48; (Team 1st - 36
points). 41st - Simon Brown 17:15; 42nd - Harrison Ellis 17:16; 46th -
Philip Chang Under 15 Boys: 6th - Ashley Reece 14:55; 16th -
Andrew Luck 16:17; 21st - Martyn Chambers 17:12; 31st - Christian
Newton (Team 5th - 74 points) Under 17 Boys: 10th - Andrew Meech 27:53; 11th -
Daryl Rogers 28:08; 12th - Rob Howe 28:14; 17th - Luke Stott 34:26 (Team
2nd) Senior Men: 19th - Trevor Keys; 23rd –
Graham Pritchard; 36th – Neil Collins; 40th – Gary Howard; 48th - Andrew Hunter;
67th - Chris Hall Under 15 Girls: Under 17/Under 20 women: Senior Women Under 15 Boys: Under 17 men: Senior men:
Start
of under 15 girls' race
Charlotte
Wood, Lauren Clark, Robyn Matson & Helen Roche
Katie
Richardson - U15 winner
Hayley Mottram & Ria
Lyons
Laura Moore
Laurie
Cossey (R.)
Laurie
Cossey
Ellie Mole
Lesley Felton
Linda
Smith
