Essex Cross Country League, Stubbers, 11 January 2003  

Havering Mayesbrook made the most of home advantage with an impressive set of results in the final Essex Cross Country League fixture hosted at Stubbers on Saturday.

Wednesday’s deep snow may have gone but the course remained slippery in places, and the route round the grounds of the Stubbers Centre was reversed from that used in the recent Essex young athletes champs to avoid a steep downhill stretch.

The most emphatic victory went to the under15 girls where Havering Mayesbrook had three in the first four and all four scorers in the first eleven.  Megan Foley and Katie Richardson cut out the early pace and it was soon obvious that Orion’s Cathy Conway, winner of the last two rounds and favourite to the lift the individual league title, was struggling to stay in touch. It was track specialist Megan, in only her second cross country outing of the winter, who soon opened a gap over her younger team-mate Katie, while Cathy Conway lost touch and slipped down the field, finally finishing tenth. By the finish the impressive Foley had opened up 21 second lead over Richardson while Robyn Matson finished strongly as usual to move through in the latter stages to place an excellent fourth.  With Vicky Smith hanging on for 11^th, there was no doubt about the Havering Mayesbrook victory on the day, but it was not enough to win the league prize for the age group, which went to Basildon, thanks to their results in the earlier rounds. There was individual league gold for Katie Richardson thanks to her one win and three second places, edging out Cathy Conway’s challenge.

The under 13 boys shook off the apparent jinx that had plagued their league efforts all season to take first team place on the day. In all four previous fixtures at least one of their capable team had fallen foul of illness or injury but on home territory they all came through to place four in 13 and win the team event. Bradley Tungatt was again unlucky not to win on the day. In the Essex championships he had established a winning lead, only to be overhauled in the final strides so this time Bradley played the waiting game, tracking county champion James Shane, Basildon until the late stages.  But as Bradley made his move onto Shane’s shoulder with 100m to go he slipped on an icy downhill stretch and at once his challenge was over. He quickly picked himself up to place second, and claim the individual league title with twin brother Scott having another good run to finish just five seconds adrift of his twin in third.  Matthew Watkins found the going tough, coming home 8^th but his results over the five fixtures were good enough to bring him league bronze. Paul Adair’s 13^th place ensured a sweeping win on the day and the team also walked away with the age group league title. Uniquely, the club had a second pair of twins competing in this age group: Daniel and Thomas Shanney who finished a respectable 26^th and 28^th on their league debut.

The Senior women’s race also brought individual and team success. First home was Faye Fullerton, just five days after returning from her ill-fated South Africa training trip where she collided with a street sign while out running & needed 28 stitches in an horrific wound. The 18-year old St Mary’s student showed no ill effects as she comfortably came home in front but under league rules she was not allowed to score for the Havering Mayesbrook team as she is still in the under 20 age group. But the loss of her points did not stop her colleagues winning the team prize and also seal the league team trophy.  After her disappointment in the County Champs the week before Laurie Cossey bounced back to place fourth on the day and to her delight her results over the season were enough for her to lift the individual title. Lesley Felton’s 10^th place ensured her prize in the vets competition over the season, while there were promising appearances from the returning Nikki Barnett (11^th) and Hayley Hawes (15^th).

Team success also went to the under 13 girls quartet of Hayley Thomas, Ingrid Deane, Michaela Roberts and Claire Robinson who finished in sequence from fourth to seventh, although it had looked to be finishing different until Hayley was passed by the Southend runner 50 metres from the line, when in third. But despite this team success it was not enough to prevent Southend from claiming the league title for this age group.

There were second places in three age groups. In the under 15 boys’ event the improving Ashley Reece ran strongly to place fourth, while Ross Clarke was also well placed in 7^th and Aaron Churchouse not far away in 10^th. Christian Newton’s vital points ensured team runner up spot and third prize over the season.

Sara Luck’s third place led the combined under 17/under 20 women to second place both on the day and in the league team contest, with Emma Baglin napping third place in the under 20 title. The under 17 men’s quartet was again the consistent Andrew Meech, Joe Golding, Rob Howe and Daryl Rogers but they were beaten to the team prize on the day and over the season by their Chelmsford rivals.

Results  

Under 13 Girls:

4th - Hayley Thomas 14:18; 5th - Ingrid Deane 14:32; 6th - Michaela Roberts 14:41; 7th - Clare Robinson 14:46;   (Team - 1st 22 pts); 20th - Rachel Newman 15:40; 21st - Alex Watkins 15:56; 24th Lauren Newton 16:30 (Overall standings: 1. Southend; 2nd HMAC)

 

Start of u13 girls race	L to R: Michaela Roberts, Clare Robinson & Hayley Thomas
Ingrid Deane (centre)	Rachel Newman

Under 15 Girls:

1st - Megan Foley 17:26; 2nd - Katie Richardson 17:47; 4th - Robyn Matson 18:30; 11th - Vicky Smith 19:52 (Team: 1st - 18 pts);  13th - Helen Roche 20:14; 17th - Lauren Clark 20:50; 19th - Charlotte Wood 21:21; 27th - Vicky Roper 22:44 (Overall standings: 1. Basildon; 2nd HMAC Individual: 1st Katie Richardson)

 

Start of U15 girls race
Katie Richardson & Megan Foley	Robyn Matson (left)
Vicky Smith

Under 17 Girls/ under 20 women:

3rd – Sara Luck 22:27; 10th - Ria Lyons 24:53; 14th Emma Baglin (U20) 27:01; 15th - Jennifer Szantai 27:12; (Team: 2nd 42 pts) (Overall standings: ?? 1st. Southend; 2nd HMAC Individual: U20 3rd Emma Baglin).  

Start of u17/u20 event
Sara Luck (right)	Ria Lyons
Emma Baglin	Jenny Szantai

 Senior Women:

1st Faye Fullerton 24:49 (Non-score - guest); 4th - Laurie Cossey 27:20; 10th - Lesley Felton 29:05; 11th - Nikki Barnett 29:08; 15th - Hayley Hawes 30:08; (Team: 1st - 40 points) 24th - Ellie Mole 32:10; 30th - Linda Smith 33:11; 38th Ruth O'Sullivan 35:46 (Overall standings: 1st. Team -  HMAC ; 1st Individual - Laurie Cossey).  

Faye Fullerton (right) with Daryl Rogers close behind Photo Right: Hayley Hawes & Nikki Barnett
Faye Fullerton	Laurie Cossey
	Photo right: Lesley Felton

Under 13 Boys:

2nd - Bradley Tungatt 12:28; 3rd - Scott Tungatt 12:33; 8th - Matthew Watkins 12:56; 13th - Paul Adair 13:24 (Team 1st 26 pts)  14th  – Grant Twist 13:32; 23rd - Simon Brown 14:17; 26th - Daniel Shanney 14:29; 28th ~Thomas Shanney 14:34;  35th - Tony Chambers 15:59; 38th - Matthew Pearce 16:40  (Overall standings: 1st team - HMAC; 1st individual - Bradley Tungatt; 3rd - Matthew Watkins).  

Above: Start of U13 boys race	Bradley and Scott Tungatt track winner James Shane
Paul Adair	Grant Twist
Bradley Tungatt	Matthew Watkins

Under 15 Boys:

4th - Ashley Reece 16:24; 7th- Ross Clarke - 16:44; 10th Aaron Churchhouse 17:11; 27th - Christian Newton 20:01; (Team 2nd - 48 points).(Overall standings: ?3rd  HMAC).  

First lap: u15 boys race
Ashley Reece	Ross Clarke

Aaron Churchouse

Christian Newton

Under 17 Boys:

7th - Andrew Meech 24:28; 8th - Joe Golding 24:36;12th - Rob Howe 25:24; 15th Daryl Rogers 25:58 (Team 2nd) (Overall standings: 2nd  HMAC). 

Andrew Meech	Joe Golding
	Above: Daryl Rogers Left: Rob Howe

 

Senior Men:

(6th - Ryan Prout u20 non-score 27:32); 10th - Rob Warner 28:02; 14th - Graham Pritchard 28:23; 32nd - Martin Heys u20 - 30:17;  37th - E Donaldson 31:20; 49th – Neil Collins 32:58;  50th - Tony Collins 33:14; 62nd - Andrew Hunter 34:12; 67th - Stephen Hunter 34:53; 103rd - Dave Holland 45:17