Essex Cross Country League, Round 5,
Epping Forest, Chingford, Saturday 13 January 2007
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Two individual and two team wins on the day, and league titles for the U13 & U15 girl' teams, were the reward as the Essex Cross Country League came to a conclusion in slippery and muddy conditions at Epping Forest on Saturday.
In the combined Under 17/Under 20 women's event Georgie Sales led from start to finish, facing the water hazards and mud traps which dotted the course, for her second successive league win to ensure the overall league gold medal. Christina Holland was always in sight with a very good fifth place and Becky Owen continued her recovery from injury, in 14th. Regrettably due to late illness we were unable to field a complete team, but still placed third on the day which was enough to clinch the league silver medal.
There was another individual win in the senior women's race, held on a different (but no less difficult) course, just across the road, as Faye Fullerton returned to winning ways, wading through the waterlogged course for victory. Lauren Deadman, still carrying a tender hamstring, ran strongly for fourth place and the overall league bronze medal. Denise Harris (14th) and Lesley Felton (38th) both returned from illness to complete the scoring, equalling the team's best position (4th) of the season. Angela Thompson (49th) just pipped Linda Smith (52nd) completing the squad.
As anticipated both the under 13 and under 15 girls teams confirmed their respective league titles after final round victories. Eleanor Bounds continued her excellent form for the Under 13 girls with another second place over the difficult, boggy terrain at Chingford and in so doing also collected the overall league silver medal. Rebecca O’Neill battled bravely despite breathing difficulties to finish sixth and with the consistent Rebecca Stanley (8th), followed closely by Emma McAuliffe (9th) both inside the top ten the team maintained their unbeaten record, making it a clean sweep of all six league and county championship races this winter, adding the league gold medal to last weekend's County gold. The scoring four were well supported as usually by the depth of our team of Rachel Sadler (12th), Sharmila Golan (17th), Amanda Blaxland (18th), Avril Loynes (22nd), Nicola Peachey (25th), Jessica Seekings (31st) and Deborah Knight (33rd). The under 15 girls did exceptionally well again to make it four league wins in five outings to add the league gold to their County title. They were led home by the consistent trio of Jennifer Holland in second (and league silver medal), Sidnie Sales (third - and league bronze) and Zoey Littlechild (seventh - and just outside the league medals in fourth). The scoring was completed by an improving Emma Fox (14th) and Michelle Lovell provided invaluable support completing the club runners.
The senior men's
successful county season concluded with another second team
spot which ensured silver in the overall league standings. Rob Warner
continued his impressive start to 2007, adding fifth place to his top
ten finish in the County Championships last week, to lead the senior
men’s team home. Even with four of their top runners missing the team
showed their strength by fielding 13 athletes, with six making the top
forty to give the squad their third successive second place. Matt
Bland’s rich vein of form peaked with a fine 11th place, not
far in front of Gavin Maley, in his first Essex League outing in 16th.
Ian Anthony ran well to take 24th, not that far in front of
Paul Berrett who claimed his highest score for some time in 29th.
Martin Chester completed the scoring team with another good run to take
37th. Graham Hogan had a solid run in the heavy conditions to
finish 44th and he was followed by a contingent of our senior
runners with Neil Bearwish 75th,Graham Foster 80th,Gary
Howard 85th, Roger Winston 96th, Mike Munson 98th
and finally Kevin White 101st all of whom showed the
determination and character to make a good team even better.
On a disappointing day for the boys' teams the Under 17 men's team had most to smile about. Rob Jones continues to impress and pushed David Gibbons of Colchester all the way to place third and a well-earned overall. Mike Donovan ran despite carrying an injury to make sure the team scored, finishing both second on the day and in the league stakes as Colchester's took victory and the league title. The under 15 boys were back to full strength but Chelmsford were unbeatable with the first three home. Daniel Shanney (8th), Mike Jones (9th) and Thomas Shanney (11th) finished in close order, with Jamie Buckley-Stanton (18th) completing the scoring quartet to place a solid second and league team silver. Four other club u15s competed and with several of the team in the first year of the age group next winter should bring better placings. The under 13 boys welcomed back Ryan O'Mahoney and Jonathan Seekings but were still missing Tyler Bennett through illness. Ryan fell short of his usual top six standard and finished 15th for first club athlete home, as Thomas Davies (20th), Seekings (26th) and Adam Edwards (34th) only finished fifth and were overhauled for league silver medals by Basildon, and had to settled for joint third. |
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Under 13 Girls: 2nd - Eleanor Bounds 10:24; 6th - Rebecca O'Neill 11:19; 8th Becky Stanley 11:26 9th - Emma McAuliffe 11:30 (Team 1st - 25 pts) 12th - Rachel Sadler 11:44; 17th - Sharmila Golan 12:05; 18th - Amanda Blaxland 12:06; 22nd Avril Loynes 12:15; 25th - Nicola Peachey 12:28; 31st - Jessica Seekings 12:40; 33rd - Deborah Knight 12:48 Final Standings: 1. HMAC - 5; 2. Basildon - 11; 3. Orion 16 |
Individual 2nd - Eleanor Bounds - 9; 4th - Rebecca O'Neill 14; 8th - Rachel Sadler - 31; 9th Becky Stanley - 34; 17th - Amanda Blaxland 73; 18th - Sharmila Golan 86; 19th - Jessica Seekings 87; 24th Avril Loynes - 105; 26th - Deborah Knight 115 |
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Under 15 Girls: Final Standings: 1. HMAC - 7; 2 Chelmsford - 10; 3 Basildon 13 |
Individual
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Under 17 Girls/ under 20 women: Final Standings: 1. Basildon 7; 2 HMAC - 10; 3 Orion - 16 |
Individual 1st |
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Senior Women: Final Standings:1. Colchester & T - 7; 2. Chelmsford 9; 3. Loughton 19; ... 6 HMAC - 35 |
Individual |
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Under 13 Boys:
Final standings: 1. Southend 8; 2. Basildon 17; =3 HMAC & Chelmsford 18 |
Individual
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Under 15 Boys: 8th - Daniel Shanney 13.45; 9th - Michael Jones 13:55; 11th - Thomas Shanney 14:03; 18th - Jamie Buckley-Stanton 14:22; (Team 2nd - 46 points) 19th - Louis Ball - 14:31; 22nd - John Whitehead 14:54; 24th - Simon Brown 15:41; 36th - Callum Hockley 17:22 Final standings 1. Chelmsford 9; 2. HMAC 12; 3 Orion 18 |
Individual 9th - Michael Jones 35; 10th - Daniel Shanney 40; 16th= Thomas Shanney 64; 18th - John Whitehead 66; 19th - Calllum Sutton 77; 20th - Simon Brown 80; 23rd - Louis Ball - 100; 30th - Callum Hockley 152
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Under 17 Boys:
3rd Final Standings: 1. Colchester & T - 7; 2. HMAC - 8; 3. Orion 19 |
Individual 3rd |
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Senior Men:
Final standings:
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Individual
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| Link to full results |
| Photos - Courtesy of Kevin White | |
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| Photos - Courtesy of Kevin White | |
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