Club teams produced better turn outs and improved results in horrendous cold wet and windy conditions in the fourth round of the Essex Cross Country League at Hilly Fields, Colchester on Saturday.

Harriet Scott continued her return to full fitness with a fine run to win the senior women's race to continue the club stranglehold on first place this season successes from Debbie Appleton in round one and Lauren Deadman in rounds two and three. The improving Jane Hallam came 37^th.

The Under 13 boys put out another excellent performance to inflict the first league defeat of the season over Southend led by great runs from Nick Shade (2nd) and Freddy Keefe (3rd).  Nick Duffy 10th and Finbar Smythe 15th completed the scoring four, ably supported by Sean Wilson 22nd, Thomas Pitkin 25th and Alex Law 28th. The win solidified their second place in the league table but Southend seem to have the title sewn up.

There were runners up spots for the U15 Girls and U17 men.

The Under 15 girls achieved second place overall with all four runners in the top 20. Becky Stanley led the team home in 7^th place closely followed by Amanda Blaxland (13^th), Rachel Sadler (14^th) and Shannon Sullivan (19^th). The team are third in the table

The Under 17 men also had a good day, coming in second with 39 points and again confirming their 2nd place standing in the league. The four scorers were Daniel Shanney 5th, Callum Sutton 6th, Joseph Waked 13th and Thomas Shanney 15th. They were closely followed by Liam Bush 16th, Dean Leftley 20th and Jamie Buckley-Stanton 21st.

Third place honours went to the Under 13 Girls. Avril Loynes continued her good form to secure third place and with the remainder of the team in the top 20 they achieved third place overall. Lindsey McLachlan (12^th), Lydia Hallam (15^th) and Hannah Bloy (17^th).

In the Under 17 women’s race Zoey Littlechild battled well in the conditions to come in seventh well supported by Amber Turner (19^th), Michelle Lovell (25^th), but alas there was no fourth scorer. The team held on to third in the league table.

The Under 15 boys put on their best performance of the season finishing fourth thanks to a good turn out of seven runners although Glenn Wileman and Josh Connors failed to finish due to injury  The four scorers were Adam Edwards 9th, Hosea Gikunku 17th, Thomas Davis 18th and Massi Dendani 20th. They were well supported by Ross Earney 21st, Adam Wileman 27th and Ben Thompson 29th.

It was damage limitation as the table topping senior men’s team was hit by injury and illness. The team was led home by Peter Coates with another good run in 24^th followed by Rob Warner still suffering from the virus that had laid him low for the past two weeks who managed a creditable 28^th. Matt Bland was next home in 35^th closely followed by Chris Coates 40^th. Stalwart Paul Berrett 47^th and Graham Hogan 52^nd all ran well to complete the scoring team. Neill Collins 73^rd and Tony Collins 97^th completed the squad.  The team still share the number one spot with Colchester and hopefully will have Grant Twist, Steve Rand and a fully fit Rob Warner to fight for the title in the final round at Chingford on 3rd January

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Under 13 Girls: 3rd - Avril Loynes 13:20; 12th - Lyndsey McLachlan 14:10; 15th Lydia Hallam 14:19; 16th - Hannah Bloy 14:27  (Team 3rd - 47 pts)

Team: 1. Chelmsford 24; 2. Basildon 35; 3. HMAC - 47  

League 1. Chelmsford 6; 2. Basildon 9; 3 HMAC - 12.

Under 15 Girls: 7th - Becky Stanley 19:13; 13th - Amanda Blaxland 19:52; 14th - Rachel Sadler 20:14;   19th - Shannon Sullivan 21:51. (Team 2nd - 53 pts)  

Team: 1. Thurrock 46; 2.  HMAC - 53; 3. Orion 56

League 1. Southend 8; 2. Thurrock 11; 3. HMAC - 12.

Under 17 Girls/ under 20 women:   7th - Zoey Littlechild 23:12; 19th - Amber Turner 26:11; 25th - Michelle Lovell 29:52  (Team 4th)

Team: 1. Southend 17; 2. Basildon 34; 3. Colchester & T- 62. 4. HMAC

League: 1. Southend 5; 2. Basildon 8; 3. HMAC 15

Senior Women: 1st - Harriet Scott 22:42; 37th - Jane Hallam 29:49; (Team 12th)  

Under 13 Boys: 2nd - Nick Shade 12:08; 3rd - Freddie Keefe 12:12; 10th - Nick Duffey 12:49; 15th - Finbar Smythe 13:08; (Team 1st - 30 pts); 22nd - Sean Wilson 13:46;  25th - Thomas Pitkin 14:46; 28th - Alex Law 15:24

Team: 1. HMAC - 30; 2. Southend 36; 3. Chelmsford 33

League 1. Southend 5; 2 HMAC - 7; 3. Basildon 16.

Under 15 Boys: - 9th - Adam Edwards 17:12; 17th - Hose Gikungu 18:24; 18th -Thomas Davis 18:32; 20th - Massi Dendani 19:29;  (Team 4th - 64 pts) 21st - Ross Earney 19:29; 27th - Adam Wileman 20:47; 29th -Ben Thompson 22:27

Team: 1. Southend 30; 2. Basildon 43;  3.Chelmsford 51;.4. HMAC - 64

League: 1. Southend 4; 2. Basildon 10; 3.Chelmsford 12...5. HMAC - 19

Under 17 Boys:  5th - Daniel Shanney 21:50; 6th - Callum Sutton 22:03;13th - Joseph Waked 23:00; 15th - Thomas Shanney 23:35; (Team 2nd - 39 pts) 16th - Liam Bush 23:43; 20th - Dean Leftley 24:32; 21st - Jamie Buckley-Stanton 24:49.

Team: 1. Southend 28; 2. HMAC - 39; 3.Chelmsford 62.

League: 1. Southend  5; 2. HMAC - 11; 3. Basildon 13

Senior Men: 24th - Peter Coates 33:09; 28th - Rob Warner 33:23; 35th - Mat Bland 34:06; 40th -Chris Coates 30:50; 47th - Paul Berrett (V45) 35:04; 52nd - Graham Hogan 35:33 (Team 6th - 226 pts);  73rd - Nell Collins 38:20; 97th - Tony Collins 40:57

Team: 1. Basildon 102; 2. Chelmsford 127; 3. Colchester H - 134; ... 6.HMAC 126

League: 1=  HMAC & Colchester H - 12;  3. Chelmsford 14

Link to Full Results

Pics: Kevin White (it was wet and my lens kept misting up and getting wet hence the lack of photos)