Good results in the final round of the Essex Cross Country League at Chingford on Saturday brought five team and two individual medals thanks to a return to fitness of a number of athletes.

The U13 Boys again provided another victory over Southend but it was not enough to win the league title from the "seasiders" as the squad ended up one point adrift. Nick Shade once again led the team home placing fourth and took individual bronze in the individual placing over the five fixtures. Nick was followed by Freddie Keefe 6th, James Kidd 7th and Nick Duffy 8th. The scoring four were well supported by Finbar Smythe 19th, Sean Wilson 24th, Thomas Pitkin 27th, Alex Law 29th and Andrew Holland 30th. Hopefully the team will repeat this great winning result in this week's Essex Championships.

The U15 Girls and U17 Men won league silver thanks to fourth place on the day.

Daniel Shanney's third place on the day for the Under 17 men won him league bronze. Daniel  was well supported by Thomas Shanney 11th and Jamie Buckley-Stanton 13th but the team lacked a fourth scorer which would probably have ensured victory but the lads were still able to confirm the team's second place in the league standings behind runaway winners Southend.

In the U15 Girls age group Becky Stanley continued her improved form in seventh place.  With Amanda Blaxland 13^th, Shannon Sullivan 21^st, but no fourth finisher as Rachel Sadler had to pull out the team finished 4^th but they had done enough in the other fixtures to hold on to league runners up spot.

The U13 Girls' second place on the day ensured league bronze. Avril Loynes continued her good form with another top five finish, followed closely by a determined Lydia Hallam in 6^th place and supported by Lindsay McLachlan (15^th) and Hannah Bloy (21^st).

The U17 Women also placed third and took league bronze as another top 10 finish for Zoey Littlechild (6^th) gave her 7^th place overall in the league. She was supported by Amber Turner (11th), Jennifer Holland (12th) and Michelle Lovell (21st).

The U15 Boys had their best result of the season coming in third but this improved form came too late to earn a league medal as they finished fourth in the league placings. They were ably led by Adam Edwards who gained his best finish of the season in fifth place, followed by Josh Conors 16th, Thomas Davis 17th and the ever improving Massi Dendani in 18th place. They were supported by Ross Earney 26th and Chris Hyde 29th but Ben Thompson failed to finish after suffering a groin pull.

The senior men’s hope of their first league title for well over a decade were dashed by illness and injury. After leading the table after round three and sharing the lead after round four they still had hopes of the title but the short-handed team saw their title hopes vanish as they only managed to field five athletes to brave the dangerous iron hard course. They were led home by Rob Warner completing his 68^th Essex league for the club finishing in a good 12^th place. Steve Rand was the next home in 23^rd with ever-present Matt Bland close behind in 28^th. Chris Coates ran well to take 35^th with Martin Chester having a good run to come in 58^th. A sixth runner would have ensured team medals.

The senior women were also unable to field a full team, but with Vicky Smith home from University in 13th and the improving Jane Hallam (23^rd) and Angela Thompson (32^nd) the athletes did the club proud. This finish for Jane gave her 6^th overall veteran for the season, which was a good achievement in her first season with the club.

The team managers would like to thank everyone for their support this season.

Under 13 Girls: 5th - Avril Loynes 10:18; 6th Lydia Hallam 10:15; 15th - Lyndsey McLachlan 11:09; 21st - Hannah Bloy 11:24  (Team 2nd - 47 pts)

Team: 1. Chelmsford 36; 2. HMAC - 47  3. Basildon 51

League 1. Chelmsford 7; 2. Basildon 12; 3 HMAC - 14.

Under 15 Girls: 7th - Becky Stanley 14:28; 13th - Amanda Blaxland 15:06; 19th - Shannon Sullivan 16:40. (Team 4th - 39 [3] pts)  

Team: 1. Southend 31; 2. Chelmsford 43; Basildon 54; 4. HMAC - 39 (3)

League 1. Southend 9; 2=. Thurrock 16; 2= HMAC - 16

Under 17 Girls/ under 20 women:   6th - Zoey Littlechild 17:55; 11th - Amber Turner 18:33; 12th - Jennifer Holland - 18:42; 20th - Michelle Lovell 23:20 (Team 3rd - 49 pts)

Team: 1. Basildon 27; 2. Southend 33; 3.HMAC 49

League: 1. Southend 7; 2. Basildon 9; 3. HMAC 18

Senior Women: 13th - Vicky Smith 28:09; 23rd - Jane Hallam 31:09; 32nd - Angela Thompson 32:43 (Team 10th)  

Under 13 Boys: 4th - Nick Shade 9:28; 6th - Freddie Keefe 9:35; 7th - James Kidd 9:39; 8th - Nick Duffey 9:49;  (Team 1st - 25 pts); 17th - Finbar Smythe 10:16; 22nd - Sean Wilson 10:48; 25th - Thomas Pitkin 11:24; 27th - Alex Law 11:37; 28th - Andrew Holland 11:44

Team: 1. HMAC - 25; 2. Southend 29; 3. Orion 57

League 1. Southend 7; 2 HMAC - 8; 3. Basildon & Orion - 20.

Under 15 Boys: - 5th - Adam Edwards 12:40; 16th - Josh Connors 13:23; 17th -Thomas Davis 13:26; 18th - Massi Dendani 13:32;  (Team 3rd - 56 pts) 26th - Ross Earney 14:42; 29th - Chris Hyde 15:16

Team: 1. Chelmsford 27; 2. Southend 29; 3. HMAC - 56

League: 1. Southend 6; 2. Basildon 13; 3.Chelmsford 16;.4. HMAC - 22

Under 17 Boys:  3rd - Daniel Shanney 23:21; 11th - Thomas Shanney 25:19; 13th - Jamie Buckley-Stanton 25:32. (Team 4th)

Team: 1. Southend ; 2. Chelmsford; 3. Orion ; 4. HMAC - 39 [3].

League: 1. Southend  6; 2. HMAC - 15; 3. Basildon & Chelmsford 19

Senior Men: 12th - Rob Warner 30:26; 23rd - Steve Rand 31:22; 28th - Mat Bland 31:50; 35th -Chris Coates 32:12; 58th - Martin Chester 34:45 (Team 13th)

Team: 1. Springfield 132; 2. Colchester H - 134; 3. Chelmsford 149; .. 12.  HMAC 156 (5)

League: 1. Colchester H - 14;  2= Chelmsford & Springfield 17 ...5. HMAC 25

Link to Full Results