There was a promising start to the Essex League campaign as good turn outs from club teams notched up three second and three third places, and three individual top three positions.

Hoseah Gikungu started where he left off last winter with a win in the U17 Men's race, coming home 45 seconds clear of the field. Good packing saw Tom Brenna (16th), Josh Conners (17th) and Nick Shade (19th) bring the team home third, with Andrew Holland (20th), Luke Grieveson (27th) and Nick Duffey (29th) in reserve..

Lydia Hallam's second place led the U15 girls to runners up spot as Heidi Surman-Wells placed ninth and Francesca Smith (16th) and Becky ward (23rd) were the other scorers. Abi Spink (31st), Louise Lear (34th) and debutant Zoe Mabo (50th) also saw action.

The seniors placed third after three top ten slots. Alexa Joel ran impressively after another injury lay off for a very good third place and Debbie Appleton followed swiftly for a good fourth.  Not far behind in eight was Vicky Smith (8th) with Jade Edwards in 27^th place completing the scoring quartet. In addition there were very good runs from veterans Juliet Ward (48^th), Jane Hallam (53^rd), Jenny Golan (67^th) and debutante Bobbie Westwood (73^rd)..

Beth Hall's seventh place and good team support teamed the U17/U20 women a fine second. Isabella Woods was in close order in eighth and Becky Stanley nearby in tenth as 16th placed Lindsay McLachlan completed the scorers, while Avril Loynes (28th)  and Lindsey Wiggins (30th) provided good support.

The senior men made a strong start in their title defence with second place. Strong running from Grant Twist saw him first clubman home in seventh and Rob Warner's ninth place showed the team's determination. They were ably assisted by Steve Rand's powerful 13th place.. Jason Lendon and Mat Bland battled each other in 25th & 26th with Chris Smith's 42nd place taking the last scoring place. Rob Dickenson came home in 59th and there was little to chose between a group of Havering athletes with Ian Anthony 70th, Neill Collins 71st and Paul Berrett in 73rd. U20 Massi Dendani made his senior debut in 79th two places ahead of fellow U20 debutant Ross Earney who was in the top half in 81st.  Veterans Gary Howard (122nd) and Barry Ward, 126th ran well on a tough course to complete the impressive 14-strong senior contingent.

Another third place team position came from the U15 boys as Sean Wilson (13th), Ed Thompson (16th), Adam Hill (20th) and 21st placed Elliott Nunn combined well, with Robert Woodgate (25th) and Sam Dell (31st) providing cover. 

The U13 girls fourth as Emily Marshall was first home in 10th, with Amy Baggs (14th), Jessica Ward (19th) & Gemma Archer-Haley (20th) packing well, and promising runs from non scoring debutante Sophie Rand (31st), Megan Ruffell (40th), another newcomer Elysha Thatcher-Gray non scoring in 41st and Bethan White 4th

In contrast there was a sole scorer in the U13 boys which saw them ranked just 11th, as non scoring Daniel Moulden in 19th and Aaron Westwood in 22nd gamely flew the club flag..

Under 13 Girls: 10th Emily Marshall 12:40; 14th - Amy Baggs 12:57; 19th - Jessica Ward 13:07; 20th Gemma Archer-Haley 13:08; (Team 4th - 63 pts)  31st - Sophie Rand (Non Score) 14:19; 40th  Megan Ruffell 15:27; 41st - Elysha Thatcher-Gray (non score) 15:28; 44th - Bethan White 17:48; Team: 1. Chelmsford 26; 2. Orion 55; 3. Basildon 61; 4. HMAC - 63

Under 15 Girls: 2nd - Lydia Hallam 15:18; 9th - Heidi Surman-Wells 16:34; 16th - Francesca Smith 17:01; 23rd - Becky Ward 15:44; (Team 2nd - 43pts)  31st - Abigail Spink 18:21; 34th - Louise Lear 18:26; 50th - Zoe Mabo 21:38 Team: 1. Chelmsford 26; 2. HMAC 53; 3. Southend 58

Under 17 Girls/ under 20 women:  7th - Beth Hall 20:24; 8th - Isabella Woods 20:29; 10th - Becky Stanley 20:36; 16th - Lindsay McLachlan 21:24; (Team 2nd - 41pts) 28th - Avril Loynes 24:11; 30th - Lindsey Wiggins 25:58

Senior Women: 3rd - Alexa Joel 21:58; 4th - Debbie Appleton (W35) 23:00; 8th - Vicky Smith 24:09; 27th - Jade Edwards 27:22 (Team 3rd - 42 pts)  48th -  Juliet Ward (W45) 30:01; 53rd - Jane Hallam (W40) 31:11; 67th - Jenny Golan (W50) 33:42; 73rd - Bobbie Westwood 35:07  Team: 1. Chelmsford 29; 2 Basildon 37; 3 HMAC -  42.

Under 13 Boys:  19th - Daniel Moulden (Non score) 12:10; 22nd - Aaron Westwood 12:33  (Team 11th);

Under 15 Boys: 13th - Sean Wilson 15:15; 16th - Ed Thompson 15:28; 20th - Adam Hill 15:52; 21st - Elliott Nunn 15:56 (Team 3rd 70 pts) 25th - Robert Woodgate 16:17; 31st - Sam Dell 18:09. Team: 1. Southend 17; 2. Basildon 36; 3. HMAC - 70

Under 17 Boys:  1st Hoseah Gikungu 20:28; 16th -Tom Brennan 23:10; 17th - Josh Conners 23:31; 19th - Nick Shade 23:45;   (Team 3rd - 53 pts) 20th - Andrew Holland 23:55; 27th - Luke Grieveson  26:02 29th - Nick Duffey 26:40 Team: 1. Southend 26; 2. Colchester & T 46; 3. HMAC - 53

Senior Men: 7th - Grant Twist 26:43; 9th - Rob Warner 26:53; 13th - Steve Rand 27:52; 25th - Mat Bland 28:56; 26th - Jason Lendon 26:59; 42nd - Chris Smith 30:10 (Team 2nd - 122 pts) 59th - Rob Dickenson 31:18;  70th - Ian Anthony 32:23; 71st - Neill Collins 32:28; 73rd - Paul Berrett 32:48; 79th - Massi Dendani 33:22; 81st - Ross Earney 33:25 ; 122nd - Gary Howard (M50) 36:36; 126th - Barry Ward 37:02  Team: 1. Chelmsford 93; 2. HMAC 122  3. Southend 174