SEAA XC Champs, 29 Jan 05, Parl Hill

South of England Cross Country Championships, Parliament Hill, 29 January 2005

Team gold & silver, and two individual bronze medals were the reward for a great day by club athletes at the South of England Cross Country Championships at the tough parliament Hill course today.

Despite some late withdrawals due to injury and illness, Havering Mayesbrook had a strong Under 15 boys' team out and Matt Watkins led them from the start. Matthew has been returning to form in the last few weeks made a run for home just before halfway but was overhauled by Ben Hunter of Southend who went on twin the race. Matt having given everything was caught on the line but earned a great Bronze medal. Matt Bloy showed he is back to his best and in his first year in the age group managed a tremendous 10th. The team was completed by brother Steve and Chris MacLachlan. For much of the race Chris was just behind Matt Bloy but faded towards the end but hung on to finish in an excellent 40th, having been overtaken by his fast finishing brother who made up several places in the finish to get 28th. Joe Webster provided able support to finish in 59th. The team won the "Scruton" Trophy from the holders Aldershot with 81 pts to Aldershot's 89, with Colchester in 3rd on 170pts.

The four girls in the Under 17 women's race ran extremely well and managed to claim the silver team medal behind Aldershot & Farnham. Katie Richardson made a good start and was leading the pack but was edged into 5th position. Megan Foley finished in 8th with a fine run from Robyn Matson in 19th. Vicky Smith's 47th place ensured the team finished in a high enough position to claim the team silver place.

The final medal came in the senior women's event when Debbie Appleton was always in contention with the leaders and won bronze. Julie Gildea & Linda Smith were the only other club females to toe the line, finishing 230th & 234th respectively.

Ross Clarke was Havering's only entrant in the Under 17 men's category and despite still not being returned to full fitness he put in a gutsy performance as usual and finished 9th in 22.29 for the 6km race

With most of the Under 13 girls making debuts on a very tough course they all did extremely well with everyone finishing in good places. The quartet of Emma Fox, Sidnie Sales, Emma McAuliffe and returning from injury Eleanor Bounds put the team in 6th position.

The Under 13 boys enjoyed the tough, muddy conditions at Parliament Hill and their first Territorial Championship. Daniel Shanney had another excellent run leading the team home in 58th, followed closely by the ever improving Luke Jones running his best race of the season in 69th. Simon Brown was 3rd home in 75th and the team was closed by Thomas Shanney in 87th. The team finished a very creditable 13th.

Even losing a shoe on the last lap didn’t stop Rob Warner finishing in his highest ever placing in the senior men’s race at 149^th and with Matt Bland steadily working his way through the field of over a thousand starters finished strongly to take 174^th. Chris Coates found the sticking mud hard to deal with but did well to finish just outside the top 250.

41st - Emma Fox 14:27; 50th - Sidnie Sales 14:33; 61st - Emma McAuliffe 14:45; 62nd - Eleanor Bounds 14:45 (Team 6th 214 - points) 91st Chloe Jackson - 15:34; 92nd - Alex Edwards 15:39; 111st - Georgia Davis 15:54; 158th - Hannah Knight 17:54; 162nd - Faye Dench - 18:14; 163rd - Michelle Lovell 18:26

28th - Clare Robinson 19:32; 50th - Ingrid Deane 20:03; 104th Georgie Sales 21:33; 170th - Rachel Kerr 25:11 (Team 11th - 352 points) DNF Jade Edwards

5th - Katie Richardson 20:44; 8th - Megan Foley 21:01; 19th - Robyn Matson 22:05; 47th - Vicky Smith 24:04; (Team 2nd - 79 points)

3rd - Debbie Appleton 33:15; 230th - Julie Gildea - 46:40; 234th - Linda Smith 47:02