Essex Cross Country Championships - Young Athletes - the full story
The headlines from Saturday’s County Cross Country Championships were Canaan Solomon’s U15B gold medal, James Stockings’ U20M silver and silvers and bronzes for the U15G and U15B teams respectively. In addition there were guaranteed inter-county selections available to the first five finishers in each race and also our own club medals up for grabs for the first three Woodford runners home in each event.
Most of the visitors to the aptly named Hilly Fields in Colchester were pleasantly surprised by the relatively dry conditions given the persistent rain over the past few weeks. The clue to this was – rabbits; the free draining, sandy soils on the higher slopes of the valley sides make ideal conditions for burrowing and gave the competitors (athletes not rabbits) relatively firm going with the really wet and boggy ground just confined to the lower fields. In all, the course provided an interesting mix of terrain, surface and level, proving a worthy challenge for the championships.
Canaan’s win in the U15B race was relatively comfortable and he had a lead of some 70m at the finish and 14 seconds clear of CAT’s Pattison in second place. Canaan looked in control throughout the race and ensured that he was at the front right from the start. We fielded seven runners in this race and with James Wakefield (16th), Owen Armstrong (17th) and Harry Cavell (21st) packing well relatively high up, these four were assured of the bronze medal with 55 points behind Orion (44) and Basildon (30). Taylor Reece (39th) and Chris Hogg (42nd) showed their customary determination to back up the team whilst Jack Shury (suffering with a bad stitch) was unable to finish.
Our other team medal, for the U15G team, was a repeat of last year’s performance at Hadleigh and with three of the same faces. Jodi Ratcliff claimed the honour of the first Woodford runner across the line with a fine 4th place but some 11 seconds off the bronze medal position. Rosie Poole professed disappointment with 7th understandably wanting better but should not berate herself too hard after a solid performance. Edie Preece in 14th was our third runner home for the second year in succession and had probably wished for more of the muddier conditions she usually relishes. Jess Archard, only just over a bout of ‘flu, closed the team with 24th place and her efforts ensured the team clinched the silver medal with 49 points, just two points ahead of Basildon. However both teams were well behind the Chelmsford quartet who closed four in the first five places and claimed all three individual medals into the bargain. Abi Burbidge made her club debut in this race, running commendably and finishing in 26th two places down on Jess.
The first race of the day was the U13B event with a single medium lap to be completed. Zain Idris showed youthful exuberance by front running for the first furlong before being absorbed in a pack of five runners also containing Joe Geller and this group led the pack off the start field and out around the course. Although both Joe and Zain dropped back over the next couple of kilometres, both ran to form and their 13th and 21st placings respectively represent a fair return in their first championship. Joining them in the start line was George King; his start was more measured and his efforts were well judged and were rewarded with a 35th place from the 51 finishers – he said he found it tough; it was for all three but it also gave them valuable experience.
The U13G race followed the U13Bs round the 3km lap; Kyesha Robinson ran to form picking up a good 9th place; Millie Finch really surprised herself with an excellent 16th just ahead of Megan Caswell in 19th. Mia Hirons was unfortunately unable to finish after suffering an asthma attack, a disappointment to her given how she has been running so far this winter.
This year, the U20M race was combined with the Senior Women’s race; both events running over the same two lap 8km course. Given the size of the U20M field (just 11 finishers) this made sense and gave the women a useful carrot to chase with eight of them finishing ahead of at least one U20M. James Stockings stayed well clear of the marauding women and harboured hopes for a win as he matched Basildon’s Thomas Richardson for a good part of the race before the latter got clear, eventually winning by a minute and a quarter. James was however well clear (28 seconds) of Oliver Kyriakes (Southend AC) in third. Sam Benge made an encouraging start in this race but was forced to withdraw with a tight chest.
Whilst the U20M were paired with the Senior Women, the U20W and the U17W were paired with the U17M; another sensible decision which gave the 14 U20W athletes and 29 U17W runners more competition. Our only U20W starter in this race was Lauren McGregor who was making a welcome if tentative return to racing after 10 months out. She finished in 7th which was a reasonable result in the circumstances and in spite of her feeling that she had forgotten how to race. She also managed to finish ahead of several of the U17M runners. Alicia McArdell and Abbie Dell, our two starters in the U17W field finished 11th and 12th with Alicia finishing ahead of one of the U17M runners and Abbie gaining more valuable experience in her first year in the age group.
Overall, the medal haul was slightly down on previous years and we only picked up three guaranteed County selections (Canaan, Jodie and James) but others may be offered selection with good results in subsequent races. It is encouraging to see new faces representing the club and it also makes a change to race at a new venue.
These championships also doubled as the club’s championships so the following runners pick up club medals:
U20M: James Stockings (gold)
U20W: Lauren McGregor (gold)
U17W: Alicia McAdell (gold), Abbie Dell (silver)
U15B: Canaan Solomon (gold), James Wakefield (silver), Owen Armstrong (bronze)
U15G: Jodi Ratcliff (gold), Rosie Poole (silver), Edie Preece (bronze)
U13B: Joe Geller (gold), Zain Idris (silver), George King (bronze)
U13 G Kyesha Robinson (gold), Millie Finch (silver), Megan Caswell (bronze)
(These will be presented at the forthcoming Young Athletes’ Awards Evening – date tba)