Essex CC: Seniors
The Essex Cross-country championships returned to Basildon for the fourth consecutive time but with a different look. At the initiative of Eamonn Martin, the course had been augmented with a marquee, DJ, slalom section and hay bales. Athletics Weekly had previewed the event and eagerly published their report the day after it took place.
Woodford's senior men's team had been braced for a strong challenge to their quest for a second hat-trick of Essex cross country team titles in just the last 8 championships. In the end they suffered not just a de-throning, but shock de-medalling altogether, coming out fourth-best with Southend as champions. The senior women had two representatives with Alicia McArdell in 16th and Aoibheann Pearce in 31st. Alicia admitted to struggling with the hills and couldn't match her top 10 finish from her last two years ago, whilst Aoibheann was making her senior debut at this event. Their race was run jointly with the Junior Men (U20) and Nathan Wright finished an impressive 5th to secure selection for the Essex team.
Shortly after finishing, Alicia ominously reported to the men's squad that it was the toughest course she'd ever done. The innovations had clearly not softened the 12k course with the men tackling nine muddy and steep ascents, against a highly competitive field. The Woodford team were led in by Tom Frith (7th), returning two years after taking the individual title here in a Southend vest. Tom is continuing his return from an injury-enforced year out and will be satisfied with this as a marker whilst his training load further increases.
It had been four years since Tom Beedell had raced this fixture fully fit and he was hopeful that his recent marathon training would set him up for a high placing. Tom reported that he struggled to attack the hills, losing ground on the group that were battling for top 10 finish and ending up in 14th. New member Haider Razzaq was making his debut over the senior champs distance but you wouldn't have known given his strong performance resulting in 22nd.
Tom's injury habit was inherited by Angus Holford who had been enjoying a trip seeing family in Australia and Singapore when he tweaked his calf on Christmas Eve. He battled around the course finishing an admirable 30th. He was closely followed in by Dan Steel and Tom Rehal. Although Dan finished ahead, the chiptiming has recorded him in 33rd and Tom in 32nd. Dan extended his run to eight consecutive scoring performances at the championships. Unfortunately it was Tom's last race as first claim for us as he is switching to a more local club.
Tom Adolphus (41st) was unable to match his senior debut performance from last year as he contended with a recent illness but will surely contribute to the scoring team in many seasons to come. Speaking of which, Harold Wyber (54th) was integral to multiple scoring teams in the past and made the most of the descents. Alistair Holford (199th) was our final finisher and reported that he was lapped by three teammates, therefore holding off his son!
The team competition was a tight, four-way tussle as Woodford (138 points) finished behind Southend (123 points), Colchester Harriers (126 points) and Havering (129 points). Southend impressively packed their last four scorers between our 3rd and 4th. Colchester's silver was the particular surprise package, with the club finally capitalising on being based at the town's Garrison track and finishing a scoring team that was 50% Army.