Essex Cross country Champs - Age Group Races
Woodford U20 Men County Champions
Woodford athletes enjoyed an excellent day at the Essex Cross Country Championships in Gloucester Park, Basildon (Sat 4th Jan 2026) with a historic team victory in the U20 men’s event the highlight of the day.
Conditions were surprisingly firm, considering the heavy rains on previous days. Gloucester Park is best described as challenging, with long technical hill sections, combined with flat playing fields and the now famous hay bales for athletes to tackle.
U20 Men – 6.2km
Woodford’s U20 Men delivered the standout junior performance of the day, securing a historic team victory in a revised three‑to‑score competition. This was Woodford’s first U20 Men’s county title since 2016, lifting a trophy whose history stretches back to 1914.
Nathan Wright (2nd, 26:21) led the team home with a brilliant run to take the individual silver medal. Nathan stayed with the early leaders and showed strength over the final lap to secure a top‑two finish.
Close behind, Aidan O’Driscoll (5th, 27:51) produced one of his best performances to date. Aidan paced the race sensibly, moving through the field and finishing strongly to claim a vital top‑five placing for the team. Both boys qualified for Essex Inter Counties teams with their top 6 finishes.
William Muffett (9th, 28:29) completed the scoring trio holding off several late challenges to secure the points Woodford needed for the title. It was a superb collective effort from the squad, with all three athletes finishing inside the top ten.
Team Result (3 to score)
1 Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies
2 Chelmsford AC
3 Basildon AC
U20 Women – 5.2km
The winner was Kezia Beeton (Chelmsford AC) who ran 23:31. Kezia was once at Woodford, and it was good to see her run well.
First home for Woodford was Emily Caton (3rd, 24:41) who produced an excellent performance to secure a well‑earned bronze medal and qualified for the Essex inter-counties team. Emily settled into the leading group early on and held her form well over the long climbs, finishing strongly to claim a podium place.
Woodford’s Matilda Frith (14th, 34:08) was pleased with her run, the first of a busy race schedule in the new year. There were no complete teams (3 to score) in the team event.
U17 Men – 5.2km
Freddie Rowe (Havering AC) won the race in 20:09. Track specialist Luka Norden (7th, 20:52) was first back for Woodford, with a strong run over the country finishing. Daniel Arnold (17th, 22:30) followed with a determined performance, pacing himself sensibly and moving through the field in the second half of the race. Daniel has been looking to regain his confidence over the country and should take confidence from this run. New team-mate Adam Johns (32nd, 29:12) made his county debut for Woodford having joined this summer and enjoyed a strong run after a toe injury restricted training over Christmas. Woodford did not have 4 to score in a team event won by Havering AC.
Team Result (4 to score)
1 Havering AC – 16
2 Chelmsford AC – 33
3 Chelmsford AC B – 65
U17 Women – 5.2km
Chelmsford and Brentwood dominated this race. Alice Padian (24th, 25:45) was Woodford’s sole representative. Alice delivered a trademark fully committed performance. Settling well into the race, she produced a strong finish despite the field becoming spread out over the final lap. It was an excellent effort and valuable county‑level experience for Alice.
Team Result (4 to score)
Chelmsford AC
Basildon AC
Havering AC
U15 Boys – 4.3km
The U15 Boys faced a fast and competitive race, with the leading group breaking away early. The winner was William Hughes (Brentwood Beagles) who won in 15mins 36s.
Woodford’s athletes produced committed runs throughout and packed well in the middle of the race. Eric Frith (24th, 16:38) was first home for Woodford. Eric stepped up well into U15s race, on a course where he was crowned Essex Champion last year as an U13. Thomas Nicholls (40th, 18:12) and Declan O’Brien (48th, 18:42) were next home for Woodford with both finishing strongly in the closing stages.
Unfortunately, Woodford did not have a complete team of 4 for the team competition which was won by Chelmsford AC.
Team Result (4 to score)
1 Chelmsford AC – 432
2 Basildon AC – 543
3 SS Athletics – 64
U15 Girls – 4.3km
The winner was Summer Smith (Brentwood Beagles) who completed the course in 15:36. Woodford’s Chloe Summers (28th, 19:09) led the team home with a composed and confident run, pacing herself well and finishing strongly. Close behind, Sophia Parker (29th, 19:13) ran another fully committed race. Both girls have been superb this winter and push each other on in many of their races. Rosie Muffett (41st, 21:53) produced a good run, maintaining her form despite the race stringing out significantly with teammate Aoife Pearce (44th, 22:22) following to complete the Woodford team.
Team Result (4 to score)
1 Brentwood Beagles – 162
2 Chelmsford AC – 223
3 SS Athletics – 554
4 Basildon AC – 695
5 Brentwood Beagles B – 746
6 Colchester Harriers – 997
7 Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies – 1428
9 Havering AC – 143
U13 Boys – 3.1km
The U13 Boys produced a good strong team performance in a large and competitive field. The winner was Mason Sanford (Chelmsford AC) in 10:51. Woodford’s Henry Richards has been superb this winter and was not far off Mason, with an excellent run to take individual bronze, finishing 3rd in 11:06. Henry qualified for Essex inter counties team and will run for Essex in Liverpool later this month.
Jack Tonge continued his excellent winter with a well‑judged race, placing 10th (12:03) and finishing strongly with teammate Eli Sabb following in 16th (12:22) with one of his best performances to date, gaining places in the latter stages.
Max Tharratt (32nd, 13:01) made his county debut ran well with Ashton Jokhiya (40th, 13:23) and Lukas Sendar (62nd, 15:36) completing the Woodford contingent.
Woodford finished 4th in the team event with all 4 scorers inside the top 35.
Team Result (4 to score)
1 Chelmsford AC – 26
2 Colchester & Tendring AC – 38
3 SS Athletics – 46
4 Woodford Green AC with Essex Ladies – 61
5 Brentwood Beagles – 83
6 Colchester Harriers – 104
7 SS Athletics – 112
8 Havering AC – 142
9 Colchester & Tendring AC – 174 pts
U13 Girls – 3.1km
Madison Kindler (Brentwood Beagles) won the race in 11:17. Madison is a standout performer at both county and national levels. Just behind Madison and the leading pack Woodford’s girls produced one of the club’s strongest team displays.
Lottie Oates (8th, 12:56) led the team home with a superb run, pacing herself well through the early fast section and finishing strongly to secure a top‑ten placing. Just behind her, Sophia Stephenson (9th, 12:58) delivered another excellent performance and improving fast this winter. Chloe Ward (12th, 13:08) and Grace Cherry (16th, 13:25) continued their impressive winters with strong runs. One or two of the team had been suffering with colds over Christmas but they went all out for a medal and deserved their bronze, finishing just two points short of silver!
Poppy Barker (21st) led the next pack of Woodford athletes’ home with Sarah Ramdane (22nd), Maia Lalani (23rd), Gracie Fayinka (26th), Phoebe Woods (31st), Grace Thorpe (35th) and Beatrice Pender (42nd). This is a strong group of girls, and they are now becoming much more familiar racing at County level and stepping up from regular league fixtures.
Team Results – U13 Girls
1 Brentwood Beagles – 23
2 Chelmsford AC – 43
3 Woodford Green – 45 (Bronze)
U11 Essex County Development Race – 1.5km
There are no county medals awarded in this development race, but nevertheless it is very well supported and over 100 athletes took to the start line.
For the boys, Woodford’s Jesse Geller won the race in 5min 26s with a storming finish to lead the team home. Jesse has been outstanding all winter and despite a cold was able to perform on the day. Teammates Dominic Daza (7th, 5:46), George Davies (17th, 6:05) and Noah Gavin (19th, 6:10) forming a formidable quartet which, if county medals had been awarded, would have won team gold.
Further strong runs came from Woodford’s Dylan Williams (29th), Seth Fayinka (33rd), Cassius McQuaid (48th) and Ethan Porter (50th).
Esme Cherry (45th 6:40) led the Woodford girls home with teammate Sofia Lalani (95th, 9:31). The winning girl was Blossom Smith (Brentwood Beagles) who ran 5mins 48s.
Summary
It was a terrific performance from the team, and a historic day with U20 Men (and Senior Men) crowned as county champions. In the juniors, Emily Caton (U20 W) and Henry Richards (U13 B) secured bronze medals and by virtue of top 6 finishes qualified for Essex inter counties team. They were joined by Nathan Wright (U20 M) and Aidan O’Droscoll (U20 Men) and there may be more selected on a discretionary basis.
Essex CC Champs are tricky timing-wise, and whilst numbers were light in certain age groups all the team managers are very grateful for all who compete and take great delight when they see who has arrived on the day!
It's back to league fixtures now and the next regional competition is in Beckenham at the South Of England XC on Saturday January 24th 2026.