Smalls leads the way home

Colchester Harriers had a good turn out at the 4th round of the 53:12 Cross Country league at a sunny and freezing course at Wherstead, under the vast expanse of the Orwell bridge.

Angus Holford was destined for 4th place with a mile to go before an injury struck leaving veteran Allen Smalls to cruise past him and finish a superb 5th. Next home was Anthony Barrowclough 10, with the ever improving Paul Rodgers 12, Chris Sellens returned to the fray in 15th, then came John Fryer 20 and a limping Angus Holford 21, final two scorers were Paul Spowage 24 and Jon Nears 25.

The ladies ran well with Ffion Harris an excellent 6th and Rachel Dale 10th, Rachel Taylor 15th and Jo Martin 61 were the scoring team. All round the Harriers were 2nd behind Ipswich Jaffa and remain 2nd in the league.

Other Harriers were Craig Mitchell 39, Alex Sales 42, Graig Scanlan 43, Andrrew Dagge 44, Wayne Cook 55, Jerry Walder 69, David Wright 74, Russell Goodridge 75, Dan marks 76, Dave Gayer 102, Mick Bond 113, Martin Claydon 143. And Rachel Rodgers 66, with Fay Smalls 83.

League Standings after 4 events 1. Ipswich Jaffa 23, 2. Colchester harriers 21, 3. Witham 13, 4. Harwich 11, 5. Springfield 9, 6. Great Bentley 7.

The Juniors were also runners up on the day and were led by Danny Millward in 6th who had run hard the day before in the Essex schools to qualify for the Inter counties Championships. Sam Shorter had a great run in 7th, with Milly Presland a fine 16th and first girl under 13. Then came Theo gardiner 24, Aleaxandra Cobbald-Bell 30, Molly Whiteford 34, Charlie Walder 41, Charlie Parmenter 60, Grace Gardiner 65, Savanna Harrison 74, Isabella Minder 75, Hannah Rodgers 93, Daisy Bullmore 97 and Freya Bilton 109.

At the park runs Wayne Cook was 2nd at CornArd, Debbie Cattermole 1st lady at Mersea and at Colchester Castle 357 took to the line on a freezing morning with Joseph Boden first back for the Harriers in 6th spot clocking 19:19, David Wright just made the top 10, with Richard Boden 11th.