Winter season over at last !

The curtains finally closed on another long Cross Country season for Colchester Harriers which commenced in mid September with the Essex Cross Country relays at Hockley. Both mens and ladies team have been in the medals at every winter championship and the icing on the cake was the men winning the tough Essex league. The 53-12 series are still very competitive and over the 30 years of the league have become more so, and Harriers although not running the faster runners in the club at these races always try to finish in the top two of the league as a standard.

The final race was held at the very pleasant Suffolk food Hall, under the Orwell Bridge, and was a good way to finish the season. A chilly morning met the runners but once underway things warmed up quickly.

Colchester Harriers only needed to finish a full team on the day to take runners up spot in the league final standing and on the day produced 2nd spot for both men and ladies to further cement their placing behind Ipswich Jaffa.

Chris Sellens the Essex Marathon Champion warmed up for next weeks Essex 20 mile Championships with a big victory taking it easy on the first lap before leaving the field in his wake on the final lap. Sellens victory spurred the green vests on, and a gaggle of Harriers then came home led by Jon Nears 9, Mark Harrod 12, and Paul Rodgers 13, then completing the 8 scoring men were a vastly improved John Fryer 17, captain Pete West 22, Tom Vasepugh 22,and anchor man Martyn Clarke 33. The ladies super veteran  Denise Morley make her normal one appearance in the 53-12  league every season and come home an excellent 5th, the other 3 scorers were Ella Neale 8, Lyn Higgs 11, and Rachel Taylor 14. Also backing the ladies team up were Fran Norris 32, and Rachel Richardson-Wright 63. The other Harrier men to complete the course were Russell Goodridge 37, Craig Mitchell 39, Dan Foster 48, Tim Ballard 49, david Wright 53, Chris Manby 56,debut man David Harbrow 61, Kevin McAlinden 65, Richard Millward 66, and Pat Marsh 116.

First 3 men’s teams

First 3 ladies teams

Final league placings Pool A

Juniors

The juniors were also runners up in the 53-12 Junior league overall final placings a good result for them. Harriers to compete in the 129 strong field were Danny Millward 4, Joseph Boden 7, Alex Williamson 11, Elizabeth Perry 50, Molly Whiteford 65, Grace Gardiner 67, Charlie Waldron 71, Hannah Rodgers 76, Amber Fisher 91, Isobella Minder 98, Amelia Dean 99, Francesca Williamson 112.

National Cross Country Championships

At the National cross Country Championships second claim Harrier Angus Holford had a superb race coming 157th out of a field of 1730 finishers.