53-12 XC – Writtle College

Harriers maintain second spot

Colchester Harriers  Cross Country season is drawing to a close with just one remaining fixture at Ipswich in the 53-12 league remaining  The green vests standard was to win the Essex XC league with the rest of the squad gaining second place overall in the 53-12 league, and also winning as many team medals in the Championship XC races as possible. This is nearly all achieved with just a reasonable result at Ipswich enough to sow up this final requirement.

The  penultimate race was held for the first time at Writtle College grounds and was a testing course and enjoyed by all who took part. The ladies who have maintained a high team spot all season did it again finishing 2nd team  with Rebecca Cooke 4th, Lyn Higgs 8th, Annette Oakman 12th, and Kate Priestley 24th, producing the goods for Harriers.

The men also ran well for third spot, although the numbers are dwindling due to road Marathon training now under way. Mark Harrod 10th, Jon Nears 14th, and John Fryer 18th had great runs. Fryer has now nearly recovered from his major accident of two years ago and Harriers are a better team when Fryer is on form.  Then came army man Alex Sales on his debut in 31st spot, with evergreen Martyn Clarke 33rd, Pete West 37th, and Russell Goodridge 39th. Another debut man Chris Mitchell was 46th and final scorer for Harriers. Just missing out was David Wright 48th, then came Don Foster 54th, and Dan Wilkinson 96th.

League positions Pool A going into final race

Place Team Points
1 Ipswich Jaffa 30
2 Colchester Harriers 23
3 Springfield Striders 19
4 Great Bentley 16
5 Harwich 9
6 Hadleigh 8

 

Juniors

In the junior league Colchester Harriers were runners up behind Ipswich Jaffa. Ziggy Lambton continued his recent form to finish 3rd and 1st under 13 boy, with the talented Milly Presland 2nd under 13 and 23rd overall, Lilly Waterson was 3rd under 13. Others to run were Archie French 7, Alex Williamson 8, Joseph Boden 9, Megan Philbin 44, Molly Whiteford 63, Francesca Williamson 71, and Emily McGill 74.

Park Runs

Great run by Cattermole

Debbie Cattermole is bang on form, the Colchester Harrier Veteran produced a time of 21-13 for 5th place overall and 1st lady at the windy Harwich event. Cattermoles time was a new age group over 50 record by over 5 minutes.

Martyn Clarke swept to victory at the Great Cornard event in 19-24, with Drew Olley 4th in 19-43.

Youngster Max Caulfield is only 14 but the  Harrier stormed to victory out of 286 runners at the Castle Park race  in an incredible personal best time of 18-18. Ian Haw was 3rd and fast returning to form clocking 18-57, David Wright was again just over the 19 minute mark, clocking 19-04 for 5th place. Richard Boden was close behind in 7th 19-21.

Rachel Dale was first again in 20-47 with Helen Bloomfield 2nd in 21-24 . Fran Norris ran well in 23-36,Mellissa Wyard ran 27-05,  while Fay Smalls is recovering from illness finished  in 30-14.  Other Harriers  to finish wereAndy Raynor 20-25, Gary Rayner 20-43, Dan Wilkinson 21-13, Pat marsh 21-52, Andrew Dagge 22-26, and Brian Smith 23-45.