Cross Country season off to a tough double

Colchester Harriers kicked off the league Cross country season with a tough double of matches at Horseheath Cambridgeshire for the Essex league and Writtle College for the 53:12 league.

Essex League

Great early news was from under 17’s Hannah Watson and Max Caulfield who’s performances on the day earned them Southern Inter Counties vests for Essex. The senior ladies team finished a good 4th behind Chelmsford, Basildon and Havering, with Sarah Stradling 6th and first over 40 veteran and Debbie Cattermole 1st over 50 lady.

Harriers finishers were Under 17 girls Hannah Watson 8, Elizabeth Woods 26, Daisy Hilson 37, Lily Waterson 38. Under 17 men Max Caulfield 5, Danny Millward 17, Fergus Crouch 29. Under 13 girls Alexandra Bell-Cobbald 17, Daisy Bullamore 44. Senior ladies Sarah Stradling 6, Sarah Sellens 19, Ellla Neale 23, Samantha Hart 24, Debbie Cattermole 27, Ellie Cumner 36. Senior men Adrian Mussett 2, Angus Holford 7, Ramadam Osman 9, Joe Alexandra 19, Allen Smalls 32,Chris Sellens 35, Colin Ridley 40, Andy Jobling 45, Oscar Dawson 46, Paul Spowage 72, Pete West 83, James Waterson 99, Simon Smith 121, David Hilson 136.

53:12 League

The 53:12 XC League commenced at Writtle College over a popular 5 mile course. Although Harriers men’s team were weakened from the Essex xc league meeting the day previous the ladies saved the day with a powerful performance to finish 2nd just pipped by Ipswich Jaffa. The men were 4th running bravely and with the ladies 2nd the combined score gave the green vests 2nd on the day going into the second round at Ramsey this week. The ladies were marshalled superbly by young Hannah Watson who shrugged off her previous days race to finish 4th and was well supported by Andrea James 8, Rachel Taylor 15, Jo Marks 17, Ffion Harris 22, Jenny Richardson 33 and Rachel Richardson-Wright who took a fall 103. For the men the King twins return to cross country was a big success with Daniel King 7th and Dominic King 14th, then came Jon Nears 39, Alex Sales 41, Richard Flutter 47, Jamie Nelson 59, Russell Goodridge 71, Simon Smith 73, David Wright 79, Fergus Crouch 86, Nicholas Kricka 96,Michael Burrows 127, Dan Wilkinson 135, Martin Claydon 143 and Simon Miller 145.

The junior harriers finished 3rd overall a good start for them, Sam Hawkes had a terrific run coming home 5th while Milly Presland scorched round the course and was 1st girl and 13th overall. Other finishers were 18 Theo Gardiner, 23 Lee Harrison, 28 Madeline Claydon, 42 Grace Gardiner, 58 Savannah Harrison, 60  Isabella Minder, 66 Jon Longstaff, 67 Rachel Sale, 69 Amber Finder, 77 Daisy Bullmore, 79 Michael Woods.

Other Results

Laura Shewbridge clocked one of the fastest ever times by a Harrier lady over 10 miles clocking a superb 1:03:17 in breezy conditions at the Fenland event.

At the Abingdon marathon it was mixed results for a handful of Harriers Rachel Dale was the run of the day in a personal best 3:30, Richard Millward was also pleased with 3:25 as was Dan Wilkinson 3:53 who has struggled with injury, Simon Wilson struggled in 4:08.

Annette Oakman was 1st veteran 45 at the run for Bud in Birmingham.

Richard Flutter was 6th at The Chelmsford 5km in 18:54 and was in the winning team with Chris Panton 20:20 and Keiron O’Callaghan 23:32, Debbie Cattermole was 1st veteran over 50 in 21:54.

At the Chelmsford marathon Richard Heath was 7th overall in 2:58, with Malcolm Statham clocking 3:57.

The last two Colchester Castle park runs saw Ramadam Osman, Daniel King, Mark Harrod, Andy Jobling, Paul Rodgers and Andy Raynor the first six home in a field of 333, followed by a field of 323 with James Wright 4, Jon Nears 5, Andy Raynor 6, Richard Boden 12 and David Wright 14.

The Dolgellau park run in mid Wales saw a record low field of 14 runners as storm Brian raged around the valleys. David Wright was 1st and Rachel Richardson-Wright 11th.

Malcolm Statham ran the Blackwater marathon in 4:11 to finish second overall.

Daniel King in action at teh 53:12XC Writtle

Laura Shewbridge at the Fenland 10