The Essex Cross Country relay Championships were held at Stubbers outdoor centre at Upminster and although Harriers had weakened teams due to the National Road Relays good results were still found. An early blow was an injury on the first leg to the (A) Teams men’s Jon Nears which meant the team had to retire. However the green vests spirit came through and they were rewarded with team bronze medals in the mixed team of 4 event thanks to Sarah Stradling, Rebecca Cooke, Mark Harrod and Richard Heath.

Harriers fielded 20 teams on the day with the under 17 men’s team of Ermeas Afewerki, Danny Millward and Max Caulfield a fine 4th in high class company. The B team in the under 17s came 16th and ran well they were Joseph Boden, Sam Shorter and Fergus Crouch. Other junior teams were under 15 girls Ebba Paterson, Madeline Claydon and Milly Presland 7th, under 15 girls B Grace Rothwell, Isabelle Minder and Hannah Rodgers 15th and under 17 ladies Elizabeth Woods, Savannah Harrison and Daisy Hilton 9th.

The senior ladies A team were 10th Samantha Hart, Annette Oakman and Hasnnah Watson, the B team were 22nd Vicky Presland, Helen Thurlow and Louise Yates and the C team 39th Becky Bjotter, Rachel Rodgers and Rachel Richardson-Wright. The B mixed team of James Waterson, Ffion Harris, Cheryl Appleby and Psaul Rodgers came 6th, with the C mixed team of lily Waterson, Sean Gifford, Simon Smith and Colin Ridley 10th.

The men recovered from the shock of losing the A team to run well with all the other 4 teams exceptional runs from Ollie Gifford, Keiron O’Callaghan and Keith Marley the highlights.