Colchester Harriers’ athletes were in cross-country action this week with the annual county championships for junior and veteran age groups taking place at Writtle University College on Saturday.

With the wind blowing and a muddy course it was proper cross-country racing and Colchester’s women once again led the way with team captain Tracy English running a characteristically brave race to finish an excellent third overall (and 2^nd V45) despite carrying an injury.  English was backed up by strong performances from the Sarah Stradling (11^th overall, 4^th V45), Alexandra Hennessey and Annette Oakman as Harriers took the silver medal in the V40 team competition narrowly missing out on gold to Springfield Striders. Strong performances from Denise Morley (9th overall, 2^nd V50), Kate Gibson, Melissa Dowell and Susan Waller-Toyne saw Harriers go one better in the V50 event, fighting off strong competition from both Orion Harriers and Ilford AC to take the top position on the podium, whilst Jenny Richardson won bronze in the V60 event.

Harriers’ men’s V50 and V60 teams were in the medals too.  The V50 team came away with gold thanks to Colin Ridley (4^th overall, 2^nd V55), Allen Smalls (5^th overall, 3^rd V50), Paul Spowage (13^th overall, 4^th V55) and Kevin Higgins (15^th) – the team successfully defending their title, pipping Orion Harriers and Springfield Striders in a very close fought competition.  Meanwhile the “supervet” quartet of Paul Mingay (11^th overall, 1^st V60), Chris Stevenson, Dave Wright and Arthur Whiston took bronze in the inaugural V60 competition, whilst Jonathon Nears (10^th) and Dan Widdowson (11^th) both put in excellent individual performances in the V40 category.

The green vests had enjoyed an excellent start to the day in the junior events as emerging talent Isla Widdowson took silver in a tight finish in the Under 13 Girls’ event, with Eva Butler 21^st and Sarah Callender 28^th.  Lyla Belshaw had then gone one better for her club in the Under 15 Girls’ race, coming home first with a comfortable margin of 40 seconds over her closest rival with Beatrice Sayer also running a strong race in 16^th place, whilst Harrison Leek placed 16^th in the Boys’ event.

Meanwhile, in somewhat warmer conditions, Mark McKeown ran a superbly paced 2:38:08 in the Valencia Marathon, taking over 2 minutes off his previous best time and recording the fastest time by a Colchester runner in a marathon this year.

Full Colchester Essex Cross Country Championships results:

U13 Girls:  2^nd Isla Widdowson, 21^st Eva Butler, 28^th Sarah Callendar.

U15 Girls: 1^st Lyla Belshaw, 16^th Beatrice Sayer

U15 Boys: 16^th Harrison Leek

Veteran Women:  3^rd Tracy English (2^nd V45), 9^th Denise Morley (2^nd V50),  11^th Sarah Stradling, 20^th Alexandra Hennessey, 23^rd Annette Oakman, 31^st Kate Gibson, 38^th Melissa Dowell, 53^rd Susan Waller-Toyne, 59^th Jenny Richardson (3^rd V60).

V40 Men: 10^th Jonathan Nears, 11^th Dan Widdowson, 31^st Paul Rodgers, 45^th Jerry Walder, 59^th Ian Rattray, 60^th Daniel Meecham, 65^th Dan Macey.

V50+ Men: 4^th Colin Ridley (2^nd V55), 5^th Allen Smalls (3^rd V50), 11^th Paul Mingay (1^st V60), 13^th Paul Spowage, 15^th Kevin Higgins, 29^th Peter West, 34^th Paul Dellar, 36^th Russell Goodridge, 45^th James Waterson, 47^th David Hilson, 48^th Simon Smith, 56^th Chris Stevenson, 64^th Dave Wright, 112^th Arthur Whiston (2^nd V70).