THE THIRD round of the Essex Cross League saw 31 Harriers toeing the line
at Braintree Discovery Centre. Many of the teams seemed weekened by
illness, Christmas shopping and work, not least Thurrock Harriers.
However Thurrock Athletes shon brightly in the perfect winter sunshine
and on the demanding course.
Top team and individual performance came in the under 13 boys race.
Harry Parker ran superbly to finish 2nd which also consolidated his 2nd
position overall. As in the first two matches he was storngly supported
by Ben Prior (13th) and Finlay Lowe (14th) with Mason Hambledon 28th.
This group look very likely to challenge for the Essex Championship
early next month. Also running well in the race were Henri Willett
(38th) and Ross Livingstone (51st). The under 17 men retained their 3rd
place in the league. Jodie Meredith produced his consistently strong
man performance to finish 11th, Sam Smith was a little below form in
finishing 27th but he will be back! Oliver Mann, making his cross
country debut, can take satisfaction from his 34th place. Fortunately
Luke Strudwicke picked himself up from a mid race crisis to finish
which earned the team 4th place on the day and overall 3rd in the
league table.
In the senior men’s race it was great to see Alex Houghton back in the
first 20. This gifted athlete, whose training is restricted by work
demands, was delighted to finish 16th. Scott Rice remained in touch
with individual medals in the V40 group by finishing 33rd. Don Lawless,
in a rich seam of form, was 2nd in the V50 group and 58th overall.
Other senior finishers were the improving Keith Willett 23rd, Jon
Metcalf 82nd, Iain Scott 105th (big personal best), Paul Mitchell 117th
(pb) and Bernie Johnson 129th.
Thurrock fielded 2 in the senior women’s race and both showed good
form. Toni Noble finished 20th and 5th in the V35 group and Jodie
Farrell pb’d in 30th place (4th in FV45).
The under 15 boys team produced a solid performance: Jack Exley 17th,
Taylor Newell 18th, Sarab Dhillon 31st, Reece Scott 37th which secured
5th place in the team race.
The under 15 girls race Amber Pullinger’s pb run in 8th place was an
encouraging performance. In the same race Heather Peters was 17th and
Lucy Ball was 19th. Brooke Mensah had her best race of the winter to
finish 11th in the under 17 girls race. Other female finishers came in
the under 13 group where Keira Scott and 18th, Amy Raven was 26th and
Stevie Critchall 32nd.
