Southend Sport
Athletes finish Essex League with a flourish
5:10pm Friday 20th January 2012
THE final overall positions for this year’s Essex Cross-Country League were confirmed after the last race of the series at Epping.
South Essex athletes Jodie Judd, Kiera Tippett, Brandon Thorpe, Millie Smith, Adam Houchell, Lawrence Willmore, Kaylee Dodd and Alexa Joel all did enough to secure top three finishes in their respective age divisions after strong runs on a frozen day in west Essex.
Most of the individual winners had already been confirmed prior to Saturday’s racing, including Max Jones (Basildon AC, under-13 boys), Gemma Holloway (Thurrock Harriers, under-15 girls), George Elliott (Chelmsford AC under-15 boys) and Jessica Judd (Chelmsford AC, senior women).
None of these four athletes started the final fixture leaving the door open for other runners to shine.
In the under-13 girls, Canvey’s Jodie Judd took her first win of the league series ahead of King John School pupil Kiera Tippett who was celebrating her 13th birthday.
Also making the top 10 were Basildon AC duo Niamh Smith (fourth) and Jemima Walker (fifth). Southend AC’s Natasha May was sixth and Thurrock Harriers’ Ellie Smith seventh.
Southend AC’s Brandon Thorpe was second in the under-13 boys race, finishing ahead of a string of Basildon athletes that included Ollie Cantwell (third), Joe Kidd (fourth) and Mason Webb (fifth).
Mitchell Cox finished was the fourth scorer for Basildon, in eighth place, which ensured the New Towners comfortably topped the team standings.
Also running well were Southend’s Toby Wright (sixth) and Thurrock’s Sam Smith (eighth).
Basildon AC’s Maisie Jones, below, produced a great run to win the under-15 girls race, while Rayleigh’s Millie Smith (Chelmsford AC) was not far behind in third and Benfleet’s Victoria Hiscock was fourth.
Strong packing by the Basildon youngsters ensured they took the team victory as Poppy Aitmarri (sixth), Isobel Ives (ninth) and Tilly Aitmarri (23rd) all ran strongly.
Houchell was an impressive winner in the under-15 boys race, fending off the challenge of Lawrence Willmore (second), while his Basildon AC team-mate Daniel Ashley ran well to finish third.
And with Christian Gray ninth and Stephen Davies 11th, it was a comfortable team win for Basildon AC. Southend AC’s Adam Jordan was fourth and Benfleet’s Adam Foster seventh.
It was a sea of red in the under-17 men’s race as Southend AC filled four of the top seven places.
Rob Frith was the first Seasider home in second place, followed by Ben Franklin (fourth), Ashley Capel (fifth) and Steven Hancock (seventh) as they took the team top spot.
Also making the top 10 was Thurrock’s Alec Finch in eighth.
Kaylee Dodd led her Basildon team to victory in the under-17 women’s race with a fine second place. Following her in were team-mates Amy Webb (third), Emily Bullis (fifth), Jade Peel (sixth), Emily Ballard (ninth) and Eleanor Johnson (10th).
Alexa Joel was a comfortable winner in the senior women’s race, with Anna Whitfield (Basildon AC) coming home in third.
Benfleet duo Dominique Ballard and Charlotte Peppiatt were closely matched with Ballard just edging out her team-mate for fourth place. And their high placings provided the foundation for a Benfleet team victory with Catherine Stunt (14th) and Jacqui Watson (!5th) making up the scoring team.
Southend AC’s Sarah Jeffrey was ninth, Basildon’s Nicola Bredin 10th and Pitsea’s Rachel Flannigan an excellent 11th.
The senior men’s race saw Basildon AC’s John Briggs finish fifth ahead of team-mate Grant Webb (seventh ) and Thurrock Harriers’ Alex Houghton (10th).