Southend Sport
Harrier Holloway is making up for lost time
6:30pm Friday 3rd February 2012
GEMMA Holloway’s remarkable rise this winter continued with a fantastic bronze medal at the South of England Cross-Country Championships.
The 14-year-old, from Grays, already had Essex League, Essex Schools, Essex Championship and Eastern Championship titles to her name before winning bronze in what was the biggest race of her career to date at the Southerns in Brighton.
The Thurrock Harrier’s success is even more remarkable given she was out of the sport injured for almost a year.
Doctors diagnosed the teenager with Sever’s Disease – a condition which causes severe pain in the heel and makes it almost impossible to run with – and Gemma was forced to take time out from the sport she loves.
Like most runners, the William Edwards School pupil loves the thrill of racing, but the sport also provides an outlet for another condition she has had to live with, Asperger’s Syndrome.
“I can’t make her sit still,” said proud mum Julie. “She loves her running so much, so for her to spend so much time out injured was tough.
“At one point there was even talk of her having to be in plaster for six months.
“That would have been so hard on her because her running is her life. It gives her something to focus on.
“She has had her problems at school with bullying and other kids picking on her. It’s difficult trying to explain to other people of her age that she is not ignoring them or being rude to them, it’s just the way she is.”
Fully recovered from her injuries, Gemma has without doubt been the surprise package of the cross-country season in this county.
Prior to this season, her best performance in county competition had been a seventh placed finish as an under-13 in the Essex League.
So it was with something of a surprise that she won the first under-15 Essex League fixture of the season at Braintree.
And she hasn’t looked back since, winning two more Essex League fixtures – and only missing out on another because of a wrong turning – as well as winning two county titles.
And mum Julie said it was just about convincing her daughter she could compete at the top level.
“We didn’t think she would do as well as she has done,” said Julie. “She has always had that drive and focus. But she has had to overcome a lot of things and had to get over a lot of hurdles mentally.
“Now she knows she can compete with the best girls.”
Another hurdle she cleared impressively on Saturday was competing in a huge field – something that again could have been a problem with her condition.
“It was her first real big event,” said Julie. “There were 200-odd girls on the start line and it was quite daunting for her.
“I didn’t want her to walk to the starting line and see them all there and freeze because of her condition, so we got her there early.”
There was no need to fear Gemma panicking as she took it all in her stride.
She came round the first of two laps in fifth position and worked her way further up the field until she was locked in a battle with Guernsey’s Katie Rowe for the final spot on the podium.
“It was cat and mouse for the final 200m and then Gemma sat off her for a bit letting her think she had done it before sprinting past her,” said Julie. “It shows the race tactics are coming along too. I was so proud.”
The big races keep on coming for the Grays teenager, with the English Nationals, Intercounties Championships and English Schools all coming up before the end of March.
“Every week she has got a big race,” Julie said. “It’s quite exhausting.”
Gemma herself said: “I love running and representing my county is fantastic, but my goal is to one day represent run for Great Britain.”
*WHILE Gemma Holloway trailed in under-15 girls winner Bobby Clay in Brighton, Jessica Judd was surprisingly beaten by another member of the same family, Bobby’s older sister Alex.
Judd, 17, typically took the under-17s race to her rivals in the early stages but was doggedly pursued by a chase pack led by Clay.
Ultimately, the Canvey teenager was hauled back and overtaken by the Kent-based athlete, but dug in well to keep hold of a silver medal.
Both Clays run for Invicta East Kent.