Stacey Wheat 3rd Essex team member
Two Cross Country runners from Colchester Harriers Athletics Club this weekend took part in the UK Inter-Counties Championships in Nottingham. Representing Essex on a very muddy course, but otherwise perfect conditions, Stacey Wheat in the U20’s and Ella Neal in the U15 age group tackled the undulating route. Wheat, having just recovered from a hamstring injury completed the course in 54th place and 3rd Essex team member. Neal, who has just come back from breathing problems, took it steady but gained valuable experience crossing the line within the top 200 competitors.
Link to UKA report and full results
25 February 2007 : 53-12 Cross Country League
Emily in good form
The final 53-12 cross country fixture of the season was held at Hylands Park Chelmsford in extemly muddy conditions. Harriers seniors and juniors were in action though both squads were diminished on the day.
The juniors saw an excellent run fron Emily Moore who finished runner up in the under 13 event her highest placing of the campaign, in the same event Kirsty Stratton kept up her fine off road reputation in 4th spot. The under 10 girls saw Katherine Jane-Watts second in what has been an exceptional season for the youngster. The boys also had prize winners in Thomas Illidge 2nd in the under 10's and Natham Innard 5th in the under 16 event.
Other junior finishers were Simon Underwood 39, Matthew Poole 20, Johnathon Poole 27, Callum Ness 54. And for the girls Isabelle Smith 42, Sian Smith 60, and Joanna Illidge 47.
The senior ladies were in good form with Debbie Cattermole having a terrific run to finish second overall, she was backed up by Emily Bowen 15th, Mellisa Dowell who although injured was a good 17th, Dowell won the overall lady of the series. Charlotte Smith (21) , Fran Norris (30), and Rachel Richardson-Wright (35) were running well. The ladies were well backed up by Trisha Stacey (42), Kate Richardson (47), Sharon Smith ( 66), and Caroline Stratton ( 78).
A series of misunderstandings left the Harriers mens team one short for the first time in the history of the league , but the six men buckled down to the task with Paul Spowage 5th leading the way. Also well up was Glenn Doel in 14th spot who has been Harriers most consistent performer this season. Captain Pete West shook off the Essex 20 to finish 17th, while David Wright kept going in 23rd spot. Russell Goodridge 36th and Arthur Whiston 161st were the other green vests to compete. Overall the Harriers finished 4th in the final table.
Link to full results
Bury 20 mile road race
Allen Smalls ran his second 20 mile race in a week in training for the midnight Derbyshire race held over 43 miles of the High Peaks next weekend. For once Smalls was not at his best but still clocked a reasonable 2-02-30 to finish 7th overall. Liz Cahill found the going to tough and failed to finish.
18 February 2007 : Essex 20 Gt. Bromley : Results
West's gold haul
Pete West's hard year of training culminated in a clean sweep of gold medal positions in the over 40 category in the Essex 10k, 10 mile half marathon and now the Essex 20. The hard working West was 9th overall and he also won team silver bringing home the team of Allen Smalls (5th) 1.55.36 (personal best) and the improving Glenn Doel (8th) 2.00.32 (personal best). A great triumph for West who has in the past won the Essex 20.
Double Glory For Ladies
The Essex 20 mile chamiponships held at Hamilton Lodge Colchester saw two of the Colchester Harriers veteran ladies come away with individual medals. Liz Cahill and Liz Cudmore continued their build up for the London Marathon with promising runs to take county prizes. Cahill took the bronze in the over 35 category in 2-40 , while super veteran Liz Cudmore struck silver in the over 55 group in a time of 2-52.
Overall there were 21 finishers for the green vests who were hosting the event. Andy Kearton had a brilliant run and was rewarded with a personal best time of 2.04.53. Chris Sellens in his first ever attempt at the distance showed he had a talent for the longer distance events stopping the clock in 2.06.02. Hot on his heels was the experienced Dave Wright who achieved a personal best at the distance in a time of 2.07.48. John Cottis had a good run finishing in 2.12.29 and new signing Lee Berringer had a good run finishing in a creditable time of 2.15.05.
Other harriers to finish were Tom Cudmore 2.19.30, Greg McDowell 2.19.59, John Carter 2.29, Dave Lacy 2.30 (3rd vet 60), Patrick Marsh 2.33.35 (pb) Liz Cahill 2.40, Paul Barrett 2.44, Doug O 'Neil 2.49, Liz Cudmore 2,52.34, Faye Helliwell 2,57.23 (pb) Simone Aurigi 2,59.43, Fona Clark 3,17.32 and Cliff Baker 3,18.
11 February 2007 : Athletics
Colchester Harriers Louis Persent stepped up a level at the weekend, after he was invited to compete in the Norwich Union European Indoor Trials at Sheffield, in the 400m.Despite not progressing further than the heats, he posted a superb time of 49.62secs. He also gained from the experience of competing with the countries elite athletes, as well as learning from his first ever indoor 400m race.
Michael Holden also had something to cheer last week, when he picked up an award in the under 18 category of the Tendring District sports personality awards.He won his award, on the back of a superb 2006 summer season of athletics, where he improved in every event he competes in,except the long jump.
11 February 2007 : 53-12 X Country League Hilly Field Colchester
Junior 53-12 League
Neale wins again
Colchester Harriers juniors won many awards at the latest 53-12 cross country meeting held at the Hilly fields Colchester. Ella Neale stormed to victory as always in the under 16 girls race with clubmate Jessica Wilson a good 5th. in the under 15 girls the up and coming Annabelle Abbott was in top form leaving the field for dead for her first cross country victory., Kirsty Stratton ( 2) and Joanna Illidge ( 4) made it a day to remember for the team. Final award winner for the girls was in the under 10 event with Katherine Jane Watts a fine 3rd.
The boys had a winner to with the talented Thomas Illidge winning comfortably in the in the under 13 race. Ben Disney ( 2) and Robert Dowell ( 3) helped Harriers dominate the event with Jos owen 5th overall to add to the success. In the under 16's it was Natham Ward flying the flag in 4th spot.
Other Harriers to compete were Sian Smith 58, Cleo Wilson 56, Jessica Wilson 44. And for the boys Simon Underwood 38, Callum Ness 49, Matt Poole 42, Edward Disney 16, Robert Clarke 31, Jonathon Poole 29, Frazer Mcintyre 54, and Curtis Coby 47.
Overall the Harriers juniors were second team on the day.
Mussett produces the goods
The penultimate 53-12 Cross country fixture was held at a tough course at the Hilly Fields Colchester. The Harriers had a good team competing and were led by ex Gt Britain international Adrian Mussett. Mussett stormed away from the start soon losing the chasing pack to come home the winner by a vast distance. Not far behind was team mate veteran runner Paul Spowage in 4th spot. The seven man scoring team was completed by Allan Smalls ( 9 ) , Glenn Doel ( 10 ) , Colin Lewin ( 11) , David Wright ( 22), and Chris Sellens ( 25). The mens team were first.
Mellisa Dowell returned from Injury to lead the green vested ladies home in 9th spot, with Fran Norris showing signs of her old form in 26th place. The reliable Sue Cole was 34th with the other two scorers being Sarah Keely 44th and Fay Helliwell ( 49th ).
Other Harrier finishers were Ben Cooke 40, Rob Gibby 41, Russell Goodridge 46, Nick Hazell 68,Mike West 84, Patrick Marsh 99, John Hill 106, Arthur Whiston 120, Rob Lane 140, and debut man Pete Walker 168.
For the ladies it was Kate Richardson 50, Sue Sorrell 52, Rachel Abbott 54, and Sharon Smith 56.
4 February 2007 : Essex Half Marathon Championships Great Bentley
West is Essex Champion
The Essex half marthon championships were held over a fast and flat course at Gt Bentley with 700 runners making the start line. Harriers had a strong team of distance runners and eight green vests beat the 1-20 barrier.
First home was the prolific Allan Smalls who although suffering from a cold still produced a fine run to finish in 7th spot in a very good fireld of elite runners. Smalls clocked 1-13-31 a new personal best. The Essex 10 mile veteran champion Pete West added the longer distance to his gold medal haul with an excellent run of 1-14-59 ( 12th ) to pip his team mate Colin Lewin 1-15-29 ( 14th ) . Lewin was pleased with the silver over 40 medal in his first season as a veteran runner. Smalls , West, and Lewin , also took the silver team medals behind Springfield Striders.
The next three Harriers home were unluckily pipped to the bronze team medals by Chelmsford AC. Strong runs came from Glenn Doel ( 18th ) 1-15-54 ( personal best by 8 minutes ), Chris Sellens ( 24th ) 1-16-51 , and Andy Kearton ( 25th ) 1-16-57. Just behind them was David Wright also running his fastest ever half marathon in 1-17-29 ( 26th ) with Cameroon Williams ( 50th ) 1-19-42 the final Harrier to bust the 1-20 mark.
Debbut ladies Sarah Kealy 1-47-50 and Sarah Bentley 1-49-00 produced fine debut runs for the Harriers. Fay Helliwell ran her normal consistent race in 1-52-27, with Liz Cahill leading the Colchester girls home in 1-42-01. Fionna Clark was pleased with her time of 1-55-59.
Other Harriers : John Cottis 1-23-54, John Carter 1-31-10, Pat marsh 1-35-48, Artur Whiston 1-47-50, Cliff Baker 1-53-00. Simone Aurighi 1-58-35.
3 February 2007 : South of England Veterans Cross Country Championships
The training and racing schedule of Paul Spowage has been blighted this season
with illness and injury, but when he has been able to race, it has been to a
high level. This was demonstrated on Saturday in the South of England Veterans
Cross Country Championships where he finished 11th overall and 9th V40. The 10k
course was a little long for his liking, but in a strong field this was a good
performance.