ESSEX XC LEAGUE ROUND 2.
Saturday saw Round 2 of the Essex XC league being held at Gloucester Park in Basildon. The venue is well known for having some challenging hills and even with the new route they still managed to squeeze 3 climbs in on each lap.The weather conditions were perfect for running and the recent rain meant conditions underfoot were soft but not too muddy. In the U20/Senior ladies race, first HRR lady home over the 7k course and continuing her fine start to the xc season was Hayley Lamkin, in 14th position out of the 156 runners. Another strong run from Rachael Roughan brought her home in 49th spot. In 82nd place was Anoushka Springett with Emma Healy a few places behind in 93rd and Wendy Carter a few places further back in 100th. Bringing the ladies team home was Lisa Rodbourn with a fine run in 113th place. In the men’s U20/Senior race which was a 3 lap race over 9k, Steve May was the 1st HRR home in 154th position out of the 282 men running. Next home in 190th place was Bob Langley with Gav Ripton, (who only just made the start arriving about 5 mins before due to being stuck in traffic), 3 places behind in 193rd. Following them was Darren Powell in 239th and Andy Carter bringing the men home in 247th. Well done everyone running today. Day 2 of the XC weekend double header is tomorrow at Writtle for the NESS LEAGUE.
NESS XC LEAGUE
The first race of the NESS XC league took place on Sunday at Writtle College. The rain from the previous evening had luckily stopped come race time but it meant conditions underfoot were wet and slippy, perfect XC conditions really. The rain led to last minute route change which surprisingly included a footbridge with a stile which caused a bit of a bottleneck as runners queued to cross it.
First home for Halstead’s men was newcomer to the club, in his 1st HRR race, Matt Thomas in a brilliant 12th place out of the 171 men running. howing his current strength in running Mike Smith put in a great performance to finish in 28th position.
Two places behind and taking part in his first ever XC was Reece Hearn in 30th place with HRR stalwart and ultra runner Nathan Roulson not far behind in 33rd. Chris Lloyd, another XC debutant, ran well to finish in 52nd. Completing the men’s scoring team was yet another XC first timer, changing his road shoes for trails, Ben Ryder came home in 62nd spot. Steve May, running his 2nd XC of the weekend, was soon home in 65th position. Birthday boy Gav Ripton, also running in his 2nd XC of the weekend finished in 97th place. Sam Wolton put in a great run as always, to finish not far behind in 110th, followed by a strong finish from another HRR 1st timer, Macer Twydell, in 128th. The final 2 men home for Halstead after great runs were Dan Roughan & Phil Jeffries in 133rd & 145th respectively. In the ladies race, of which there were 106 competitors, Vikki Suett continued her comeback from injury with a strong run to finish in 7th place. Caroliena Cameron carried on her recent off road running form to come home in 39th spot with Anoushka Springett, seemingly loving her 1st season in the mud and also running her 2nd XC of the weekend finishing well in 48th.
Another double racer of the weekend, Emma Healy, had another good performance to finish 2 places back in 50th.
Mandy Humm was the next home, 1 place behind in 51st with Wendy Carter, completing her XC double header, hot on her heels in 52nd position. Ladies captain, Victoria Metson, continued her return from injury, with a strong race finishing in 85th place.
Meg Hollinshead, running her 1st XC of the season, came home in 89th place with Treena Carder right behind her in 90th.
The final 3 ladies home in quick succession were Jane Roach in 94th, Jo Roulson, making her long awaited return to the XC scene, in 96th and Jenny Smith bringing the ladies over the line in 98th. These brilliant results meant Halstead men finished in 1st place in the Pool B, with the ladies finishing 2nd in their respective Pool B.Overall, with the results combined on the day. Halstead Road Runners currently sit in 1st place in the league.
JUNIOR XC TEAM
First XC of the season for the junior team in the NESS LEAGUE today at Writtle.
For the boys Toby Metson was first back in 29th place out of 43 boys running with Jacob Root not far behind in 36th.
In the girls race Amalie Twydell, who was making her debut for HRR and running her 2nd XC of the weekend, was first back in 11th place out of the 58 girls running. Martha May, also running her 2nd race of the weekend was not far behind in 16th. Hannah Root was next home in 31st place with the Smith sisters filling the final 2 spots, Robyn in 56th and younger sister Rosie, making her XC debut bringing the club home in 58th.
Well done juniors. You did HRR proud!!
