Sunday saw Halstead Road Runners host their race in the NESS cross country league at Gosfield School. With the race starting with a lap of the school field before heading through Broaks Wood, which had a fair few boggy patches hidden away under the fallen leaves, then out on to the farmer’s field beyond where the runners from 11 different clubs faced the challenges of running on parts of a motocross track, some steep hill climbs and slippy muddy descents, a few technical sections in the woods and even a newly added water feature. The rain in the days leading up to this race meant the runners were in for an interesting run.
In the men’s race, Wes Atkins was first home for Halstead in 17th place despite take an unplanned dip in the muddy water and running in his 2nd cross country race of the weekend, not far behind in 24th place was Mat Hutley with Nathan Roulson following in 35th. Michael Smith, also running his 2nd race of the weekend, finished in 41st with his running partner, Stephen Metson, 3 places back in 44th.
Another double weekend runner, Gavin Ripton, came home in 84th with Alan Fancy, continuing his rich vein of XC form after Saturday’s race too, completing the scoring team in 107th. Don Wilson came in next in 115th with new new member Aidan Kelly close by in 122nd. Following them was Sam Wolton in 127th and then the double of Dan Roughan and Joby Humm in 160th and 161st respectively. These results meant that Halstead’s men topped the pool B table come the end of the day.
In the ladies race Keely Jordan had a brilliant run, considering the conditions, to bag a top 10 finish in 4th place.
A few places behind, in 17th, was Rachael Roughan with Hannah Ervine completing the scoring side with a strong finish in 35th. Grace Bauckham showed her love for the mud finishing in 47th with Lisa Rodbourn tackling the course to finish in 63rd spot. Another weekend doubler, Anna Bambridge, enjoyed her return to cross country running in 111th position with birthday girl Lauren Ripton, who enjoyed the water feature too much, celebrating with an excellent finish in 118th. Bringing the ladies home, despite an early bath in the water pit, was Jenny Smith in 131st followed by Penny Clarke, getting her chance to run rather than marshal this year, close by in 135th. This meant Halstead’s ladies finished 3rd in their Pool B on the day, meaning that when the results were combined Halstead also finished joint 3rd overall.
It was a day of brilliant of running all round from all at HRR.
Race report BY Steve May
