The penultimate round of this season’s Essex Cross Country League saw a return to Hilly Fields, Colchester where Halstead Road Runners had recorded a great result the previous week in the NESS league. On this occasion the Senior Women ran a 2 lap 4 mile route that included some tough climbs and the competition was even tougher with all of the top Essex clubs represented. Hayley Lamkin continued her excellent form with 12th place out of the 132 athletes who finished. Next to cross the line for Halstead was Rachael Roughan 51st, Caroliena Cameron 63rd and Noush Springett 70th, completing the 4 women scoring team. Emma Healy and Wendy Carter were close behind in 79th and 87th respectively with Victoria Metson 107th, Jody Smith 112th and Maryann Sycamore 119th. The team placed 3rd in Division 2 and now sit in 4th overall with an outside chance of securing a top 3 end to the season and promotion to Division 1.   Halstead’s men only numbered 5 so one short of a scoring team but they still gave their all on the 5 mile 2 lap course that saw no fewer than 271 finishers. James North led the yellow vests home with 140th position, followed by Gavin Ripton 204th, Perry James 221st, Andy Carter 248th and Darren Powell 251st.