Senior Men 8th at Essex Cross Country Relays

A single senior men's team of four, all keen for some race-fitness ahead of the first Met League in three weeks, made the short journey to Weald Country Park, near Brentwood, for the Essex Cross Country Relays. The standout performance was from Joel Doye (21'53") who came in second on leg 1 of the 4 x 4 mile race.

Having bided his time with the lead group on the first of two laps, Joel broke away on a fast downhill stretch with a mile to go. His 10 metre lead at the top of the final long hill was not quite enough to hold off a late surge from Colchester and Tendring's Sam Driscoll, but he gained a significant scalp by beating Colchester Harriers' Ramadan Osman into fourth. Joel handed over to Peter Caton (26:15), Rob Wilbraham (27'53), and Angus Holford (22'38"), who all enjoyed solid runs, in line with their current fitness. The team finished 8th in 1h38:41, in a race won by Ilford from Havering and Southend. As these opposition now retreat to the Essex League we will next meet them in Basildon for the main Essex Championships in January, where Joel will surely challenge for the Junior title, and a fuller strength senior team will aim to retain theirs.