Sunday saw the first race of 2002 in the South Essex County League which saw Thrift Green Trotters, 129 points, make it three wins in a row.

Billericay Striders, with a men's team badly affected by injuries to scoring runners, had to settle for fourth place with 236 points.

In Division Two, Havering Joggers narrowly beat the host club Pitsea runners by just 15 points.

The race, set up by Pitsea Runners, was a three lap four and a half mile course at One Tree Hill in Langdon Country Park with plenty of steep climbs combined with narrow muddy woodland paths.

Greg Deacon from Castle Point Joggers was the first man home in a time of 27 minutes and 16 seconds and Elizabeth Moore from East Essex Triathletes made it three wins in a row in a time of 34 minutes and 46 seconds.

For Billericay Striders, Crispian Bloomfield maintained his good form by finishing in sixth position with Rachel Moss returning to the Women's team to finish third, in the woman's race.

The next race in the Cross Country League will take place on February 10 at Stubbens Activity Centre.

Published Tuesday January 15, 2002