The two Southend Highs plus Rayleigh's Fitzwimarc all looked for the silver lining with considerable success in Yorkshire on Saturday.

They were battling for glory in the 20th English Schools' Cross-Country Cup final at Tadcaster Grammar School and the trio collected impressive runners-up spots.

Individual honours for south-east Essex again went to Southend High's Adam Hickey, who repeated his 1999 success in the junior boys event with victory in 11 mins. 23 secs. However, this time Southend were unable to repeat last years' team success. They trailed in by an agonising eight points with St Anselms College, Birkenhead, victorious on 88 to their 96 tally.

Hickey's back-up in the scoring team came from David Crichton (third) 11.36, Paul Gregory (43rd) 12.39 and James Burnett (49th) 12.45.

Greensward College, called into the competition late on when one of the qualifying teams were disqualified, finished a creditable 15th with Neal Birnie their top finisher in 26th spot on 12.31.

The Southend High junior girls, third last year, moved up to second with Jenni Lawton their top finisher in sixth place in 9.35. She got excellent support from Jade Blackman (16th) 9.48, Nicole Schade (31st) 9.55 and Amy Hinds (40th) 10.09.

Southend finished on 93 points with winners St Edmunds, Salisbury, triumphant with 76.

Fitz's runners-up spot - Wolfreton School, East Riding were clear winners with 53 against their 101 - saw all four scoring members pack into the top 50 . . . three in the leading 22.

Annie Lingard was first home for the Rayleigh school in 11th position in 11.00 with backing coming from Laura Myers (19th) 11.12, Nikita Aspinell (22nd) 11.18 and Sophie Gahagan (49th) 11.47.

Southend High provided the highest south-east Essex finisher in this race through Kristina Marshall (sixth) in 10.47 and they finished ninth with 177 points.

Southend High were seventh in the intermediate boys with Elliot Paul their first runner home in 30th place in 16.01. They totalled 160 points.

The event, despite recent flooding up north, was held in pleasant dry and mild weather conditions. A total of 24 schools battled for each team prize and there were fields averaging out at the 140 mark - numbers that illustrate the huge strength of the sport in south-east Essex to haveachieved such good results.

(right) Determination - Southend High's Adam Hickey (109) is on his way to another victory.

(left) Get stuck in - Southend High's Kristina Marshall, who was top local finisher sixth from a 141 field in the intermediate girls, sets out hotly pursued by team-mates Jo Butterworth (122) and Rosie Williamson (124).

Pictures: LUAN MARSHALL

By Dick Marshall

Reporter's e-mail: dick.marshall@notes.newsquest.co.uk

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