Springfield Striders had a busy weekend with teams competing in the Essex Road Relays on Saturday and the final Mid Essex Cross Country League fixture on Sunday.
Once again the ladies were to the fore with Liz Turk, Denise Reed and Julie Hurst Smith finishing in a splendid fifth place in the relays behind Havering, Colchester & Tendring A & B and Thurrock (all teams packed with runners of County standard and higher).
The ladies B team of Ann Claydon, Janet Hill and Jean Driscoll also ran well on the slightly longer than usual course around Melbourne and Newlands Spring.
The men fielded a weakened team, but still managed a creditable eighth place, and the veteran men's team was also highly placed.
Kevin Harris was the fastest Strider in 19.01, Lindsay Broadbridge fastest vet (21.14) and Liz Turk fastest lady in 23.05.
Liz Turk and Denise Reed turned their attention to the final cross country meeting of the season at Little Baddow, the following morning, and posted a superb one two to lead the Striders to victory.
The men also fielded a stronger team than usual for this league, and produced the winner in Vic Spain, who was obviously recovered from his efforts at the relays.
With Simon Green, Phil Claydon, Paul Harris, Rob Rodie, Alec Coleman, John Beaumont and Dave Jellicoe all in the top 12, the Striders romped to an easy win.
Muddy courses with lots of hills strangely seem to attract more runners and there was the largest turn out of ladies of the season, including Ann Claydon, Laura Graham, Janet Hill, Suzanne Kuyser, Helen Walker and Theresa Tremain for the Striders.
The Striders are, as usual, organising a coach trip for runners to the London Marathon on April 16.
Anyone interested in booking a seat should contact John Elliott on 01245 440780.
The Striders web page is www.springfield.striders.btinternet.co.uk
The Striders' relay times were: Kevin Harris 19.01, Mark Healey 20.36, Vic Spain 20.46, Simon Green 21.06, Paul Harris 21.13, Lindsay Broadbridge 21.14, Dave Norman I 21.18, Rob Rodie 21.53, John Beaumont 22.10, Pete Tremain 22.17, Richard Taylor 22.38, Julian Catmull 22.41, Alan Wheelhouse 23.00, Liz Turk 23.05, Denise Reed 23.31, Julie Hurst Smith 24.24, Ann Claydon 26.36, Janet Hill 29.19 and Jean Driscoll 32.33
The Striders' Little Baddow positions were (men); 1st Vic Spain 3rd Simon Green 5th Phil Claydon 7th Paul Harris 9th Rob Rodie 10th Alec Coleman 11th John Beaumont 12th Dave Jellicoe 14th Julian Catmull 18th Richard Taylor 20th Ken Edwards 23rd Mark Jeffrey 29th John Williams 32nd Kevin Wright 44th Ivan Howlett 46th Richard Jellicoe 47th Neil Bradley and 50th Dave Moxon. (Ladies): 1st Liz Turk, 2nd Denise Reed, 7th Ann Claydon, 9th Laura Graham, 10th Janet Hill, 13th Suzanne Kuyser, 16th Helen Walker, 17th Theresa Tremain.
The team result was: Springfield 113 points, Grange Farm 216 points, Witham 287 points, Dovedale 307 points and Little Baddow 384 points.
First man: Springfield Striders member Vic Spain, who won the final cross country meeting of the season at Little Baddow.
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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