Youngsters from Thundersley's King John School reigned supreme when Southend Athletic Club staged their second Lisa Gahagan Memorial Trophy cross-country race over a 3000 metres course in Belfairs Park.

With a starting line-up of 35, Sarah Raven was the overall winner in a time of 12 mins 06 secs with younger sister Carla taking the under-15 prize on 13.17. Sarah Jeffery was the first under-13 home in 13.39. The trio are all King John pupils.

The race is staged in memory of Lisa Gahagan, a popular Southend AC member who died in her teenage years in 1998.

Friends and athletic colleagues vowed to mark her sad passing with an annual race to be staged as near as possible to St Valentine's Day to show the love and affection she was held in by her team-mates.

Lisa's coach during her time at Southend, John Roberts, travelled down from Shropshire, where he now lives, to help stage the proceedings which saw all the field collect medals to mark their participation.

A collection was held in aid of the epilepsy charity and the full amount raised was around the £250 mark - £150 on the day and £100 pledged by competitor Natalie Groom from colleagues at Cecil Jones School. Lisa suffered from the illness.

Full finishing positions: 1, Sarah Raven (under-17) King John 12 mins. 06 secs; 2, Ruth Clifton (under-20) St Bernards 12.31; 3, Anna Skeats (under-20) 12.41; 4, Charmaine Wheeler (under-217) King John 13.10; 5, Carla Raven (under-15) King John 13.17; 6, Sarah Jeffery (under-13) King John 13.39; 7, Lindsay Nash (under-13) Fitzwimarc 13.41; 8, Sophie Gahagan (under-13) Fitzwimarc 13.42; 9, Carly Mansfield (under-13) Fitzwimarc 13.47; 10, Louise Keenlyside (under-13) Fitzwimarc 13.50; 11, Jenny Short (under-17) Bromfords 14.10; 12, Hayley Mottram (under-17) Sweyne Park 14.10; 13, Vikky Harris (under-20 Billericay) 14.10; 14, Kerry Mottram (under-15) Sweyne Park 14.11; 15, Elizabeth Knight (under-17) 14.23; 16, Lucy Bowhay (under-13) Fitzwimarc 14.36; 17, Andrea Noble (under-13) Fitzwimarc 14.37; 18, Vicki Boast (under-17) St Bernards 14.45; 19, Jodie Classick (under-17) SEEVIC 14.48; 20, Carly Mottram (under-13) Eastwood 15.26; 21, Alice Williamson (under-13) Southend High 15.30; 22, Nikki Corless (under-13) Fitzwimarc 15.34; 23, Natalie Groom (under-15) Cecil Jones 15.44; 24, Lorraine Heal (veteran) 15.44; 25, Jane Wright (veteran) 17.10; 26, Sarah Keenlyside (under-20) Fitzwimarc 19.10; 27, Lauren Collins (under-13) Fitzwimarc 19.12; 28, Selina Fox (under-15) Southend High 19.12; 29, Frances Weaver (under-13) Southend High 19.12; 30, Sue Weaver (veteran) 20.22; 31, Lynda Swain (veteran) 20.35; 32, Katie Swain (senior) 20.35; 33, Marylin Fresco-Corby (veteran) 20.44; 34, Miska Saab (under-13) Eastwood 22.18; 35, Siobhan Todd (under-13) Eastwood 22.19.

Time for a break - a crowd of competitors from the Lisa Gahagan Memorial Trophy Run gather together with their medals after the race

Picture: STEPHEN LLOYD

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.