Essex League XC - One Tree Hill
Essex Schools - Thundersley
After two cancellation due to water logged courses the Essex Schools Cross Country Championships eventually got underway at Thundersley Nr. Benfleet last Wednesday. Though a number of age groups were down on previous years because of the change of venue the Essex youngsters who did take up the challenge of the mud covered course were faced with terrible weather and must be commended for tacking the element in a determined manner. Colchester and Tendring had a number of youngster representing N.E. E. a star run came from an in form 14 year old Joe Patterson who had a terrific run in the Inter Boys 2nd to win Silver Medal ; Ben Miller also ran a fine race to finish 13th in the Senior Boys; Joe Alexander had his best run to date coming home 5th with William Deasy also working hard looking strong in 6th position. In the Senior Girls Ami Fosker gave all coming in 15th with good runs also coming from Sian Hicks and Hannah Banks. In the Junior/Inter Girls Lydia Cullum produced a fine run in 12th position whilst other runners who showed up well were Jess Riches , Mary Ann Deasy and Emily Donaghue. The following Colchester and Tendring boys have been selected to run for Essex Schools in the English Cross Country Championship on the 15th March 2014 at Donington Park, Leicestershire they are Joe Patterson, Joe Alexander and William Deasy. Report by John Hyland.
Essex League XC - Epping Forest

In the final Essex League Cross Country race at Epping Forest on Saturday Joe Patterson in his U15 4k race finished a well deserved 4th in spite of taking a wrong turn over a muddy water logged course, Joe with his best season over the cross country so far had the satisfaction of being second overall in the five race series to win a silver plaque. The vastly improved Ben Miller ran well to finish 11th . Report by John Hyland
Essex XC League - Hockley
A challenging course greeted all the competitors in the fourth Essex League cross country event held at Hockley on Saturday but the thick mushy course had little effect on the in-form 14 year old Joe Patterson who had his best race to date over a 3.8k course he was just beaten by just a second by the highly rated Rob Huckle of Cambridge and Coleridge, Joe had the satisfaction of being the first Essex runner home 2nd in a time of 13m.17s., he was well supported by Club colleague Ben Millar who was 12th - 14m.43s. , William Page 15m08 and Ewan Chess 27ths – 15m.35s. The team finished 4th. In the U17 race William Deasy regained his form to finish a well deserved 4th – 19m.55s. In the Senior Womens race Margaret Deasy vet [45] in the Senior Womens race excelled to finish a superb 5th in 22m.27s. In the U15 Girls Lydia Callam continued to impress an excellent 9th – 16m16s with much improved Mary Ann Deasy came a creditable 13th in 17m.10s. Report by John Hyland Photos Warren Page
Essex XC Champs - Colchester 4.1.2014
Colchester & Tendring hosted the Essex Cross Country Championships over the Hilly Fields on Saturday for the first time in 12 years, star run came from 14 year old Joe Patterson, who has come on leaps and bounds during the past twelve months, was rewarded for his pre-planning in training and racing by winning a Silver Medal in the Boys U15 4k race coming home in 16m 28s earning his place in the Essex Team for the Inter Counties at Birmingham in March likewise in the Suffolk Champs 14 year old William Page also did himself proud by finishing 7th in his U15 race 16m.34s at Ickworth Park Bury on Sunday he will also be going to Birmingham to represent Suffolk together with the consistent Alfie Foster 8th in the U17 race 24m03. Training partner Matthew Day was 9th in 24m.13s. Other CAT’s results from the Essex Championships saw a fine run from Benjamin Miller in the U15 Boys 14th in 18m.08s; Ewan Chess 28th 19m.24s; Dominic Doherty 35th 20m.40s; Max Williams 36th 20m.43s. and Harrison Beardsell 43rd 23m.03s. In the U17 Men James Rush 32nd 25m.23s. U17 Women 5k the CAT’s team won Bronze Medal led by Ami Fosker 18t2h 27m.11s; Sian Hicks 21st 28m.38s; Catherine Blacklock 25th 30m.0s and Hannah Banks 27th 31m.32. In the U15 Girls Lydia Callan was the first home for the CAT’s in 12th place 20m.23s; Jess Riches was 25th 22m.31s; Emily Donaghue 36th 24m.11s and Jennifer Borg 38th 24m.21s. The team were 6th. Under 13 Boys Ben Mann 29th 14m.50s and Oliver Eves 49th 16m.44s. Under 13 Girls Emma Gadsdon 32nd 16m.44s.
Essex XC, Chelmsford and 53-12
In the sixty years of the Essex Cross Country League’s existence 49 year old Margaret Deasy [Colchester and Tendring ] – just two months off her 50th birthday - went into the history books as one of the oldest athletes to win a Senior Women’s League race, the modest Deasy showed no fear over the 6k course as she used her racing brain to perfection surging over the last third of the race she pulled away from her younger competitors to storm to victory with 10 seconds to spare in 24m.22s. In the U15 Boys the talented Joe Patterson running against some o f the best in his age group in the East of England, produced a sparkling performance to finish 3rd in 12m.43s, Max Williams after his weekend run gave a good account of himself 13th – 13.25s and Ben Miller had his best run to date 17th – 13m.29. The Senior Men’s 8k saw Joe Alexander in his first Senior Race with a well judged 19th – 27m.49s. , good backing came from Dean Frost 37th 28m.50, James Thomas 38th – 28m.58s and Gary Riches 87th – 32m01. William Deasy got back to form in the U17 Boys 6k with a well deserved 9th – 23m.01s. In the U15 Girl’s 4k Georgina Sturgeon broke into the top 10 for the first time with a time of 15m.29s, the improved Lydia Cullum was just one place behind 11th in 15m.38s with the hard working Mary Ann Deasy 23rd in 16m.55s. In the U13 Boy’s Kieran Stephenson ran well finishing 21st.
On Sunday at the 53/12 Colchester & Tendring had a group of athletes producing some good performances, in the Senior Men’s Dean Frost after his finerun on Saturday still had the energy to finish 16th in his 5 mile race. In the Senior Landies super vet Diane Wooller finished 44th whilst in the Junior Section there were some excellent runs from Georgina Sturgeon 8th – first girl; Emily Donaghue 17th – 2nd girl; Alfie Kelleway 20th – 3rd boy; Ally Thorndike 30th ; Joseph Hammond 32nd, Emma Gadsdon 34th, Charlotte Maher 44th; Hannah Banks 48th and Jennifer Bory 50th. Pictures by John Hyland
On Sunday at the 53/12 Colchester & Tendring had a group of athletes producing some good performances, in the Senior Men’s Dean Frost after his finerun on Saturday still had the energy to finish 16th in his 5 mile race. In the Senior Landies super vet Diane Wooller finished 44th whilst in the Junior Section there were some excellent runs from Georgina Sturgeon 8th – first girl; Emily Donaghue 17th – 2nd girl; Alfie Kelleway 20th – 3rd boy; Ally Thorndike 30th ; Joseph Hammond 32nd, Emma Gadsdon 34th, Charlotte Maher 44th; Hannah Banks 48th and Jennifer Bory 50th. Pictures by John Hyland
Second Essex League Cross Country - Basildon

Colchester & Tendring youngsters were prominent in the second Essex League Cross Country event at Basildon on Saturday, over a testing Gloucester Park course Joe Patterson in the U15 Boys once again gave a good account of himself coping well with the hills he came home strongly to finish 2nd in 15m22s., Max Williams was also well to the fore showing fine pace judgement he finished 8th in 16m.02s. both boys have been selected to run for Essex at the Southern Inter Counties in December; Ben Miller did well 2lst in 16m38s with Evan Chess 28th 17m21 – the team finished an excellent 3rd. The U13 Girls produce superb packing for a well deserved 3rd team place, they were led by the vastly improved Lydia Callan 13th 18m.58s; just pipping Georgina Sturgeon 14th 19.03 to the finishing line, able support came from Mary Ann Deasy 19th 20m.48s and Emily Donaghue 26th 20m.48s. In the Senior Women 6.6km super vet Margaret Deasy showed what a great competitor she is holding off many of her younger rivals to finish 3rd with an impressive run Sian Gifford 21st. William Deasy U17 Men was will to the fore 11th 28m20s. Whilst the U17 Women saw track specialist Ami Fosker 28th and Club colleague Hanna Banks 35th worked hard. The Senior Men over a 7.7km course Sam Clayton gave a good account of himself 20th - 28m.46s., followed by James Thompson 54th – 30m.40s. and Dean Frost 75th – 31m.52s. The U11 race was an opportunity for Tom Sturgeon to enjoy his run over a 2.lkm course. Report John Hyland Please state pictures by John Hyland.
Essex League X-Country - Braintree 19/10/13
International athlete Jessica Judd who was guest of honour at Colchester and Tendring’s Award evening on the Friday seemed to have inspired a number of CATS athletes when competing the following day in the first Essex League Cross Country event of the season held at Braintree . One of the best races of the day was the u15 boys were 14 year old Joe Patterson – had a terrific battle with the Basildon athlete both youngsters running neck and neck around the 4k course until the final 100mets when Patterson accelerated to storm to his first victory in a Essex League race in 13min 51sec , he was ably supported by superb packing from Max Williams 14m34 making his debut in this age group 8th , William Page 18th 15m23, Euan Chess 37th-16m13 and Ben Miller 39th 16m19 – the team finished 3rd. In the Senior Women’s 6k race evergreen Margaret Deasy showed what a class veteran runner she is leaving many of her younger opponents in her wake to finish 4th 24m20 she was supported by Sian Gifford 29th -28m, Ellie Cumner 47th - 30m14 and super vet Diane Wooller- 33m17 who showed tremendous team spirit having helped with official duties she changed into her running kit to compete for her Club. In the U17 Women Ami Fosker did well in her 5k race finishing 22nd in 22m23 with Sian Hicks 22m43 showing fine form in 26th and Hanna Banks though suffering from sore feet finished 37th -25m22. The U15 Girls saw the vastly improved Lydia Callan finish a superb 11th – 16m 58 good efforts came from Georgie Sturgeon 19th - 17m44 and Mary-Ann Deasy 27th - 18m30. In the U13 Boys Kieron Stephenson made his debut coming in 19th -12m19 followed by Freddy Richardson 33rd -12m52. The Senior Men’s 8k race Sam Clayton gave a good account of himself in 20th position - 29m02 with Junior Men James Thompson 51st - 30m59, Dean Frost 7lst -31m55 and Veteran Gary Riches 97th - 33m39. Report by John Hyland.