Cross Country League gets off to sticky start

The Mid-Essex Cross Country League got off to a muddy start at Stebbing on Sunday.

The event was hosted by Grange Farm and Dunmow Runners (GFDR) and the course took more than 130 runners, representing five local clubs, across fields, through the Stebbing Brook and thick knee-deep mud patches.

Team points were awarded to the fastest four women and seven men from each club.

Point scorers for GFDR women were Claudine Davie who finished third, Kerry Harrington (seventh), Jo Bisset-Smith (11th) and Charlotte King (12th).

Finishing second, James Bosher was GFDR’s fastest man, followed by Alistair Brown (fourth), Lee Pickering (fifth), Steve Read (14th), Dan Reynolds (15th), Matt Webster (22nd) and Josh Sowman (28th).

GFDR’s men’s and women’s teams both finished in second position.

Springfield Striders was the men’s winning team, with Braintree and District Athletic Club third, followed by Little Baddow Ridge Runners and Mid-Essex Casuals.

For the women, Little Baddow was first, Springfield Striders third ahead of Braintree and Mid-Essex Casuals.

After washing off the worst of the mud, runners were treated to mince pies and mulled wine.

The second race in the series will be hosted by Mid-Essex Casuals on Sunday, January 15.