ESSEX’S sole medallists on what was a slightly disappointing day for the county at the UK Intercounties Cross-Country Championships were the under-20 women’s team who came away with gold medals.

Led by Thurrock Harriers’ Gemma Holloway, who came home in a fine seventh place, the Essex team of Lydia Hallam (15th), Jess Burgess (18th) and Georgia Tuckfield (21st) won the title for a second year in a row.

Behind them came Southend AC’s Sarah Imbush (33rd), Chelmsford AC’s Katie Solis (39th) and Basildon AC’s Emma Houchell (52nd).

Southend AC’s Adam Hickey was sixth in the senior men’s race but lacked any real support in the Essex team. Southend AC’s Ashley Capel (190th) and Basildon’s Grant Webb (202nd) finished close by.

Running in her first major cross-country race as a senior, Canvey’s Jessica Judd ran well to finish 11th in the women’s race while perhaps the star run of the day came from Benfleet’s Stacey Ward who was 22nd in the same race.

Chelmsford’s Khai Mhlanga was the only other Essex runner to crack the top 10 as she was sixth in the under-15 girls race.

A bit further back, Southend AC’s Joanna Rimmington had a good run to finish 59th, Basildon’s Niamh Smith was 94th, Benfleet’s Sinead Clark 132nd and Katie Faint 171st.

Basildon AC’s Mason Webb ran well to lead the Essex team home in the under-15 boys race, finishing 39th.

Southend High School for Boys’ Mosope Oyelola was 100th, Southend’s Toby Wright 215th, Benfleet’s Rushwan Lewis 218th and Thurrock Harriers’ Jack Exley 264th.

In the under-17 girls race, Jodie Judd (70th) just pipped Basildon AC’s Isobel Ives (82nd) to be the first Essex athlete home. Basildon AC duo Jemima Walker and Gemma Archer-Haley were 134th and 187th respectively.

Basildon AC trio George Elliott (72nd), Max Jones (76th) and Christian Gray (88th) were all in the scoring Essex team in the under-17 men’s race while there were good runs from two Thurrock Harriers youngsters in the under-13 age group.

Hayley Instance led the Essex team home in 46th in the under-13 girls race while Harry Parker was the first Essex vest home in the under-13 boys. Basildon AC’s Oliver Lill was 109th.

Finally, in the under-20 men’s race, Essex were led in by Callum Charleston (30th) with Southend AC duo Ben Franklin and Joe Ray 108th and 111th respectively and