GEMMA Kersey won her third Essex title in a row and led a rejuvenated Basildon AC squad to team gold at the Essex Cross-Country Championships.

Kersey made light work of a typically tough course at Claybury in Woodford to take the victory, something which bodes well for the big championship races coming up in the next few months.

And behind their leader, the Basildon AC team all ran strongly themselves to take a surprise victory.

For many years the Basildon ladies senior team have struggled to make a mark at the county championships.

But a bronze medal last year proved they were on the up and it all came together this time round.

Emma Houchell, running her first county championships as a senior, had a superb run to finish seventh while not far behind, Kirsty Tydeman (13th) and Laura Brooks (14th) dug deep to ensure they beat Chelmsford by 11 points.

Finishing second in the individual standings was a former Basildon AC athlete, Stacey Ward while Southend AC’s top finisher was Claire Cornwell who was 10th.

It was a good day’s racing all round for Basildon who also won the under-20 men’s team title.

That squad was led by George Elliott who looked in really good form as he won a silver medal just 10 seconds behind winner Jordan Rowe (Colchester Harriers).

Adam Houchell (sixth), Daniel Ashley (seventh) and Steve Davies (15th) made up the gold medal-winning team.

Southend AC’s Joe Ray had a good run to finish fifth with his team-mate Dominic Le Mare 10th, while Benfleet’s James Hiscock came home in eighth.

There was a silver medal for Basildon AC’s under-17 men’s team with Mason Webb running strongly to win an individual bronze medal.

Brandon Thorpe also had a good race to finish in seventh while the rest of the Basildon team was made up of Gus Withers (15th) and Sam Walsh (36th).

Harrison Smith (East Essex Tri) just missed out on an individual medal as he finished in fouth place while the first Southend AC athlete home was Toby Wright.

In a worryingly depleted under-17 women’s field, Canvey’s Jodie Judd continued her good form this winter to win an individual silver medal as well as a team gold medal with her Chelmsford AC team.

Benfleet’s Sinead Clark just missed out on a medal as she finished in fourth with Basildon AC’s Niamh Smith running strongly for fifth.

Thurrock Harriers’ Gemma Holloway was a class apart in the under-20 women’s category as she finished more than three minutes ahead of her rivals.

Benfleet’s Victoria Hiscock finished in fifth place.

There was not much representation at the top end of the field for south Essex athletes with Basildon AC’s Grant Webb the first home in 11th position.