Click the following links for...
the Latest FULL Essex League result and league tables
OR...
Orion Harriers Juniors Website for fuller Juniors details.
ALL reports below,
courtesy of Dave Joyce
Essex Cross Country League Fixture (Round 5) Colchester, 2.1.2010
Orion's Senior Men's finish Season as Runners - Up!
Senior Men:
The 2009/2010 Essex League campaign came to a close with the final fixture at Colchester
on 2nd January. Overall the Senior Men's team's progress rounded off a successful season in the league,
progressing from a good 4th place last year (our first season fielding a full team) up to finish in
the top-two with runners-up spot this season.
On the other hand and a little disappointingly perhaps, we could actually have won the League having lead the
League for the first three fixtures which included victories at Thurrock and Chelmsford plus third place at Hockley.
With too many of our top runners missing in fixture four, our home match at Chingford, our League challenge
faltered somewhat with a sixth place finish, a set-back from which we couldn't recover the League leaders spot,
so allowing Chelmsford AC to snatch top spot and go on to round off League championship victory at Colchester.
Our congratulations to them for their strength in numbers and consistency which we couldn't quite match over the
season as a whole. However we should look to the positives and the outcome must be seen as good one, as the club
strives to make further progress and the omens over our first two full Essex League seasons have been positive
from the start.
With Danny Moses, Frankie Conway, Danny Penfold, Jack Stroud, Ian Clarke all missing at Colchester, the 4th place
finish wasn't such a bad result and even if we did have a 100% turn out and had we grabbed a top two place we
couldn't have stopped Chelmsford AC from winning the League. A creditable 4th place on the day made sure we
consolidated second place in the league and ensured that third placed Southend AC were unable to overtake Orion.
Shay Joyce led home the Orion Senior Men's team in 27th place and back from his twisted ankle injury Ben Hall ran
a tactically astute race to finish 29th. Eric Paul (V/40) and Neil McGoun continued their very consistent team
scoring runs in 32nd and 49th places respectively although Neil claimed that the Xmas/New Year festivities after
effects cost him around 15 places! Andrew Warner 62nd and Quin Broadbent (V/40) 69th completed the scorers for
Orion Harriers. Orion fielded 26 Senior Men runners in the race which is a fine turn out so close to the Xmas/New Year
break, only 5 runners less than the turn out at Chingford for the last Essex League race, Orion's home fixture.
So Well Done all those that made the effort. There were approx 160 Starters from the 24 league Clubs.
Orion Harriers Senior Men finishers:- Shay Joyce 27th, Ben Hall (U20) 29th, Eric Paul (V/40) 32nd, Neil McGoun 49th,
Andrew Warner 62nd, Quin Broadbent (V/40) 69th, Ronny O'Sullivan 71st, Ricky Bulaitus 72nd, Gery Shaw (V/50) 74th,
Tim Wright (V/40) 87th, Adrian Frost (V/40) 89th, Joe Happe (V/40) 91st, Jim Dawson (V/40) 99th,
Giles Hopkinson (V/40) 100th, James Hart 103rd, Graham Hall (V/40) 112th, Alizadeh Enaituzo 114th,
Bob Jousiffe (V/60) 117th, John Andrews (V/50) 118th, Steve Simpole 123rd, Dave Warner (V/60) 126th,
Tony Maru (V/40) 128th, Peter Bulaitis (V/50) 132nd, Vic Wilson (V/50) 134th, Paul Robinson (V/50) 141st,
Peter Deadman (V/60) 159th.
In the final Individual standings Danny Moses made the top 10 in 9th and Ben Hall and Shay Joyce made the top 20
in 16th and 17th respectively. Eric Paul was 4th Vet/40 and Danny Penfold 8th U20.
Click here to see the final tables
Senior Women:
With the potential to do well in the Essex CC League, the Senior Women's turn out has been disapointing this season. During
the season Clare Donovan, Clare Thurgood and Natalie Kipps all achieved top 10 positions in races but overall Orion has
struggled to get sufficient numbers to turn out.
With the exception of our home match at Chingford when we had 12 competitors and finished as 4th team, our best result,
Orion has struggled to get the basic team of 4 out at the other 4 League fixtures at Thurrock, Chelmsford, Hockley and Colchester.
At Colchester in the final fixture we failed to muster a team of 4 and only had 3 runners. As a result Orion paid the penalty
and it caused us to drop to 11th place, giving the Senior Women's team a final league position of 6th in the final table.
At Colchester Lisa Clifford was 30th, Katy Brett 34th and Caroline Wadley 61st. Well done Lisa, Katy and Caroline who
have turned out regularly in the league.
In the final Individual standings Lisa Clifford finished 18th and Katy Brett 23rd.
(Happy Birthday to Lisa for JUST turning Vet!)
Click here to see the final tables
Junior Highlights
The season brought a rich return for Orion Harriers Juniors with two individual Champions in Georgia Tuckfield
Under 13 Girls and Lauren MacGregor Under 17 Women plus Orion had a Bronze Medalist in Jay Andrews Under 17 Women.
The club's junior section has always been a firm base for the senior section it evolved from. A healthy and
growing number of athletes from our Junior section have moved up to our Senior section teams with success,
strengthening the club and promising a sustainable future for the club.
Under 13 Girls
Orion Harriers have the individual Champion in Georgia Tuckfield who had a clear sweep of 5 wins from 5,
rounding off with victory at Colchester. The team finished 3rd on the day and 3rd in the final standings.
Under 13 Boys
Cheyenne Antoine-Chager was 11th at Colchester, leading home the team which was 4th on the day and 4th
in the final standings.
Under 15 Girls
Armani Antoine-Chager returned from a knee injury to finish 9th, leading the team home in 6th place and
7th in the final team League table.
Under 15 Boys
Ben Silverstone was first Orion Harrier across the line in 16th, leading the team to 3rd place and 5th
in the final League table.
Under 17 Women
Orion Harriers have the individual Champion in Lauren MacGregor who rounded off the season with another win,
making it 4 wins and a second place from 5 races for a comfortable triumph. Training partner Jay Andrews
finished 5th at Colchester which was enough to take 3rd place and the Bronze Medal in the individual final
standings. The team was 4th at Colchester but finished as League Runners-Up in the final standings.
Under 17 Men
Alex Gordon was first Orion Harrier finisher in 19th. The Team was 4th and finished 4th in the final League
table. Auberon Hall who didn't run at Colchester finished an excellent 6th in the individual final league standings.
Essex Cross Country League Fixture (Round 4) Epping Forest, Chingford, 12.12.09
Some amazing pix from John Hanlon.
Senior Men:
Having led the Essex League for three fixture and with the penultimate fixture giving Orion Harriers home
soil advantage, the opportunity was there for Orion to consolidate the league leaders position and to go
into the final fixture at Colchester on 2nd January in a strong position to win the League. A top 3 position
would have been good enough to keep Orion top of the league. However, without the top end resources of our
rivals, Orion needed all our young top guns to be present to achieve the result required.
It became abundantly clear Orion faced one of those disastrous scenarios before the race started and indeed as
the race progressed. Jack Stroud and Ian Clarke were absent unfit, Shay Joyce had to work on Saturday, Frankie
Conway reported a twisted ankle in training and was another non starter, Ben Hall twisted an ankle and dropped
out of the race. Danny Moses a regular Essex League top 6 finisher was under the weather and struggled in
bravely in 18th position despite not feeling that great (a big well done and 100% for effort to Danny).
The result saw Orion finish 6th and the nature of result with nearest rivals Chelmsford winning with a
score not beyond Orion was very disappointing as things definitely did not go for the team the way they should
have gone and injuries and illness to important scoring athletes cost Orion dear and was the main reason for
the result. Chelmsford AC now top the league with one match to go and are favourites to snatch the title
from under Orion's nose. To win the League Orion would have to win the last fixture at Colchester and
Chelmsford AC would need to finish 4th which in all truthfulness looks very unlikely although not impossible
if they experience the combined bad luck that day which Orion suffered on Saturday!
Looking on the positive side of things Orion finished 4th in the League last season and Orion's men are still
strongly placed for a top 3 finish this season, so long as our missing "high-octane" men get on that starting
line. So let's hope the Ice-Packs and Beachams-Powders do their job between now and 2nd January. (We will need
every one!!!). Also on the plus side on Saturday and in addition to Danny's brave run, young Danny Penfold had
his best run of the season to finish 25th at Chingford - up from 41st in the season's first fixture. Eric Paul
and Neil McGoun continued their very consistent scoring runs in 32nd and 35th places respectively They have
regularly, without fail, turned in finishing positions in the 30th - 35th places range, full credit to both.
Orion's scoring team runners on Saturday were Danny Moses 18th, Danny Penfold (U20) 25th, Eric Paul (V/40) 32nd,
Neil McGoun 35th, Andrew Warner 49th and Quinn Broadbent (V/40) 60th.
With 31 Senior Men runners in the race Orion wasn't short of overall resources and would have won had it been
a Mob Match! There were approx 150 Starters and 22 Clubs competing. Orion Harriers Senior Men finishers:-
Danny Moses 18th, Danny Penfold (U20) 25th, Eric Paul (V/40) 32nd, Neil McGoun 35th, Andrew Warner 49th,
Quin Broadbent (V/40) 60th, Gery Shaw (V/50) 62nd, Dave Brock (v/40) 69th, Jim Dawson (V/40) 79th, Adrian Frost
(V/40) 80th, Giles Hopkinson (V/40) 81st, Mark Tempest (v/40) 83rd, Graham Hall (V/40) 92nd, Russell Jones (V/40)
93rd, Joe Happe (V/40) 94th, James Hart 99th, Andrew Dodd (V/40) 100th, Bill Bennett (V/50) 101st, Steve Adams (V/40)
106th, Bob Jousiffe (V/60) 112th, Dave Warner (V/60) 113th, Steve Simpole 114th, Peter Bulaitus (V/50) 120th, Andy
Ruffy (v/40) 122nd, Paul Robinson (V/50) 124th, Geoff Messenger (V/60) 125th, Daniel Crooks 135th, Peter Deadman (V/60)
138th, Glyn Sayers (V/60) 141st, Charley Crump (V/60) 142nd and Steve Bunce (V50) 144th.
Essex Cross Country League Table - Top 6 places - with one fixture remaining at Colchester on Sat 2nd January 2010.
Team Match 1 2 3 4 5 Pts
Chelmsford AC 2 3 2 1 - 8
Orion Harriers 1 1 3 6 - 11
Havering AC 5 2 5 3 - 15
Southend AC 3 5 6 5 - 19
Colchester H 4 7 4 4 - 19
Basildon AC 20 4 1 2 - 27
Individual League overall standings: 8th Danny Moses, 16th Frankie Conway, 17th Ben Hall, 20th Shay Joyce,
23rd Danny Penfold, 27th Eric Paul and 31st Neil McGoun.
Senior Women:
Not surprisingly perhaps, being Orion Harriers home fixture, the club saw its biggest turn out of Senior Women:
12 in all as opposed to just managing to field the required four runners for a full team in the first three League
outings. In spite of Orion's two Clare's - Donovan and Thurgood missing for the second League match running after
both scored impressive top ten positions in previous League fixtures, the Orion Senior Women's team achieved their
best team position this season - 4th from the 19 League clubs, having -placed 7th, 8th and 6th in the first three
fixtures. It's a pity Orion can't field a dozen Senior Women in every fixture as this performance proved what we're
capable of in the County's top League.
Natalie Kipps was running her second Essex League race as she continues her careful return from a long period of
injuries which halted her fine progress under the coaching of Maxine Joyce. Still not on full training Natalie
followed up her excellent 6th place last time out with a close 7th on this occasion with another well judged and
paced run. Lisa Clifford was once again second home for Orion with an excellent 19th place, improving from 20th
place last time out in the league and 29th the fixture before that. In 23rd place was Orion third scoring runner
Christine Inch who was 6th Vet runner across the line for another fine run. Steadily improving Katy Brett is
another runner showing vast improvement, benefitting from the coaching of Maxine Joyce. Kate was Orion's 4th
scoring runner in 28th position, an identical position from the previous Essex League race.
There were approx 70 Starters and 14 of the League's Clubs competing. Orion Harriers Senior Women finishers:
Natalie Kipps 7th, Lisa Clifford 19th, Christine Inch (V/45) 23rd, Katy Brett 28th, Hayley Baron (V/35) 35th,
Lauren Richardson 36th, Anne D'Asha (V/45) 45th, Parmy Boual (V/35) 49th, Karen Allworthy (V/45) 52nd, Janet
Bunce (V/45) 62nd, Sue Capper 63rd and ever-present, ever-reliable Caroline Wadley (V/35) 65th completed the
Orion Harriers finishers. Well done in gaining 4th place - let's keep it up.
Women's Team Result
1 Colchester & T 31
2 Benfleet 46
3 Southend 60
4 Orion H 77
5 Havering M 83
6 Springfield S 120
7 Ilford AC 152
8 Loughton AC 154
9 Dagenham 88 RC 217
10 Basildon AC 23(3)
11 Chelmsford AC 95(3)
12 Pheonix Striders 163 (3)
13 Thrift Green Trotters 60 (2)
14 Pitsea RC 54 (1)
Junior 'highlights'
Under 13 Girls
Orion's Under 13 London Champion and Southern Inter-Counties Champion Georgia Tuckfield won the U13
Girls race so making it 4 wins from 4 and is the Essex League Under 13 Girls Champion. With one race
still to go Georgia can't be caught. The Orion Girls Under 13 Team were 3rd.
Under 13 Boys
Orion's Connor Caplan is another new and promising young Orion athlete. Conor placed 5th and the Orion
Boys Under 13 Team were 2nd, going one place better than the last fixture.
Under 17 Women
Orion's Under 17 Eastern Counties Champion Lauren MacGregor won the Under 17 Women's race to make it 3
wins and second place from 4 Essex League races and is the Essex League Under 17 Women's Champion. With
one race still to go Lauren can't be caught. Lauren's training partner Jay Andrews was 6th. The Orion
Under 17 Women's Team were 1st. Both girls have progressed hugely under the coaching of Maxine Joyce.
Under 17 Men
Orion's Auberon Hall was 6th in another consistently good performance. The Orion Under 17 Men's Team
were 5th.
Essex Cross Country League Fixture (Round 3) Hockley, 28.11.09
Orion's Senior Men's team slip to first defeat but still top the league - two points clear.
Next Fixture at Orion vital!
Senior Men
Orion Harriers Senior Men's slipped to their first team defeat of the season, finishing third at Hockley
in what was the closest of battles with Chelmsford AC who grabbed second place by the narrowest of margins,
just 6 points, Chelmsford scoring 156 against Orion's 162. Orion still top the Essex Cross Country League
on 5 points with Chelmsford second on 7 having narrowed the gap after this latest fixture and its going to
be of vital importance that Orion come out on top when Orion Harriers host the next League fixture at Chingford
on 12 December.
Saturday's Men's team race saw a clear victory for Basildon AC who seemed to turn out swarms of
runners for this event, not having done so in the first two fixtures with a 20th place and a 4th place. With
Jack Stroud again missing from the Orion men's line up and Shay Joyce bravely running to help the team
despite still struggling with the tail-end of a chest infection that has dogged his recent results, Orion were
clearly under pressure in this fixture but again battled well in a big turn out on the day and a race with
top quality up front. A field of around 200 started the race in better conditions than the previous match
but on a very muddy, slushy course on water logged ground which had taken a lot of heavy rain in recent weeks.
There wasn't quite as big an Orion Harriers Men's turn out as the previous fixture but still a big contingent
Danny Moses again led the Orion team home in 12th place. Second home again for Orion Harriers was Under 20
Frankie Conway in 22nd place then came two more Under 20's Ben Hall 26th and Danny Penfold 28th. Fifth home
scorer was Neil McGoun 36th with the coughing and spluttering brave Shay Joyce filling the sixth and final
scoring place in 38th place, just edging out Eric Paul Vet/40 was 39th.
The Orion Senior Men will be aiming
to bounce back on Saturday week when Orion host the next Essex League Fixture at Chingford with a win,
importantly we need to stay ahead of closest rivals Chelmsford AC.just need to continue fielding a full
strength team over the remaining fixtures at Chingford on Saturday 12th December and Colchester on Saturday
2nd January. Orion finished 3rd from 24 League Teams. The Essex Cross Country League Championship Title is
there for the taking. What a fantastic achievement that would be for Orion to win the Essex Cross Country League
for the first time with the Orion Harriers centenary approaching in 2011.
Senior Women
Sadly Orion's two Clare's - Donovan and Thurgood were missing after impressive top ten positions in previous
fixture which again left Orion Women's team looking thin on the ground but just managing to field the required
four runners for a full team. Natalie Kipps was making another attempt to return from injury woes and did so
very impressively with an intelligently paced run after a conservative start, Natalie cut through the field
passing hoards of runners as the race progressed and Natalie was rewarded with an excellent 6th place and a
great deal of personal satisfaction. Lisa Clifford was next home for Orion in a very good 20th place, moving
up 9 places from the previous fixture, this was a good run for Lisa. Improving Katy Brett was next over the
line for Orion in 28th position and ever-present, ever-reliable Caroline Wadley V/35 completed the team in
71st place. So Orion did just have a full scoring team of 4 at Hockley, finishing 6th on the day from 19
teams which was 2 places better that the previous fixture. Well done the Orion 4!
Junior 'highlights'
Under 13 Girls
Orion star Georgia Tuckfield continued her winning ways making it three wins from three Essex League races
but with a closer victory this time out after being pushed all the way, Georgia came out on top, six seconds
clear of Basildon's Maisie Jones. Georgie is flying high and looks a good prospect. She recently became the
Southern Inter-Counties CC Champion and Greater London CC Champion. The Orion Girls Under 13 Team were 5th
from the 12 Clubs competing.
Under 13 Boys
Orion's young Callum McLarty who recently represented Essex, again performed well, finishing an excellent 5th.
The Orion Boys Under 13 Team were 3rd.
Under 17 Women
Orion's Under 17 Women star, 15 years old Lauren MacGregor appears to be coming of age with some excellent
performances of late. Lauren stormed to victory, finishing 31 seconds clear of the field, beating all the Under
20's as well as her own Under 17's field. Lauren leads the individual Under 17 Women's table after thiswin. Jay
Andrews, still on the recovery road after a bout of Flu done well to finish 11th. The Orion Under 17 Woman's
Team were 3rd. Both Lauren and Jay recently represented Essex at the Southern Inter-Counties event.
Under 17 Men
Orion's Auberon Hall finished an excellent 5th in his race after an excellent strong run in tough competition.The
Orion Under 17 Men's Team were 5th. Auberon is another Orion junior who recently represented Essex at the Southern
Inter-Counties event at Parliament Hill.
Essex Cross Country League Fixture (Round 2) Hylands Park, Chelmsford : 14.11.09
Orion's Senior Men's team make it two wins from two and sit Top of the Essex League after Chelmsford Victory.
Every cloud has a silver lining...
The wet and windy Hylands Park played to Orion's strength as we stay in the top 4 teams in 6 out of the 8
age categories. Team performance of the day again went to the Senior Men who made it 2 wins out of 2
winning by 60 points. Our 22 runners (including cross country novice Giles Hopkinson- who didnt seem
put off by this outing) were led home by Danny Moses in 5th place. In the senior women, both Clares were
in the top 10 and only 2 seconds apart by the end. Georgia Tuckfield won the U13 girls by 40 seconds and
Lauren McGregor and Jay Andrews were 2nd and 3rd respectively in the U17 girls.
Senior Men
Orion Harriers Senior Men's team sit proudly at the top of the Essex Cross Country League today, following a
comfortable victory at Chelmsford's Hylands Park last Saturday over the 24 League teams. Orion are now 3
points clear of second placed Chelmsford AC with Havering Masyesbrook AC in third place, 5 points behind Orion.
Southend AC are in forth spot, 6 points adrift of Orion and fifth placed Colchester Harriers are 9 nine points
back. They and sixth placed Thurrock Harriers AC who are 13 points behind the league leaders have a lot of
ground to make up to challenge Orion for top spot.
This latest round 2 victory was even more emphatic with Orion finishing 58 points clear of 2nd placed Havering
Mayesbrook AC. In round 1 Orion won with a 22 point winning margin over 2nd placed Chelmsford AC that day. With
Jack Stroud missing from the Orion men's line it was great to see three Under 20's feature in Orion's top 6 scoring
finishers, showing some important strength in depth.
A field of around 200 started the race in what can only be described as atrocious weather conditions with gale-force
winds and driving rain, battering and soaking through the runners as well as creating a very slushy, slippery course.
High flying Danny Moses again led Orion home with a superb 5th place and in doing so taking a number of Essex
big name scalps. Danny is knocking on the door of the Essex County Team selectors. 2nd home for Orion and perhaps
Orion's 'secret weapon' on the day was U20 Frankie Conway who plugged the gap left by Jack Stroud. Having finished
31st in the first Essex League fixture, Frankie'S sensational 10th place finish on this occasion with a superb
run and a storming sprint finish to capture places right up to the line. Frankie was 3rd U20 home. 3rd for Orion
was Mr Consistency Shay Joyce who ran a well judged, well paced race, coming through the field to finish 17th.
2 more U20's with good runs for the Orion team were our 4th and 5th home scorers, Ben Hall 28th and Danny Penfold
33rd with V40 Eric Paul Orion's 6th scoring finished in 35th place. Another excellent performance from Orion men's
scoring team runners, importantly well supported by Neil McGoun 39th, Tim Wright 54th, Dave Brock V/40 59th,
Gerry Shaw V/40 78th, Quin Broadbent V/40 91st, Bill Bennett V/50 99th, Giles Hopkinson 107th, Andy Lunn 110th,
James Hart 117th, Graham Hall V/40 129th, Tony Maru V/40 136th, Enaiat Alidadeh U20 139th, Bob Jousiffe V/60 145th,
Pete Bulaitis 148th, Steve Timpson V/40 174th and Pete Deadman V/60 178th. Well done everyone!
Orion Senior Men just need to continue fielding a full strength team over the remaining fixtures at Hockley on
28th November, Chingford 12th December and Colchester on 2nd Jan, the Essex Cross Country League Championship Title's
there for the taking. What a fantastic achievement that would be - for Orion to win the Essex Cross Country League
for the first time with our centenary approaching in 2011.
Senior Women
As with the previous fixture a sizable Women's field of 90 athletes started the Senior Women’s race which
contained just 4 Orion Senior Women starters. It's somewhat disappointing to say the least that with such a
big Senior Women's section, Orion struggle to get a full team out at these fixtures where we could do very
well in the League, just as the Senior Men's are now doing. We did just about have a full scoring team of 4
at Chelmsford which finished 8th on the day from 19 teams. Orion's top two - Clare Donovan and Clare Thurgood
finished in the top 10 with excellent 8th and 9th positions. Lisa Clifford was next home in a very respectable
29th place and ever present Caroline Wadley V/35 completed the team in 89th place.
JUNIOR 'HIGHLIGHTS'
Under 13 Girls
Orion's Georgia Tuckfield continued her winning ways making it two wins from two Essex League races with a 38
seconds winning margin in the Girls Under 13 Race plus last week Georgia won the Under 13 Girls Essex Met
League race running as an Orion guest. The Orion Girls Under 13 Team were 6th. Georgia has been selected to
lead the Essex County Under 13 Girls team at next weeks Southern Inter-Counties Championships at Parliament Hill.
Under 13 Boys
Orion's Charlie Weston and Callum McLarty finished an excellent 7th and 8th respectively in this race. The Orion
Boys Under 13 Team were 4th. Callum has been recently selected for the Essex County Under 13 Boys team for next
weeks Southern Inter-Counties Championships at Parliament Hill.
Under 15 Boys
Orion's George Hoy and Jess Taylor finished an excellent 6th and 8th respectively in this race. The Orion Boys Under
15 Team were an excellent 2nd - up from 5th last time out in the Essex League. George has been selected for the
Essex County Under 15 Boys team for next weeks Southern Inter-Counties Championships at Parliament Hill.
Under 17 Women
Orion's Under 17 Women stars Lauren MacGregor and Jay Andrews were 2nd and 3rd Under 17 Woman across the line in
a very strong, competitive race. The Orion Under 17 Woman's Team were 4th, having finished 2nd last time out in the
Essex League. Both Lauren and Jay have been selected for the Essex County Under 17 Woman'steam for next weeks Southern
Inter-Counties Championships at Parliament Hill.
Under 17 Men
Orion's Auberon Hall finished an excellent 7th in this race, not quite matching his great 2nd place in the first fixture
but another good result never the less in tough competition to get a top ten place. The Orion Under 17 Men's Team were
6th on the day having placed 4th last time out. Good news is that Auberon has also been selected for the Essex County
Under 17 Men's team for next weeks Southern Inter-Counties Championships at Parliament Hill.
Orion Harriers Juniors Website for fuller details.
Essex Cross Country League Fixture (Round 1) One Tree Hill Thurrock, Saturday 10th October 2009:
Orion's superb Men's team victory makes Club history!
Senior Men
The Club's decision to pursue the Essex League properly in future years and contest the County's premier
Cross Country League with a full strength Men's team certainly paid off when the 2009/2010 season opened
at Thurrock's tough One Tree Hill on Saturday - Orion's men's team scoring a superb Victory and in doing
so making club history.
Orion Harriers senior Men’s team finished their first full Essex CC League season last year securing 4th
place in the Final League Table from the 24 League teams, proving that Orion can more than hold its own
in the County's top cross country league.
Things couldn't have looked better at the start on Saturday with no one missing from the Orion men's line
up and Orion's 'top guns' in good form as was seen during the previous week at the Chingford League fixture
when we triumphed at the Redbridge Cycle Track.
It was an outstanding outcome, achieved with excellent performances from Orion's scoring runners. Let’s hope
it's the first of many this season.
Senior Women
A sizable Women's field of 90 athletes started the Senior Women’s race which contained just 5 Orion Senior
Women starters but importantly a full scoring team which finished 7th on the day from 19 teams. Orion's
Women's team were missing the injury plagued Natalie Kipps, a regular top 10 finisher who we hope will return
soon. However Orion was boosted by new member Clare Donovan who finished a superb 6th place in strong
competition. Clare has had a great run of recent results with victories in the Copped Hall 5, Dagenham
5 and Norwich 10k. Women's captain Claire Thurgood finished an excellent 13th and Lauren Richardson 46th
and Katy Brett 49th completed the scoring team and Caroline Wadley was 86th.
Junior 'highlights'
Under 13 Girls
Orion's Under 13 star Georgia Tuckfield won the Girls Under 13 Race and is starting only her second season
of cross country. Georgia won a string of Medals last season, Essex County, London Champs, Southern Champs
and won several Essex Vests. She looks set to continue with another glittering season.
The Orion Girls Under 13 Team were 4th.
Under 13 Boys
Orion's Callum McLarty is another young Orion star just starting his Cross Country League career and Callum
finish an excellent 4th in his race.
The Orion Boys Under 13 Team were 3rd.
Under 15 Boys
Orion's George Hoy is yet another very promising youngster who is keen to improve and progress. George
finished an excellent 6th.
The Orion Boys Under 15 Team were 5th.
Under 17 Women
Orion's Under 17 Women star Lauren MacGregor who had a great summer season on the track and roads looks set
for her best cross country season so far. Lauren was the first Under 17 Woman across the line in a very
strong, competitive race. Training partner Jay Andrews is another very promising young woman and although
is still regaining fitness, finished an impressive 5th Under 17 Woman
The Orion Team were 2nd
Under 17 Men
Auberon Hall has massively improved as he has progressed through the Under 13 and Under 15 age groups and at
last is coming into his own as another young Orion star. Auberon finished a great 2nd.
The Orion Under 17 Men's Team were 4th.
The Essex AAA Website provides the full Results and League Tables
Full reports on all Orion Harriers junior runners and results are featured on the Orion Harriers Juniors Website.
A link to the Juniors website is also on the ORION Home Page.
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