TORRENTIAL rain and a quagmire of a course meant it was the toughest who prevailed at one of the hardest Essex Cross-Country Championships in many a year on Saturday.

Constant rain throughout the day turned what is already an energy-sapping course at Claybury in Woodford into a real war of attrition.

And it was a challenge that was met by a host of south Essex athletes who came home triumphant.

Alex Short, Gemma Kersey, Gemma Holloway, Jodie Judd, George Elliott, Mason Webb and Harry Parker all won individual gold medals while Basildon AC won three team gold medals and Southend AC two.

Former Southend High School for Boys pupil Short, 20, who was representing Cambridge University, won his second senior county cross-country championships in a row after a fascinating battle with Alex Cornwell of Woodford Green.

There was a strong run behind him by Basildon AC’s Grant Webb who finished in seventh place.

Basildon AC’s Kersey was the dominant force in the senior women’s race as she added to her collection of county titles.

The 22-year-old was given a run for her money though by Benfleet’s Stacey Ward who finished 15 seconds back to win silver.

Southend AC’s Claire Cornwell was another to impress as she made the top 10 by finishing 10th.

Kersey’s victory also helped her Basildon team-mates to bronze overall with Kirsty Tydeman (16th), Louise Douglass (23rd) and Emily Ballard (35th) making up the team.

Echo:

Gemma Holloway won the under-20 women's race

Thurrock Harrier Holloway, 17, was a convincing winner in the under-20 women’s race.

The race was run alongside the under-17 boys and she would have finished 11th in that category, as she forged a 50 second gap to the second-placed athlete Georgia Tuckfield while Southend’s Sarah Imbush impressed to finish fifth.

The Basildon AC squad were the team gold medal winners with Emma Houchell (sixth), Eleanor Johnson (eighth), Emily Bullis (ninth) and Laura Kidd (10th) winning the medals.

Canvey’s Judd (Chelmsford AC) ran very impressively to win the under-17 women’s category with Basildon’s Jemima Walker also showing well to win a bronze medal.

Walker’s team-mates Isobel Ives (fourth) and Gemma Archer-Haley (eighth) also battled well through the conditions.

After missing out over the past couple of years, Elliott pocketed another gold medal to add to his collection in the under-17 men’s race.

The Basildon AC youngster showed his strength to hold off long-time rival Canaan Soloman and also lead his squad to team gold.

Christian Gray (fourth), Max Jones (sixth) and Brandon Thorpe (ninth) all ran well behind him to ensure the New Towners were clear team winners.

Basildon had more success in the under-15 boys race where Mason Webb executed his race perfectly to come through for victory.

Southend AC’s Toby Wright just fell off the pace towards the end and finished fifth but had the consolation of leading his squad to team gold medals.

Brothers Sam (16th) and Matt Norris (17th) and Harry Smith (18th) made up the scoring team.

Rushwan Lewis (Benfleet RC) ran well to secure seventh place with Thurrock Harriers’ Jack Exley eighth.

Echo:

The start of the under-13 boys race

Young Harrier Parker had a battle with Basildon AC’s Oliver Lill for the under-13 boys title before eventually prevailing.

Basildon did pip Thurrock to the team title however, with Daniel Houchell (10th), George Hill (12th) and Joshua McGill (15th) helping them to gold.

Winning silvers for Thurrock were Theo Adesina (fifth), Finley Lowe (14th) and Ben Prior (22nd).

Southend AC’s second team gold medal came in the under-20 men’s race where Ashley Capel (fourth), Joe Ray (fifth), Rob Frith (seventh) and Ben Franklin (eighth) all packed extremely well to win the title.

In the individual standings, Basildon AC’s Adam Houchell ran well to pick up the bronze medal behind winner Jordan Rowe (Colchester Harriers) and second-placed Callum Charleston (Chelmsford AC).

Another fine individual run came from Southend AC’s Joanna Rimmington in the under-15 girls race.

Rimmington, in her first year in the age group, came through the field to win a bronze medal behind winner Khai Mhlanga (Chelmsford) and Isabella Hoy (Woodford Green).

Also cracking the top 10 were Sinead Clark (Benfleet, fifth), Niamh Smith (Basildon, seventh) and Amber Pullinger (Thurrock, ninth).

Hayley Instance won Thurrock Harriers their third individual medal of the day in the under-13 girls race where she battled hard for the bronze and helped her team of Kierra Scott (11th), Hayley Dowsett-Ward (12th) and Demi Briggs (23rd) to team silvers.