THE first cross-countrymeeting of the season gave a good indicator of who the ones to watch will be this winter.

Athletes gathered at Hockley for the annual Essex Cross- Country relays, the traditional curtain-raiser to the winter calendar.

And with the first Essex Cross-Country league fixture of the season just over a week away, a number of south Essex athletes showed they are coming into good form by leading their teams to medals.

In the youngest age group, Basildon AC’s Abigail Ives ran the fastest time of the day (12m 29s) and helped guide her teammates Kiera Scott (13m 29s) and Sarah Blockley (13m 39s) to silver medals.

In the under-13 boys category, Thurrock Harriers’ Harry Parker clocked the best time (11m 37s) and led his team to gold medals. Jamie Mack (12m 09s) and Finlay Lowe (12m 37s) made up the trio.

Basildon AC’s team finished in second place with Daniel Houchell’s 11m 55s proving the second fastest of the day.

Joshua McGill (12m 07s) and Jack Saunders (13m 0s) completed the team.

ThurrockHarriers also had a good team performance in the under-15 girls event where they finished second overall.

Their lead runner Amber Pullinger set the second fastest time around the course of 12m 21s with team-mate Hayley Instance clocking the third best time (12m 41s). Lucy Ball (13m 22s) completed the silver medal winning team.

Host club Southend AC won the under-15 boys race with a consistent performance from all three of their runners.

Thomas Stuttle (11m 19s) and Craig Wheeler (11m 25s) put the Seasiders in a dominant position before Sam Norris produced a zippy run to finish in 10m 57s – the second fastest in the age group – to ensure they won gold.

In the under-17 women’s age group, Canvey’s Jodie Judd showed her good form from the end of the track season has rolled over as she set the fastest time of 11m 45s to lead Chelmsford AC to victory.

Sinead Clark, of Benfleet, also impressed with the third best time (12m 0s) which ensured her team finished in second place. Niamh Tuohey (13m 46s) and Emily Warren (16m 22s) were the other team members.

Basildon AC were the champions in the under-17 men’s section, led by a fantastic run from Gus Withers of 10m 48s, which was the second fastest of the day.

Brandon Thorpe (11m 09s) and Mason Webb (10m 49s) also ran strongly to ensure the New Towners were clear winners.

Southend AC just missed out on the medals despite Toby Wright running the sixth fastest time of the day (10m 51s).

In the senior men’s section, Basildon AC’s Grant Webb had a fantastic run to set the second fastest time of 14m 51s over the 4.8km course as the New Towners team, that included George Elliott (15m 48s), Dan Ashley (16m 13s) and James Tydeman (15m 18s), finished second.

Basildon also had the second fastest woman of the day in the shape of Kirsty Tydeman who ran terrifically to set a time of 17m 14s. Anna Whitfield (18m 23s) and Charlotte Bishop (19m 44s) ran solidly to help Basildon finish with bronze medals, just ahead of the Southend trio of Claire Cornwell, Sarah Pennington and Kerry Holland.

Leigh on Sea Striders had a number of teams competing. Their men’s A-team were 10th, Bteam 22nd and C-team 31st.

The mixed team were seventh while the women’s teams finished in ninth, 17th, 19th and 29th place.

Matibini Matibini was their fastest men’s runner (16m 20s) and Stephanie Simpson (19m 31s) the fastest woman.