THERE were a number of gold medal-winning performances from local athletes at the Eastern Championships at a wet and windy Cambridge.

Leading the way for Basildon AC was Heidi Nicholas who picked up three golds, while team-mates Daniel Ashley, Eleanor Johnson and Kim Box.

Also picking up gold medals were Southend AC’s Jake King and Canvey’s Georgia Green-Muid, while Thurrock Harriers’ talented young multi-eventer James Pearson won a gold and two silvers.

Grays sprinter Emmanuel Stephens won the senior men’s 100m (10.94s) while Robbie Clarricoats won the under-17 100m hurdles (13.77s).

Basildon’s Nicholas racked up her wins in the senior women’s 100m (12.84s), 100m hurdles (16.22s) and high jump (1.55m).

Teenager Ashley showed real grit to win the under-15 boys 1,500m (4m 33.07s), a vest’s breadth ahead of second placed Rob Huckle (4m 33.12s).

His team-mate Johnson was the victor in the under-20 women’s 1,500m in a season’s best 5m 3.20s while Box won the javelin with a throw of 37.65m.

King was the winner in the under-20 men’s 400m (49.85s) while Green-Muid collected her gold after winning the under-20 400m hurdles in 73.9s.

Harriers’ Pearson took gold in the under-15 boys shot (12.62m) and took silvers in the 100m (12.47s) and discus (36.02m).

Winning silver medals at the championships were Basildon AC duo Matthew Scott (U17 100m hurdles, 14.05s) and Lee Dollard (SM 200M 22.88s), while Nicholas added to her three golds with two silvers (long jump 5.06m and triple jump 9.30m).

Seevic College’s Ryan O’Sullivan was second in the under-20 men’s 100m (11.63s).

A host of Basildon AC athletes also picked up bronze medals.

Max Jones was third in the under-15 boys 800m (2m 20.4s), the same position as Isobel Ives who finished in the equivalent girls’ race (2m 27.10s).

Dollard finished third in the men’s 100m (11.48s), James Gillingham picked up bronze in the 400m (51.45s) while Stephen Davies did the same in the under-17 men’s 3,000m (10m 42.04s).

Other Basildon AC athletes competing were Mitchell Cox (fifth U13B 800m 2m 28.59s PB), Jonathan Burton (eighth U17M 800m 2m14.59s) and Alice Perkins (U17W 1500m - 5m 2.95s PB).