Last weekend, at the Essex Vets Championships, Orion Harriers pulled off a proper ‘smash and grab’ job to our bitter rivals, Colchester Harriers’ on their own back yard.

Super Saturday, kicked off with team Gold for the U15 boys in its inaugural year at these championships. Joseph Owens very impressive individual Silver led the team home to glory.

Proceeding races saw great runs from Christine Inch to take Bronze in the Women V55 and John Lynch the same colour in the Mens V60.

If not for a couple of late, key, withdrawals in the Mens V50, it could have been even more a fantastic day. Cracking runs by Dean Moy, 4th and Eric Paul 8th saw our Gold chances halt there:(

The day culminated with team Gold in the Mens V 40 for the third successive year.

Our Orion supporters sensed blood and hung around. Notably the Ladies, who forewent the comfort of a hot Chocolate and a re run of “I’m a celebrity…” in the warm confounds of the clubhouse, braved the blustery cold conditions to cheer the team on.
2015 Essex Vets M40 Gold Team
The team was led by the ever predictable and flawless display of Nick Shasha to take individual Gold. Barny Foot, 4th, missed out on individual Bronze by only 3 seconds. However, he certainly took one for the team! Effectively sacrificing a medal by persuading Nick out of his comfort zone of road racing and track to long spikes, hills and the mud over a pint of Elderflower juice and the promise of his wifes home made banana and Chocolate muffins! …and very nice they were too :).
Mark Dillon, 6th, had only wished that the finish line would have came 200 yards sooner as he ran an outstanding race with his nose (and dodgy hip!) in with the leaders all the way until the finish. A scrap for the fourth scoring place was eventually taken by Adam Baker, 18th. His first Essex medal :).
If it hadn’t been for the depth, gritiness and competitveness of the whole team chasing behind then the team Gold may have alluded us….Well done guys Brilliant performance. Lets hope this tees us up nicely for the final race in the Essex league, early next year, to take overall glory for the first time in Orion history back on our old stomping ground !!!!