This weeks Road, Cross Country and Parkrun news roundup

The Club were out in force at this year’s Chelmsford 10K, with our athletes making the most of good conditions to post some fast times.  Keith Marley continued his purple patch, leading the club home to clock a Personal Best (PB) of 36:40 and finish first V50.  Kevin Higgins, another runner currently in fine form, was close behind in a PB of 37:09, finishing third V45.  Next to finish was Andrew Lovelock in 38:12, followed by experienced vet Colin Ridley who finished first V55 in 38:40 and Jennifer Lovelock who recorded 40:01 to just miss out on the sub-40 minute time she was aiming for.  Chris Manby ran 40:42, Becky Cooke a relaxed 46:13, James Plant a PB of 46:29, with Kieran Callaghan (48:40) and Amber Fisher (57:57 PB) the other green vests to feature.

Over the border in Suffolk, Kate Gibson was also an age group winner, finished first F45 in the Hadleigh 5, after crossing the line in a time of 39:01.  Chris Panton, running his first race in over a year, recorded 39:53 with Louise Yates running 43:33.  In the 10 mile event Melissa Dowell followed up her success last weekend at The Hobble by finishing second F50 in 1:18:19 whilst Arthur Whiston was third M65 in 1:18:20.

In Norfolk Clive Thomas finished a fine 16th and second M50 at the Snetterton Race Track half marathon in 1:24:11.

Further afield, Jerry Walder competed in the Preston Harriers 10 mile road race, capitalising on the flat, fast course to post a time of 1:01:45, and in the process beat his previous best at the distance by more than five minutes.

In parkrun action, 21 Harriers turned out at Castle Park where Danny Millward ran 17:36 to come home second, Jason Gunn 18:05 to finish third with Jon Nears (19:11) and Ian Jeffries (19:39) also amongst the first ten to finish.  There were other notable performances by the fast improving Lizzie Wellsted; the young athlete running her second parkrun PB in two weeks to finish first female in 21:20, Eleanor Mayne who was just behind her to finish second in 21:42 and another junior Harrison Leek whose time of 21:05 was also a PB.  On the other side of town at Highwoods, under 13 athlete Finley Greenleaf ran a PB of 21:16 to finish third, with Rachel Dale first female in 22:43 and Mark Wigley finishing in 24:19.

Elsewhere Paul Dobson continued his comeback from injury with a sixth placed 19:25 at Maldon, whilst Gavin Scanlan was fourth at Colney Lane in 18:38 and Alex Sales second at Bryn Bach in 19:00.  Other top 10 finishers were Simon Ford (19:18 at Harwich), Drew Olley (19:13 at Leicester Victoria), Adam Gerrish (18:44 at Market Rasen) and Michael Smith (19:08 at Chasewater) whilst Richard Flutter went straight from his night shift to run ran 20:49 at a soggy Chelmsford Central.

A number of our young athletes competed at the North East Essex District Schools cross country races at Colchester Rugby Club last Tuesday. There were fine victories for Lyla Belshaw in the year 7 girls race, Milly Presland in the year 10/11 girls race and Thomas Palmer in the year 12/13 boys race. There were a number of top ten finishes for our young athletes which should see them competing at Chelmsford in January in the Essex Schools Championships including Lizzie Wellsted (yr 9), Madeleine Claydon (yr 10), Emily Swan (yr 10), Amelia Green (yr 10, Emily Henderson (yr 10), William Long (yr 8), Thomas Colsell (yr 11) and Danny Millward (yr 13). Images courtesy of John Hyland.

Some of the Harriers who ran the Chelmsford 10k on Sunday

Kieran Callaghan finishing the Chelmsford 10k in 48:40.

Danny Millward chasing Thomas Palmer in the Senior Boys race District Cross Country on Tuesday

The start of the year 10/11 girls race at Colchester Rugby Club

More action from the District XC races.

Milly Presland, winner of the year 10/11 girls race.