News from a quiet weekend

Colchester Harriers’ athletes have made a strong start to the International Running Challenge in Lanzarote, an annual competition drawing athletes from across Europe.  The Vince Regan 10K, the first of four races in four days, saw Colin Ridley clock 37:56 to win the V55 category by over two minutes and place just outside the top 20 in a field of over 400 athletes.  Simon Ford crossed the line in 41:08 whilst Andrew Conway ran 49:37.

Back in the UK, on a quiet weekend for road racing Ian Rattray ran a time of 41:27 to post a Personal Best (PB) at the Olympic Park 10K in Stratford, London. Off-road, Allen Smalls continued his good run of form by posting a time of 50:44 to win the seven mile Another One Bites the Dust trail race in Toppesfield.  Simon Morgan came home in 1:02:43 with Fay Smalls posting 1:31:31.

There was plenty of parkrun action on Saturday with a large group of Harriers deciding to defy the wet and windy conditions and head to the seaside for a run.  Lee Holohan didn’t let the inclement weather spoil his day in Southend as he ran a Personal Best (PB) of 19:20, with Chris Manby not far behind in 19:49 and Becky Cooke 3rd female home in 21:13.  Jerry Walder was another to enjoy the conditions at Mersea Island, equalling his PB to finish second in 18:28 with Russell Goodridge clocking 19:41.  Chris Stevenson led the posse at Harwich Prom home in 21:20, James Plant running 21:43, David Wright 21:48, Fran Norris 23:56 and Kieran Callaghan 24:22 whilst up the coast at Clacton Mark Wigley ran 22:29.  Finally Richard Flutter and Debbie Cattermole were by the sea at Sizewell in Suffolk with Richard fifth in 20:56 and Debbie first lady in 22:58.

Back inland in Colchester there were 17 Harriers at Castle Park, with Danny Millward second in 18:20, Cameron Humphries fourth in 18:44, Ian Jeffries fifth in 19:23 whilst Rachel Dale was first female in 21:30.  Across town at Highwoods, Sean Duffett was fifth 21:59, Denise Morley sixth (second female) in 22:14 with Paul Neville (22:40) and Alexandra Hennessey (23:43) also making the top 10.

Other top 10 finishers across the country were Paul Dobson (19:51 at Maldon), William Stanley (18:12 at Mile End), Drew Olley (18:48 at Leicester), Gavin Scanlon (19:05 at Colney Lane), Daniel Summersgill (18:50 PB at Kesgrave) and Alex Sales (19:58 at Catterick).

Our boys flying the green flag in Lanzarote