Another great weekend for the Harriers

Colchester Harriers seniors were competing in various top class events at the weekend with some great results coming from the green vests. The Tooting Bec track in London saw the 24 hour Self Transcendence race running from noon on Saturday. It was a testing event for the clubs top two ultra men Nate Filer and Allen Smalls. Both of them stuck to their game plans and saw the event through with Nate Filer coming home fourth covering 210 kms as the 24 hours ended with a very tired Allen Smalls in sixth place running 199kms. Smalls was the first veteran over 50.

The Southern road relays at Crystal Palace saw a superb team effort by the Harriers over 50 men to take the bronze medals. Over 60 runner Paul Mingay defied his age running 19m 41s to bring the team from ninth to third on the last leg to back up the joyful team of Paul Spowage 20m 44s, Keith Marley 20m 21s and Colin Ridley 20m 25s.  It was 24th place for the ladies senior team with the quartet all having very good runs They were Heidi Steele 17m 11s, Jennifer Lovelock 17m 57s, Rebecca Cooke 19m 40s and Sarah Stradling 17m 57s. The senior men were 48th; they were Ramadan Osman 17m 22s, Andy Jobling 19m 46s, Jon Nears 20m 20s, Jason Gunn 19m 05s, Chris Sellens 19m 33s and Richard Heath 19m 14s. The B team finished 66th. They were Gavin Scanlon 20m 44s, Kevin Higgins 20m 38s, Andy Lovelock 21m 18s, Dominic Niciejewski 21m 29s, Paul Dellar 21m 32s and Paul Rodgers 19m 56s.

The final of the Eastern Masters Track and Field League took place at a very wet Milton Keynes where both Harriers men and ladies teams had qualified for the first time thanks to great team management by Paul Preston and Nicola Hilson. Against extremely strong opposition the men and the ladies both finished sixth of the top eight teams, and combined the Harriers placed fifth overall.

The field events were a problem for the Colchester athletes while the track events saw some very good scoring. Fine performances came from Heather Rose who won the 100m and 200m races for her age group, Denise Morley winning the 800m, Dan King was first in the 2km racewalk. The two ladies  400m, 200m, 200m and 400m relay teams were first and second in their age groups with excellent legs by Kate Sandercock, Fran Norris, Aiko Hennington, and Debbie Cattermole. Cattermole also won her age group in the 2km racewalk.

David Wright just got home first in the over 60’s 3000m, as did Aiko Hennington for the over 35 ladies. Solid point scoring came from Simon Morgan, Paul Preston, Arthur Whiston and David Hilson, with Gavin Sandercock producing a good pole vault.  Andy Taczynski, Richard Flutter, Kevin MacAlinden,  Doug McGilvary, Susan Waller-Toyne  and John Hennington gave their all as the team battled through a very long day.

Officials Maxine and Olivia Simon, Helen Taczynski and Chris Akehurst travelled to the final and in very wet conditions must be praised for their noble efforts in carrying out their duties.

The Great East Half Marathon at Ipswich saw some fine efforts by the green vests, Mark McKeown was eighth in 1h 17m 29s with James Wright just behind in ninth clocking 1m 17m 58s, Jerry Walder came home 43rd in a personal best 1h 28m 42s. Jay Waite clocked 1h 28m 22s and Dan Summersgill 1h 34m 21s. Kevin Stevens and Gary Licence both ran their fastest ever half marathons.

Ella Neale was 11th lady at the Madrid 10km clocking 42m 39 while Sergio Azon Bellare ran a superb 38m 43s.

Louise Yates swam the Serpentine event to complete the series which includes the London Marathon and the ride London to gain the London Classic Medal .

In a field of 326 Richard Boden completed his 250th Park run at Colchester Castle finishing in 25th spot, a great achievement by the over 50 runner. Harriers filled several of the top 20 places with Ian Haw fifth, Fergus Crouch sixth, Michael Smith seventh, Ian Jeffries tenth, Edward Malone (junior) 17th and Andy Raynor 18th. For the juniors Harrison Leek was 27th and Lizzie Wellsted 56th overall and fourth female.

 Simon Ford won the Hadleigh Park run in 20m 54s which is a very hilly course in the country Park.

Colchester Highwoods saw fifteen Harriers help runners reach their target times by pacing. Jordi Moat was first lady in 21m 41s.

Richard Flutter was fourth at the Dolgellau Park run in Mid Wales, while Richard Millward clocked a sub 20 minute time at the Wolverhampton Park run.

The Layer Marney series of trail races saw Malcolm Statham complete his 214th Marathon, despite going 3 miles off course. Craig Mitchell, Rachel Rodgers and Kieran Callaghan all ran well in the 12 mile event.