News

A big thank you to all Club Members who braved the wind and rain on Sunday 5th March and stood out on the road for four hours marshalling the Essex 20 race. The three cyclists who led the runners around the course faced head winds, driving rain and suffering two punctures. Afterwards they were suffering from the effects of the elements and took some time to recover. Bacon rolls and hot tea aided their recovery. Special thanks to Dave Wright who organised the marshals, Dave Lacy and John Carter who have for many years, signed the course and acted as race sweeper following two very slow... read more

Debut Indoor Champs Brings New Club Record Three of Harriers young aspiring Sprinters took on the challenge of the English Age Group Championships at the EIS in Sheffield on Saturday 25 & Sunday 26 February. Having gained the necessary qualifying times in the past 12 months they were then drawn against the best of England’s talent to fight it out for podium places. Expectations were high for the first green vest, 16 year old Callum McKay, who two years ago was crowned U15 60m Champion at the same competition.  Fresh from the Scottish Championships where he claimed a silver... read more

Holford has great win at Great Notley The Cross Country season finished with a flourish as Angus Holford surged to victory for Colchester Harriers at the final fixture held at Great Notley Country park, the green vests finished runners up in the league behind Ipswich Jaffa for the 4th consecutive year. Holford won by a long stretch from Bentleys Dave Greene and then received great back up from the rest of the team with only 14 pts separating Harriers and Jaffa men on the day. The Harriers ladies were again well under strength and just one more lady scorer would have made a completely... read more

Jamie Nelson ran the 50 mile Thames Trot in a superb 8 hours 31 minutes and was 51st overall out of 300 runners. At the Mersea park run Richard Flutter made his Colchester Harriers debut and finished 3rd in snowy conditions in 20:37, Wayne Cook was also 3rd at the Great Cornard Park run clocking 17:53, with Drew Olley 8th in 19:32. Annette Oakman was 4th lady at the Chelmsford event in 21:56, while at Colchester Castle Fergus Crouch was 2nd 18:05, with David Wright 11th 20:03, Sandra Fox was 2nd lady in 23:16, 289 runners competed on a very cold... read more

Championship Best Performance despite Power cut denying medals In a weekend that saw the Essex and Eastern Indoor Championships cut short by a power cut, Harriers athletes still managed to produce some excellent performances despite many of them not being able to progress through to finals or compete at all. Harrier’s queen of sprints, Rebecca Jeggo, continued her excellent form by running her quickest ever indoor 200m at the county’s premier Indoor Championships. Clocking a Championship Best Performance, as well as a new Club Record and PB her time of 25.2 s in her heat, will no doubt... read more

Watford win for Sarah Colchester Harriers Sarah Stradling is now over 40 but still produces incredible results. In a field of 1631 hardy runners Stradling tore to victory at the top class Watford Half marathon, which has 6 large hill climbs on the course. Stradling kept up her normal pace and won in 1:21:10 to take the Senior and Veteran prizes. Great Bentley Half Laura Shewbridge ran a great personal best at the cold Great Bentley half Marathon clocking 1:26:44 for 5th lady overall. Steph Horner was 2nd over 45 in a best ever 1:27:43. Mark Harrod was first home for the green vests in... read more

Ladies shine as men have bad day The Cross Country season is winding to its close and Colchester Harriers position of 2nd overall is, barring disaster, confirmed. The men were mainly marathon training and so decided to give the race a miss, which was a shame as just a few points more would have seen Harriers finish 2nd on the day rather then last. The ladies did well to finish 2nd and overall the team were 5th, their lowest ever finish in a 53:12 XC race. Performance of the day came from Allen Smalls, the 48 year old gets stronger and was a superb 3rd. The only other performances of note for... read more

Several Harriers were in action at the Essex school's cross country championships. Each of the 10 school areas selects the best athletes from their area races to compete at the Essex schools championships, with the top runners in each category being invited to represent Essex at regional or national championships later in the winter. The top 6 runners in each age category are automatically selected as part of the eight person teams to run in the national championships while the top 20 are invited to the regional race. Despite the lack of mud, Hilly fields was as tough as always with icy... read more

Smalls leads the way home Colchester Harriers had a good turn out at the 4th round of the 53:12 Cross Country league at a sunny and freezing course at Wherstead, under the vast expanse of the Orwell bridge. Angus Holford was destined for 4th place with a mile to go before an injury struck leaving veteran Allen Smalls to cruise past him and finish a superb 5th. Next home was Anthony Barrowclough 10, with the ever improving Paul Rodgers 12, Chris Sellens returned to the fray in 15th, then came John Fryer 20 and a limping Angus Holford 21, final two scorers were Paul Spowage 24 and Jon Nears... read more

The Colchester Harriers awards night was held at the club house at the Garrison track. 15 awards were presented to cover the whole range of track, field, road and XC covered by the Harriers, also special awards were given to members who have given time and effort into making the Harriers into such a diverse and successful club. Award winners Chris Sellens XC Athlete season 2015-16. Colin Ridley Road Athlete 2016 Paul Rodgers most improved club runner 2016 Phillipa Davenhall Field Female athlete 2016 Southern Athletic awards for performance Matt Rose and Catherine... read more