Harriers’ runners put on another strong showing in the latest nationwide virtual athletics event, the British Masters Virtual 1 Mile Challenge, in the process firmly establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with on the national veteran road running stage.

Harriers finished outright national winners in two age categories, and posted a number of strong individual performances as 19 of their athletes ran a mile against the clock and submitted times to the race organisers.

The trio of Adrian Mussett (4 minutes 48 seconds), Jonathan Nears (4:59) and Richard Heath (5:05) led the way, combining to win the competitive M45-54 category, beating nearest rivals Team Bath AC into second place by 10 seconds, with Mussett’s time the fastest overall time in the M45 category. Colchester’s B team in the category (Paul Rodgers, Paul Preston and Jerry Walder) finished a very creditable 15th with the C team of James Waterson, Richard Flutter and Paul Neville also making the top 30.

Harriers also took the honours in the M55-64 category with Colin Ridley (5:13), Kevin McAlinden (5:24) and Paul Mingay (5:24) combining to see off Sheffield Running Club into second place by 11 seconds with Mingay fifth fastest M60 runner overall and Ridley and McAlinden both making the top 10 in the M55 section.

There was also an excellent showing by Colchester’s Women’s 35-44 team. Ellie Cumner (5:37, 9th W40), Tracy English (5:48) and Jennifer Lovelock (5:51, 10th W35) came in fifth, missing out on a podium place by just 16 seconds whilst Denise Morley ran a fleet-footed 5:49 to post the seventh fastest time nationally in the W50 category.

Results for Colchester runners in full:

Men: Adrian Mussett 4:48 (1^st M45), Jonathan Nears 4:59, Richard Heath 5:05, Colin Ridley 5:13 (7^th M55), Paul Rodgers 5:16, Kevin McAlinden 5:24 (10^th M55), Paul Mingay 5:24 (5^th M60), Paul Preston 5:29, Jerry Walder 5:40, James Waterson 5:50, Richard Flutter 5:51, Paul Neville 6:04, Chris Stevenson 6:34, Kieran Callaghan 7:48.

Women: Ellie Cumner 5:37 (9^th W40), Tracy English 5:48, Denise Morley 5:49 (7^th W50), Jennifer Lovelock 5:51 (10^th W35), Tanya MaCleod 8:12.