Dave Wright’s weekly report

Our athletes competed on the road and trail in various events in the last week with some excellent results coming to the fore for the green vests.

The Maldon Promenade evening 5km saw the rising star that is young Danny Millward claim an excellent victory in 16m 47s, with club mate Doug McGilvarry in third position clocking 16m 55s. Harriers continued to fill the top ten places with Jason Gunn fourth in 17m 00s,  Dominic Nicejewski fifth in 17m 58s, Paul Rodgers seventh in 18m 01s, Ged McMillan eighth in 18m 11s and Cameron Humpfries ninth in 18m 13s. The lades were in top form with a first victory for the talented Jordi Moat in 20m 17s a personal best and she was followed home in second place by Ella Jeffrries in 20m 37s.  Other Harriers were 11th Marky Smith 18m 19s, 13th Adam Gerrish 18m 51s, 14th Richard Boden 18m 57s, 18th Andy Conway 19m 28s, 21st Charlie Walder 19m 57s, 23rd Ian Rattray 20m 02s, 25th Jerry Walder 20m 06s, 29th Dan Wilkinson 20m 41s, 30th Simon Morgan 20m 46s, 31st David Wright 20m 58s, 45th Gary Licence 23m 54s, 46 Kieran Callaghan 22m 57s and Abigal Morgan 25m 40s.

The Harwich evening 5km was another fast race with green vests packing the leading runners home.  Heidi Steele was first lady in 18m 52s, Andy Jobling was 3rd in 17m 02s and just behind was Tom Cresswell 17m 08s, and Jon Nears 17m 37s. Over 55 Colin Ridley is back to form clocking 17m 55s with Will Radley 18m 01s.  The Harriers then cascaded home with Paul Preston 18m 12s, Danny Millward 18m 14s, Paul Dellar 18m 18s, Tim Ballard 18m 31s, Simon Ford 18m 34s, Dominic Nicejewski 18m 34s, Sergio Azon Bellare 18m 35s, Richard Boden 18m 46s, Matt Davey 18m 46s, Andy Taczynski 19m 37s, Sarah Stradling 19m 39s, Angus Ware 19m 43s, Richard Millward 19m 48s, Joe Miller 21m 17s, Ellie Cumner 21m 52s, Simon Miller 22m 19s, Helen Taczynski 22m 38s and Helen Thurlow 23m 38s.

Peter Jones ran the Suffolk 24 hour off road event and clocked 65 miles before calling it a day in 14 hours and 58 minutes.  The Capel St Mary 5 mile saw Debbie Cattermole runner up in 36m 26s and Richard Flutter 14th overall in 32m 16s.

The latest Friday 5 results were from the Sudbury 5 with Tom Cresswell eighth in 29m 03s, 16th (and first veteran over 50) Pete West 30m 10s, Alex Sales 30m 13s, Dan Summergill 33m 14s,  John Hennington 34m 37s, Simon Miller 36m 08s and Kate Sandercock 38m 13s. And from the Bury 5 mile race, Fergus Crouch 30m 26s, Adam Gerrish 31m 11s, Dan Summergill 32m 51s, John Hennington 33m 10s and Ellie Cumner 37m 41s.

The Heybridge trail race saw Allen Smalls continue his run of victories with Richard Flutter runner up.  Helen Thurlow and Richard Heath both did well at the Harwich Sprint Triathlon. At the round Mersea race which is always a tough event, Heidi Steele comfortably won the ladies race. Andy Jobling led the men to the team prize with a fine third place. Also in the top ten were Paul Rodgers, Dan Summersgill and Alex Sales. David Hilson, Paul Jones, Lee Holihan, Craig Mitchell, Keith Marley and Malcolm Statham all ran well.

Allen Smalls won the Rotary club off road marathon which ran basically from Ipswich to Felixstowe and back.

The latest batch of Park runs got Harriers off to a flyer with a 1,2,3 at Harwich Promenade where Paul Rodgers won a tight contest in 17m 52s with team mates Allen Small 18m 00s and Kevin Higgins 18m 09s. Smalls setting a new course record for men aged 50-54. Rachel Richardson-Wright and Rachel Rodgers both ran good times.

Colchester Castle  saw a double  1,2,3 for the green vests thanks to Ian Haw 18m 37s, Fergus Crouch 18m 51s and Rob Cronshaw 19m 14s. Jordi Moat claimed her second win in three days coming home  in 20m 28s, Milly Presland was runner up in 20m 42s  and third was the retuning Rachel Dale in 21m 58s.

Legendary Essex Champion over all distances for many years Adrian Mussett stormed to victory at Mersea Island Cudmore Grove in a personal best for the course of 16m 00s with team mate Chris Sellens a long way back in second spot in 19m 25s.  

Colchester Highwoods saw another fine performance with Ramadam Osman well clear to win in 16m 40s. Jason Gunn was third in 17m 58s with Adam Gerrish sixth in 20m 31s. Alexandra Hennessy was yet another ladies winner for the Harriers in 22m 39s with Kate Gibson second in 23m 56s.

Helen Thurlow and Richard Heath both completed the Harwich Sprint Triathlon.