Colchester Harriers turned out at numerous events over the Bank Holiday weekend with the green vests successful everywhere they competed.

The Sudbury 5 mile race on Good Friday is a very popular event attracting over 500 runners and the Harriers pack were near the front of the race. Jason Gunn led the Harriers home in fourth spot clocking 28m 16s, then came Mark McKeown sixth in 28m 30s, Tom Cresswell ninth in 29m 02s and James Wright 12th in 29m 19s, the final Harrier to go sub 30 minutes. The next three home for the club we over 50 athletes with Colin Ridley 19th (first in the age category) in 30m 10s closely followed by Keith Marley 21st in 30m 18s and Pete West 24th in 30m 33s. Junior athletes were not far behind with Drew Olley 25th (second junior) in 30m 50s and Fergus Couch 27th in 31m 06s. Other well up were Charlie Holohan 41st in 32m 51s, Richard Flutter 45th in 33m 18s with David Wright, the first over 60 finisher, 47th in 33m 31s, Arthur Whiston 36m 08s, Debbie Cattermole 36m 24s (second over 50 lady) and Liz Cahill. Images courtesy of Rachel Rodgers

The previous evening Colchester Harriers had 11 runners in the first 13 finishers at the first race of five in the Maldon summer evening 5km series. Ermeas Aferwerki was runner up in 16m 11s behind the ex Basildon AC athlete Gus Withers now running for Gateshead Harriers who ran 15m 45s. They were followed home by Chris Sellens, third in 16m 53s, Danny Millward fourth in 17m 15s, Jon Nears sixth in 17m 34s, William Radley seventh in 17m 38s, Paul Preston eighth in 17m 44s,  Mikey Smith ninth in 18m 09s, Dominic Nicejewski 10th in 18m 29s, Joseph Boden 11th in 18m 47s, Jay Waite 12th in 18m 53s and Andrew Conway 13th in 18m 54s. Other Harriers to run sub 20 minutes were Ged McMillan 19m 04s, Heidi Steele (first lady) 19m 21s, Richard Boden 19m 25s, Richard Millward 19m 33s, Andy Raynor 19m 37s, Jerry Walder 19m 48s and Sean Duffett 19m 52s. Other Harriers to finish were Kevin Stevens 20m 13s, Ian Rattray 20m 24s, Dan Wilkinson 20m 57s, Arthur Whiston 21m 39s, Simon Miller 22m 26s and Stefan Hogan 25m 20s.

The Little Bromley 10km saw some great times recorded by the Harriers with Danny Millward the first green vest home in 34m 42s followed by Paul Rodgers 34m 58s, James Wright 35m 12s, Paul Mingay 35m 16s, Andrew Jobling 35m 46s, Jon Nears 36m 09s, Colin Ridley 36m 21s, Paul Preston 36m 32s, Robert Smith 36m 50s, Paul Dobson 36m 52s, Gavin Scanlan 37m 06s, Keith Marley 37m 17s, Dominic Nicejewski 37m 35s, Aiko Henington 37m 36s, Kevin Higgins 37m 43s, Matt Davey 38m 27s, Simon Ford 38m 47s, Paul Dellar 38m 52s, Daniel Summersgill 39m 28s, Richard Millward 39m 43s, Adam Gerrish 40m 00s, Charlie Holohan 40m 10s, Malcolm Statham 41m 06s, Andy Raynor 41m 33s, John Henington 42m 02s, Daniel Wilkinson 42m 34s, Simon Miller 43m 11s, Arthur Whiston 44m 03s, James Plant 47m 51s and Meryl Dobson 56m 45s.   

At the  Dolgellau Mid Wales park run last weekend Richard Flutter was fourth in 19m 35s, David Wright seventh in 20m 45s and Fran Norris fourth lady in 23m 52s.  Becky Cooke was fourth lady at the Harlech Triathlon and Chris Manby was also fourth in his age group. Rachel Richardson-Wright  was 13th in the over 50 event.

The weekends Park runs saw a host of Harriers competing in the various local events with three individual winners and also three female winners. Daniel King won at Highwoods in 17m 51s, not bad for a racewalker!  Jason Gunn was runner up in 18m 13s, Gavin Scanlon was seventh in 19m 07s and Russell Goodridge 11th in his fiftieth Park Run in 20m 16s. Also in the top 20 were Richard Flutter 13th in 20m 29s and junior athlete Thomas Colsell 19th in 21m 29s. Laura Shewbridge was first lady home in 20m 06s with Jordi Moat second in 22m 56s.  Adrian Mussett strode to victory in a course record 16m 30s at Sizewell Beach also collecting the over 45 record which is unlikely to get beaten for a very long time. Allen Smalls was fourth at Sizewell and set a new over 50 best of 18m 10s. Run of the weekend was Heidi Steele’s victory at Maldon Promenade park in a personal best time of 19m 04s. For the men Will Radley ran 18m 03s, his fastest ever for third place, Paul Dobson was fourth in 18m 18s and Paul Dellar fifth in 18m 50s, also a personal best. Annette Oakman was sixth lady and first veteran over 45 in 21m 39s. At Cudmore Grove, Mersea Chris Sellens was third with a buggy and baby in 19m 11s. At Colchester Castle junior athlete Alexandra Bell-Cobbold was first female in 22m 32s with Fran Norris heading for 60 years this season runner up in 23m 28s. Jon Nears was third in 18m 09s, Keith Marley fifth in 18m 41s and Kevin Higgins seventh in 19m 13s. Richard Boden, Kevin McAlinden and Richard Millward all finished in the top 20. Tom Cresswell won the Great Cornard Park run in 18m 01s with Colin Ridley fourth in 18m 59s.