Colchester Harriers continued their bright start to the cross-country season with another fine all-round performance in the second event of the Essex League season at Epping Forest. 

The women were again on great form, finishing in second place on the day to retain their position at the top of the league table with Lydia Callan finishing in an excellent eighth position well backed up by teammates Emma Burgess (16^th), Jennifer Lovelock (19^th) and Ellie Cumner (32^nd).  It was Andy Jobling who was first home for the men in 28^th position, Cameron Humphries was 34^th, Jon Nears 51^st, Mikey Smith 83^rd, Rob Smith 84^th with new boy Jake Darkins completing the scoring team in 102^nd place.  Kev Higgins (116^th), James Plant (150^th), Kev McAlinden (178^th) and Ian Rattray (195^th) were the other finishers for the club as the men finished 7^th of the 32 teams competing on the day.

Harriers also had some of their youngsters in action with Lizzie Wellsted securing a fine third position in the U17/20 women’s race despite being one of the youngest in the field, Isla Widdowson continuing her strong run of form with fifth place in the U15 Girls’ race and Finley Greenleaf coming home an excellent eleventh in the U15 Boys’ event.

Meanwhile on the roads, Colin Ridley ran 1:02:02 at the Stebbing Remembrance Day 10 to claim 15^th position and 1^st V60, whilst Chris Stevenson’s time of 1:07:34 means he has now completed the clean sweep of a Personal Best (PB) at every distance from 5K to Marathon in 2022.  Jon West ran 1:16:18, Arthur Whiston 1:24:05 (1^st V70), Diane Wooller 1:25:25, Simon Miller 1:25:30 and Tarynn Macleod 1:27:58 whilst over in Suffolk Wayne Cook posted 43:08 to finish sixteenth and second MV50 at the Stowmarket Scenic 7.

In trail racing, two Harriers competed in The Hobble, the longest running self-navigation trail race in Essex, with Paul Dellar (2:27:16) and Allen Smalls (2:33:28) both overcoming navigational issues to finish second and sixth respectively.

Finally three green vests represented their London based clubs in the Metropolitan League. Angus Holford (Woodford Green) was 41st, just edging out James Morley (Ealing Southall Middlesex) who came 43rd, so avenging a defeat over 1500m earlier in the summer, whilst Victor Steinwand (Thames Valley Harriers) was 215th.