Colchester Harriers women’s team found themselves taking to the road for the third consecutive week – this time travelling to Hampshire for the South of England Road Relays at the Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot.  Up against 60 of the best clubs from across the South the green vests put in a strong showing with the quartet of Lizzie Wellsted, Rosie Wild, Justine Sheekey and Lydia Callan combining well to finish in twelfth position with Lizzie, on her debut for the senior team,  recording one of the ten fastest individual legs of the day.

Meanwhile Roanna Vickers, fresh from her success at the Essex Cross-Country relays the previous week, overcame windy conditions on the coast to clock 1:22:07 and finish first female at the British Masters Half-Marathon in Folkestone.

Nearer to home the club were well represented at the Langham road races.  Nate Filer crossed the line in 34:21 to finish second in the 10K, Paul Connell was sixteenth and 1^st M50 in 39:23 with Chris Randall clocking 40:07 to finish just outside the top twenty on his debut for the club.  Beatrice Sivyer was 1^st U17 female in 44:08, Jon West ran 46:08 whilst Diane Wooller recorded 51:38 to finish 1^st F60 and, not to be outdone, Arthur Whiston ran 53:26 to take the M70 trophy.  Nikki Osborne (53:49), Hollie Caldera (56:20) and Kev Stevens (1:07:05) were the club’s other finishers.

It was a family affair in the 5K with Dan Widdowson running 17:31 to finish fifth, Isla posting 18:56 to come home tenth (1^st U17G) and Alex finishing in 21:02.  Jemima Garner ran 22:37, Izzie Bueggein 24:26 and Nancy Garner 29:15. 

Hayden Preston set a course record in winning the 2K in 7:03, with Georgia Barnyard third and 1^st U14G in 7:47 and Ella-Grace Simpson fourth and 1^st U12G just behind in 7:50. 

As the 2023 outdoor track and field season draws to a close first year under 15 all round athlete Sydnie Joyce travelled to the Embankment track, Peterborough for the Eastern Counties Combined Events Championships incorporating several County Chamionships, including Essex.

Sydnie who was competing in her first pentathlon scored a fine 1,798 points. She started the day by equaling her long jump PB with a final round jump of 4.27m which placed her equal 9th after one event. The second event was the 75m hurdles which Sydnie had not previously competed in. In her heat she clocked 14.81s, the second fastest time of the season by a Harrier. After two events Sydnie slipped to 14th overall. Sydnie’s best put in the 3kg shot competition was her third and final effort which was measured at 5.20m. Sydnie was now 16th overall. The penultimate event was the high jump where Sydnie improved her PB by 2cm clearing 1.44m at her first attempt, scoring 555 invaluable points and moving her up to 13th overall. The final event, the 800m, was also new territory for Sydnie who clocked 3m 15.11s to end the day in 16th position and 7th in the Essex Championships.