Colchester Harriers athletes put up a strong showing in the latest virtual competition, The Essex Running Clubs Virtual Mile Challenge.  Organised by Chlemsford Athletics Club and attracting runners from 24 clubs across the county, the event entailed athletes submitting times, together with supporting evidence, for a run of at least one mile over a flat course (less than 15m net downhill).

Harriers’ ladies lead the way with the senior team of Heidi Steele (6th overall in 5:27), Jennifer Lovelock (5:52), Victoria Rae (5:58), Nicola Martell-Smith (5:59) and Samantha Hart (6:12) finishing in an excellent 3^rd position to make the podium.  The men’s team also acquitted themselves well with Rob Smith (4:52), Dan Widdowson (5:05), Michael Smith (5:20), Jason Gunn (5:30) and Dan Cook (5:51) combining to claim 6th position.

Colchester’s veteran teams were also in action with Denise Morley (4th in 5:46), Alexandra Hennessey (6:15) and Kate Sandercock (6:32) taking second for the ladies and Richard Heath (7th in 5:01), Paul Mingay (5:22), Jay Waite (5:24), Colin Ridley (5:24) and Jerry Walder (5:30) also finishing in the silver medal position for the men.

There were also some outstanding individual performances from Harriers’ junior runners – not least from Lyla Belshaw who recorded an incredible 5:15 to finish 2nd in the U13 Girls category.

Meanwhile Harriers were also enjoying a sunny weekend of off-road running in the Essex Way Relay Challenge, a club organised virtual event to commemorate Sean Ketteridge’s solo record of 12 hours and 58 minutes on the 82 mile Essex Way Footpath (from Epping to Harwich).  Teams of 10 ran off-road legs to try and combine to beat Ketteridge’s amazing solo time, which the winning team managed with a combined time of 10 hours, 6 minutes and 8 seconds.

Essex Way Relay Challenge – full results:

Stage 1 – 7.5 miles, Martin Claydon 66:11 , Gary Licence 67:28 , Paul Rodgers 47:29.

Stage 2 – 9.5 miles, Tim Holden 70:07.

Stage 3 – 9.5 miles, Tim Ballard 67:41, Nicolas Kricka 70:01, Jerry Walder 69:36.

Stage 4 – 10.1 miles, Allen Smalls 69:14, Kevin Higgins 1:20:15.

Stage 5 – 9.4 miles, Luke Orrin 70:37, Ellie Mayne 73:23, Richard Heath 62:00.

Stage 6 – 5.7 miles, Chris Stevenson 46:44, Simon Morgan 45:39, Kate Gibson 50:54, Debbie Cattermole 47:12, Richard Flutter 47:12, Louise Yates 50:54.

Stage 7 – 11.2 miles, Cheryl Appleby 133:28, Dan Cook 93:50, Craig Mitchell 100:00, Ged McMillan 87:15, Charlie Holohan 98:00.  

Stage 8 – 8 miles, Steven Clarke 72:00, Kate Sandercock 93:05, Alexandra Hennessy 93:05, Seb Eaton 62:51, Barry Frost 60:30.

Stage 9 – 5.7 miles, Ellie Cumner 47:54, Helen Thurlow 47:54, David Wright 43:53.

Stage 10 – 5.5 miles, Bill Haining 40:40, Abigail Morgan 47:08, Jackie Gunther 42:39, James Gunther 42:39.