The club confirmed their position as one of the counties’ leading running clubs with an incredible medal haul at the Essex Road Relays Championships, held on their home turf at Abbey Fields, Colchester.

Colchester Harriers finished second in both the men’s and women’s senior competition.  Jennifer Lovelock, Laura Hubbard and Heidi Steele were the successful women’s trio with Steele running 19:22, the fastest anchor leg of the day, to overhaul Southend and clinch silver.  The men’s quartet of Chris Sellens, Ramadan Osman, Dan Widdowson and Dean Williamson pushed Ilford hard all the way, with Osman running 15:58, the second fastest time of the day, before eventually having to settle for second place. 

Harriers performed even better in the veteran’s categories.   Aiko Hennington, Annette Oakman and Sarah Stradling brought home gold in the Women’s V40 with Tina Southgate, Kate Sandercock and Alexandra Hennessey taking silver, finishing just 1 second ahead of third placed Thurrock Harriers thanks to a superbly judged anchor leg from Hennessey.  Meanwhile Doug McGilvray, Adrian Mussett and Richard Heath also placed first in the Men’s V40 category, Heath holding off a strong challenge from Springfield Striders on the last leg. 

There was similar success in the V50 competition.  Denise Morley, Debbie Cattermole and Kate Gibson romping home by almost 5 minutes whilst, for the men, a superb team effort by Allen Smalls, Colin Ridley and Keith Marley saw the green vests see off strong challenges from both Springfield and Havering.  Finally the Men’s V60 team of Chris Stevenson, Bill Haining and Paul Mingay capped off a successful day for Colchester with Mingay’s blistering last leg of 18:25 overhauling Thurrock for gold whilst Gary Rayner, Arthur Whiston and David Wright came home in third to take bronze.

Harriers also saw success in the junior event, held earlier the same day at Abbey Fields with Emily Swan, Amelia Green and Lizzie Wellsted combining to take U15 silver, Harrison Leek, Henry Rutland and William Long winning U13 bronze and Bernadette Ross, Emily Henderson and Theo Gardiner scooping bronze in the mixed event.

Elsewhere, Matt Davey was in half marathon action, running 1:27:34 to finish in the top 30 at Victoria Park whilst Ian Haw clocked 1:23:29 to finish 33rd over the same distance at Brentwood.

There were also some fast times for Harriers’ runners in the weekend’s parkrun programme.  Will Radley led the way with a lightning 17:49 to finish second at Maldon Promenade, Mark McKeown ran 18:05 to also finish second at Colchester Castle.  There were also notable runs from Russell Goodridge 19:30, second at Mersea Island, Michael Smith 19:34, fifth at Colchester Castle, Drew Olley 19:17 at Leicester Victoria, Adam Gerrish 19:39 at South Manchester and Ian Jeffries 19:49 at Colchester Castle.

Paul Dellar, 16th March