Witham Boxing Day 5

Good team win for Harriers

Colchester Harriers Ended the year at the Witham Boxing Day 5 mile road race with another team victory in what has been a very successful year for the Green vests with a host of County team and individual Championship medals over all distances the reward for the green vests.

Adrian Mussett did suffer a rare defeat at Witham to Southends Paul Whittaker but his runner up spot was still excellent and he obviously took the first Veteran over 40 award. Carwyn Jones has had a fine season and the Essex Grand Prix road champion was 5th overall with coach Pete West completing the Harriers team. West also took the first over 50 trophy.

Rebecca Cooke is the Harriers most improved   lady runner, and was a fine runner up at Witham, where strong winds hampered getting good times.

Colchester Park run

Rodgers first victory

Xmas day and Boxing Day saw a double dose of park Runs at Colchester Castle. Xmas day saw a jolly festive caper ! with the first 10 runners taking the wrong course and only completing 2.8 miles of the 3.1 mile course. 166 runners competed and after the adjustments were made only 2 seconds covered the first 12 runners and Harriers Martyn Clarke was given his first victory in 19.16 teammate Richard Heath was 3rd 19-17, with Allen Samlls 6th and Danny Millward 8th also receiving times of 19-17. David Wright ( Who had completed 100 park runs the previous week ) was 12th 19-18 , Richard Boden 13th 19-19 and laura Shewbridge 14th and first lady in 19-21. Other green vests in Xmas day action were, Simon Smith 20-12, Dan Mark 20-20, Rob Gibby 20-26, Richard Millward 20-29, Amanda Henry 20-40 ( 2nd Lady ),Gary Raynor 20-42 ( 1st over 60 ) Debbie Cattermole 20-59 (3rd lady ), Arthur Whiston 21-12, Mark Baker 21-18, Joseph Boden 22-03, anita Mussett 24-24, Sophie Stephenson 24-24, Rachel Millward 30-38, Fay Smalls 34-59.

On Boxing day 146 ran in blustery conditions it was Paul Rodgers who had his first ever victory but had forgotten his bar code so was not in the results clocking an impressive 18-17, in 3RD was Ged McMillan coming back from injury in 18-36 , Martyn Clarke was 6th 19-28 and David Wright 9th in 19-44. Richard Boden was a good 10th in 19-54,with Sophie Stephenson 3rd lady in 23-01, other Harriers finishing were John Wheatley 24-06, Isabel Sawyer 25-35, and Michael Burrows 26-16. Debbie Cattermole was 2nd lady at Cornard Park run in 20-44.

Paul Rodgers was 2nd in the London 10 mile the previous week in 61-01.

This Saturday the 2nd of January sees Harriers in action at the Essex League XC at Epping Forest. Men 12-45 8km , and Ladies 12.00 6.5 km.