For the 5th consecutive year Harwich Runners hosted a record turnout as 114 teams, out of the 126 entered, contested the Essex Road Relay Championships. Never a windless venue at the best of times runners this year had to battle against the back end of storm Gareth with gusts up to 40mph along the promenade.
Nevertheless some very strong teams packed with quality made the trip with the competitive edge of a relay championship producing some very fast times, 25 runners clocking sub 17 minutes or better. Tom Frith of Southend was the fastest man of the day and LIz Davies of Springfield Striders the fastest woman. Their respective recordings of 15.40 and 17.33 for the 5k loop were exceptional in the conditions.
In the mens team race Havering AC retained their title after being locked in battle with Colchester in the early legs with Springfield Striders not far off the pace. It was really the last leg that settled the affair with Springfield coming through to grab the silver. Colchester pretty much had it their own way from the start in the MV40 race with the host club Harwich holding off Springfield Striders for 2nd. Again Colchester were similarly dominant in the MV50 section as Havering and Tiptree took silver and bronze respectively.
Liz Davies' 1st leg run virtually sealed matters for Springfield in the women's open race building up an unassailable lead of over one and a half minutes from the 2nd lady and over 3 minutes clear of Southend who eventually placed 2nd with Colchester back in 3rd. Eton Manor ladies team deserve a special mention here with a commendable 4th place in their first running in the event.
Once again it was Colchester displaying a tour de force in both women's veteran categories taking gold in the FV35 from Saffron Striders and Thurrock and both Gold and silver with their A and B teams in the FV45 with Southend a worthy 3rd.
Despite the challenge of the weather conditions the event continues to be increasingly popular and is enjoyed by both runners and spectators. The feedback always recognises the friendly atmosphere and the efficiency of the organisation which as always is aided by some enthusiastic encouragement to runners from the marshals. Main results were as follows
Male Open 1 65 Havering AC 1 : 5 : 4.08 , 1 Ben Davis 0 : 15 : 58.05, 2 Jamie Buckley-Stanton 0 : 16 : 34.70,3 Rob Warner 0 : 16 : 18.91, 4 Grant Twist 0 : 16 : 12.42
2 31 Springfield Striders 1 : 5 : 38.10, 1 Scott Cousins 0 : 16 : 23.52, 2 Chris Burgoyne 0 : 16 : 11.14, 3 Pete Robinson 0 : 16 : 29.79, 4 Mark Newton 0 : 16 : 33.65
3 1 Colchester Harriers AC 1 : 6 : 21.97, 1 Ramadan Osman 0 : 15 : 51.36, 2 Dean Williamson 0 : 16 : 44.92, 3 Ed Mitchell 0 : 16 : 17.32, 4 Nate Filer 0 : 17 : 28.37
2 31 Springfield Striders 1 : 5 : 38.10, 1 Scott Cousins 0 : 16 : 23.52, 2 Chris Burgoyne 0 : 16 : 11.14, 3 Pete Robinson 0 : 16 : 29.79, 4 Mark Newton 0 : 16 : 33.65
3 1 Colchester Harriers AC 1 : 6 : 21.97, 1 Ramadan Osman 0 : 15 : 51.36, 2 Dean Williamson 0 : 16 : 44.92, 3 Ed Mitchell 0 : 16 : 17.32, 4 Nate Filer 0 : 17 : 28.37
MV40 1 9 Colchester Harriers AC 0 : 52 : 33.55,1 Adrian Mussett 0 : 16 : 20.26, 2 Doug McGillivray 0 : 17 : 56.31, 3 James Wright 0 : 18 : 16.98
2 62 Harwich Runners 0 : 52 : 39.54. 1 Stephen Peck 0 : 16 : 31.82, 2 Simon Day 0 : 18 : 28.87, 3 Steve Cooper 0 : 17 : 38.85
3 34 Springfield Striders 0 : 52 : 59.39, 1 Paul Miles 0 : 17 : 34.47, 2 Antony Goodall 0 : 17 : 50.59, 3 Mark Waine 0 : 17 : 34.33
2 62 Harwich Runners 0 : 52 : 39.54. 1 Stephen Peck 0 : 16 : 31.82, 2 Simon Day 0 : 18 : 28.87, 3 Steve Cooper 0 : 17 : 38.85
3 34 Springfield Striders 0 : 52 : 59.39, 1 Paul Miles 0 : 17 : 34.47, 2 Antony Goodall 0 : 17 : 50.59, 3 Mark Waine 0 : 17 : 34.33
MV50 1 13 Colchester Harriers AC 0 : 55 : 39.36,1 Paul Dobson 0 : 18 : 32.68,2 Keith Marley 0 : 18 : 46.29, 3 Allen Smalls 0 : 18 : 20.39
2 70 Havering AC 0 : 57 : 6.48, 1 Tony Pecoraro 0 : 19 : 5.47, 2 Matt Bland 0 : 17 : 52.40, 3 Steve Walker 0 : 20 : 8.61, 3 80
2 70 Havering AC 0 : 57 : 6.48, 1 Tony Pecoraro 0 : 19 : 5.47, 2 Matt Bland 0 : 17 : 52.40, 3 Steve Walker 0 : 20 : 8.61, 3 80
Tiptree Road Runners 0 : 57 : 32.29, 1 Paul Dellar 0 : 19 : 21.27, 2 Andy Conway 0 : 19 : 28.36, 3 Paul Mingay 0 : 18 : 42.66
Female Open 1 40 Springfield Striders 0 : 59 : 36.60, 1 Elizabeth Davies 0 : 17 : 33.25, 2 Victoria Curren 0 : 21 : 51.34, 3 Jennifer Lovelock 0 : 20 : 12.01
2 Southend AC 0 : 59 : 49.08, 1 Holly Gillard 0 : 20 : 34.57, 2 Hayley Lamkin 0 : 19 : 29.16, 3 Tracy English 0 : 19 : 45.35
3 18 Colchester Harriers AC 1 : 2 : 14.96, 1 Stacey Eyres 0 : 20 : 39.77, 2 Becky Cooke 0 : 20 : 41.53, 3 Heidi Steele 0 : 20 : 53.66
2 Southend AC 0 : 59 : 49.08, 1 Holly Gillard 0 : 20 : 34.57, 2 Hayley Lamkin 0 : 19 : 29.16, 3 Tracy English 0 : 19 : 45.35
3 18 Colchester Harriers AC 1 : 2 : 14.96, 1 Stacey Eyres 0 : 20 : 39.77, 2 Becky Cooke 0 : 20 : 41.53, 3 Heidi Steele 0 : 20 : 53.66
FV35 1 20 Colchester Harriers AC 0 : 59 : 32.01, 1 Sarah Stradling 0 : 20 : 22.34, 2 Aiko Henington 0 : 19 : 17.64, 3 Helen Taczynski 0 : 19 : 52.03
2 87 Saffron Striders 1 : 3 : 39.85, 1 Rebecca White 0 : 19 : 49.22, 2 Fiona Halls 0 : 20 : 55.68, 3 Janet Lipski 0 : 22 : 54.95
3 76 Thurrock Harriers AC 1 : 6 : 16.09, 1 Toni Radley 0 : 21 : 41.77, 2 Victoria Peacock 0 : 22 : 16.98, 3 Jodie Farrell 0 : 22 : 17.34
2 87 Saffron Striders 1 : 3 : 39.85, 1 Rebecca White 0 : 19 : 49.22, 2 Fiona Halls 0 : 20 : 55.68, 3 Janet Lipski 0 : 22 : 54.95
3 76 Thurrock Harriers AC 1 : 6 : 16.09, 1 Toni Radley 0 : 21 : 41.77, 2 Victoria Peacock 0 : 22 : 16.98, 3 Jodie Farrell 0 : 22 : 17.34
FV45 1 21 Colchester Harriers AC 1 : 4 : 5.80, 1 Margaret Deasy 0 : 20 : 50.42, 2 Denise Morley 0 : 21 : 33.20, 3 Debbie Cattermole 0 : 21 : 42.18
2 22 Colchester Harriers AC 1 : 6 : 44.03, 1 Annette Oakman 0 : 21 : 43.10, 2 Kate Sandercock 0 : 21 : 57.69, 3 Melissa Dowell 0 : 23 : 3.24
3 Southend AC 1 : 7 : 42.32, 1 Natasha Lagden 0 : 22 : 37.86, 2 Rebecca Taylor 0 : 22 : 59.36, 3 Anne Jenkinson 0 : 22 : 5.10
2 22 Colchester Harriers AC 1 : 6 : 44.03, 1 Annette Oakman 0 : 21 : 43.10, 2 Kate Sandercock 0 : 21 : 57.69, 3 Melissa Dowell 0 : 23 : 3.24
3 Southend AC 1 : 7 : 42.32, 1 Natasha Lagden 0 : 22 : 37.86, 2 Rebecca Taylor 0 : 22 : 59.36, 3 Anne Jenkinson 0 : 22 : 5.10
Full results can be found at https://www.harwichrunners.co.
