Weekend Round-up 27/28th July 2013

RunSouthend.com's blogger George Elliott sets 400m PB

It was a good weekend for our very own blogger George Elliot as he set a new personal best over 400m whilst competing in the UK U17/U20 Youth Development League Southern Premier 2. The Eastwood Academy pupil set a blistering time of 51.77s over one lap, beating second place by almost 2 seconds. 

Another Record at Southend Parkrun!

Yet again, Shoebury's Gunners Park was the setting for another Southend Parkrun record, but unlike last week's attendance record, this time it was a course record that was being set as Southend AC's Adam Hickey set a new PB and Southend Parkrun record of 14:31 on Saturday morning. There was also another 50 personal bests set amongst the 157 runners that completed the 5km course in near perfect conditions, just a little bit cooler than previous Parkruns with barely any breeze along the sea wall.

The first 3 male finishers were:

1st: 14:31 Adam Hickey (Southend Athletics Club)
2nd: 18:39 Sean McFarlane (Unattached)
3rd: 18:49 Barry Hornsey (Unattached)

The first 3 female finishers were:

1st: 24:09 Hannah Haves (Unattached)
2nd: 24:24 Joanne Colby (Essex Ladies Running Club)
3rd: 24:27 Nicki Benham (Rochford Running Club)

Well done to everyone that took part, latest results can be viewed here

Adam Hickey on his way to a new course record

Kirste 5 Memorial Race

Sunday morning saw the second Kirste 5 mile Memorial Race start from Grove Wood Primary School in glorious sunny conditions, organised by Benfleet Running Club with 330 runners taking part. Overall winner and first male was Billericay Strider's Crispian Bloomfield in 28:49 while Southend AC's Kerry Holland took the first female title in 34:10.

The top three male finishers were:

1st: 28:49 Crispian Bloomfield (Billericay Striders)
2nd: 30:23 Mike Briggs (Benfleet RC)
3rd: Christian Gray (Pink Peeps)

The top three female finishers were:

1st: 34:10 Kerry Holland (Southend AC)
2nd: 35:41 Anne Jenkinson (Southend AC)
3rd: 36:08 Sarah Jeffery (Southend AC)

Winners Kerry Holland & Crispian Bloomfield 
Image courtesy of www.benfleetrunningclub.co.uk

Kirste was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, and underwent six bouts of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. She passed away on February 9th 2012 at the age of just 42 after raising more than £50,000 for breast cancer charities by running 23 marathons while fighting the disease. She joined Benfleet Running Club in 2001 and throughout her treatment she never stopped going to the club and would train most days.

All profits from the race will be donated equally between Macmillan Cancer Support and Bosom Pals, and if you wish to donate then you can do by following this link: https://www.justgiving.com/teams/TheKirste5 

Well done to everyone that took part, provisional results can be viewed here

Kirste Bowman