Weekend Round Up 26th/27th October

33 Personal Bests set at Southend Parkrun despite wind!

Saturday morning saw the weekly Southend Parkrun take place at Shoeburyness Garrison with a total of 152 runners completing the 5km course in windy conditions. This weekend was the 56th running of the Parkrun in Southend and despite the wind, a total of 33 PBs were set - a great result!

The top three male finishers were:

1st: Neil Spicer (Leigh On Sea Striders) 17:13

2nd: David Johnson (Thurrock Harriers) 17:27

3rd: Adam Jordan (Southend AC) 17:41

The top three female finishers were:

1st: Nicki Benham (Rochford RC) 24:37

2nd: Cheryl Macdonald (Pitsea RC) 24:59

3rd: Ella Healey (Southend AC) 25:00

Well done to everyone that completed the 56th Southend Parkrun, the latest results can be found here

Parkrunners of all ages receiving their pre-run briefing 

First finisher - Leigh On Sea Strider's Neil Spicer

South East Essex represented at 1st Round of British Athletics Cross Challenge in Bristol

Southend AC's Adam Hickey improved from 11th last year to finish 2nd in the Senior Mens race, just 7 seconds behind winner Dewi Griffiths (Swansea).

In the Junior Mens race, Basildon AC's Tom Richardson had a fantastic race finishing 2nd to GB Junior International Jonathan Davies.

In the Senior Womens race, last week's Essex Cross Country League winner Lauren Deadman (Havering Mayesbrook) finished 3rd and Basildon AC's Gemma Kersey wasn't too far behind in 7th (first U23) with Colchester Harrier's Nicola Rogers in 12th. 

Full results from the British Athletics Cross Challenge in Bristol can be viewed here

Southend AC's Adam Hickey took 2nd in the Senior Mens Race

Basildon AC's Tom Richardson on his way to silver in the Junior Mens race

Havering Mayesbrook AC's Lauren Deadman (Centre) took 3rd Senior Womens spot

Basildon AC's Gemma Kersey (Blue) on her way to 7th in Senior Womens race

Weekend Round Up 19th/20th October

ESSEX CROSS COUNTRY LEAGUE KICKS OFF IN BRAINTREE

The 2013/2014 cross country season got underway at the weekend as round 1 of the Essex Cross Country League took place at Great Notley Country Park, Braintree. Conditions were wet which meant soft ground and plenty of mud around the course as athletes from across the county came to do battle!

The top three in each age group were:

U13 Girls
1st: Molly Bath (Havering Mayesbrook) 12:19
2nd: Kate O'Neill (Havering Mayesbrook) 12:21
3rd: Joanna Elizabeth Rimmington (Southend) 12:26

U15 Girls
1st: Khahisa Mhlanga (Chelmsford) 15:23
2nd: Jodie Judd (Chelmsford) 15:41
3rd: Rachel Broome (Chelmsford) 15:49

U17 Girls
1st: Gemma Holloway (Thurrock) 18:37
2nd: Claire Wilson (Cambridge & Coleridge) 19:02
3rd: Lydia Hallam (Havering Mayesbrook) 19:23

U20 Girls
1st: Alice Perky (Basildon) 18:48
2nd: Emily Bullis (Basildon) 20:37
3rd: Hayley Lamkin (Southend) 20:55

Senior Women
1st: Lauren Deadman (Havering Mayesbrook) 22:00
2nd: Gemma Kersey (Basildon AC) 22:28
3rd: Kerry Holland (Southend AC) 23:06

U13 Boys
1st: Joseph Clark (Orion) 11:20
2nd: Thomas Keen (Cambridge & Coleridge) 11:25
3rd: Mitchell Lawrence (Southend) 11:31

U15 Boys
1st: Joseph Patterson (Colchester & Tendering) 13:51
2nd: Max Jones (Basildon) 13:53
3rd: Jordan Wood (Cambridge & Coleridge) 14:11

U17 Boys
1st: Timothy Cobden (Cambridge & Coleridge) 21:22
2nd: Laurence Willmore (Southend) 21:27
3rd: Adam Houchell (Basildon) 22:06

U20 Boys
1st: Ross Tennant (Ipswich) 27:42
2nd: Bradley Wattleworth (Ipswich) 27:57
3rd: Hoseah Gikundo (Havering Mayesbrook) 28:32

Senior Men
1st: Adam Hickey (Southend AC) 25:49
2nd: Grant Twist (Chelmsford) 27:09
3rd: David Gibbon (Southend) 27:15

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

Below are the main Cross Country dates for the 2013/2014 season:

RAIN DOESN'T STOP LEIGH ON SEA 10K

 Despite dismal conditions Sunday morning, almost 500 runners turned out for the Leigh On Sea Striders 10k road race.

 First across the line was Billericay Strider's Crispian Bloomfield in 33:24, followed by Southend AC's Rhys Gillard in 2nd in 34:41 (who ran superbly the day before in the Essex League to finish 4th Junior!), and Leigh on Sea Strider's own Neil Spicer finishing 3rd in 37:05.

 On the women's side, Southend AC's Sarah Imbush was first female finisher in 42:09, followed by Rochford RC's Lindsey Colman in 42:53 and Southend AC's Anne Jenkinson third in 43:12.

 Well done to everyone that completed the notoriously hilly 10k course, full results can be viewed on the Leigh On Sea Striders website here.

Weekend Round Up 12th/13th October

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY TO SOUTHEND PARKRUN!

Saturday morning saw the Southend Parkrun team celebrate their 1st Birthday in style with a record turnout of 271 runners, smashing their previous attendance record by almost 70 runners!

To celebrate their 1st Birthday, Southend Parkrun organisers decided that they would run the route in reverse and despite the predicted rain, runners were lucky to have the sun shining for the run and celebrations afterwards.

The Southend Parkrun is a fantastic event to have in our area so a huge well done to Alex and his team for the hard work they put in each week to make it happen, keep up the good work everyone!

The first 3 male finishers were:

1st: Ian Anthony (Havering Mayesbrook AC) 17:16
2nd: Adam Harley (East Essex Triathlon Club) 18:11
3rd: Sean McFarlane (Flyers Southend) 18:50


The first 3 female finishers were:

1st: Tracy English (Leigh on Sea Striders) 20:29
2nd: Jordan Lacey (Southend on Sea AC) 20:38
3rd: Charley Jennings 20:41

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

Runners ready to run the route in reverse!

First finisher of the day Ian Anthony

286 RUNNERS BRAVE WIND & RAIN IN TIPTREE 10

Despite the dreadful wintery conditions on Sunday morning, a total of 286 runners completed the Tiptree 10 mile road race. The overall winner was Blair McWhirter of Ilford AC in 52mins38 with the winning female Nikki Brockbank of Springfield Striders RC in 1:03:51.


The first 3 male finishers were:

1st: Blair McWhirter (Ilford AC) 52:38
2nd: Crispian Bloomfield (Billericay Striders RC) 53:22
3rd: Tom Cammack (Springfield Striders RC) 54:32

The first 3 female finishers were:

1st: Nikki Brockbank (Springfield Striders RC) 1:03:51
2nd: Catherine Stunt (Benfleet RC) 1:08:06
3rd: Fiona Halls (Saffron Striders RC) 1:08:08

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

RunSouthend.com's New Blogger Eddy Cooper

RunSouthend.com are pleased to announce that we have a new blogger in the form of Benfleet AC's Eddy Cooper. Here is his first blog and his thoughts on his first Southend 10k:

Hello readers, my name is Eddy Cooper and I am a 15 year old runner. Last year I joined Benfleet Running Club and I was at a bit of a low before that as I wasn't enjoying my running. Since coming to BRC I am loving my running! Since joining BRC I have realised why it is that I love running so much. It's the feeling after a run. That sense of achievement. That buzz that makes me want to do it all over again right away. 

Today, the 6th of October, I competed in my first official 10km race at southend. It was a brilliant route, organised by some hardworking individuals from a local club and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The atmosphere was brilliant and so many people turned out along the streets to cheer and clap and shout as all the runners came past. My very first 10km race was at Weald Park, Brentwood. This 10k was 5x 2k laps of a hilly off road circuit and I loved it (I supposed coming 2nd helped!) finishing in a time of 41:40. The year after, last year, I won the the race in a time of 40:32. It's a brilliant race and one I recommend. This year at southend I ran 37:48. A huge Personal Best! 

I first started running at the age of 7, for my primary school in Hockley (Plumberow). After running well throughout primary school, I started to let the nerves get the better of me during secondary school and I was always in and out of running. After transferring from Chelmsford to Benfleet I began to love running again; the banter and the closeness of the club is brilliant and it taught me to enjoy it again.  It's just that that is making me run well again. 

After this race, I am now looking forward to, for the third year running, (see what I did there- "running" ;) )

racing at Brentwood's Weald country park on the 27th of October. I can't wait for it and I would like to run

another sub-40 on a really tough course, and if possible retain my crown :) 

Anyway, I've rambled on long enough so this is Eddy Cooper, 15, signing off of his first blog. Thanks for reading.

Eddy after his first Southend 10k

Weekend Round Up 5th/6th October

Hosts Southend AC take top 3 places in Southend 10k

Sunday morning saw over 1000 runners from across Essex and afar take part in the Southend 10k Classic along Southend Seafront. Conditions were perfect, around 15 degrees with only a slight wind which made it perfect for seasoned athletes or those running their first 10k.

The morning's events kicked off at 10am with the 3k Fun Run which, as with the 10k, headed onto the seafront and out towards Shoebury from the start by Southchurch Park. Host club Southend Athletics Club provided the male and female winners in the 3k in the form of Toby Wright and Natasha May.

At 10:30am the 10k started and over 1000 runners headed up Lifstans Way towards the seafront but it didn't take long until the Southend AC trio of Adam Hickey, Paul Whittaker and Tom Frith hit the front. At the 6km mark, defending champion made a break and held the lead back along the seafront and into Southchurch Park to finish.

The top three males were:

1st: 31:19 Adam Hickey (Southend AC)
2nd: 31:49 Paul Whittaker (Southend AC)
3rd: 32:09 Tom Frith (Southend AC)

The top three females were:


1st: 36:10 Gemma Kersey (Basildon AC)
2nd: 37:20 Kerry Holland (Southend AC)
3rd: 38:20 Sian Thomas (Chiltern Harriers AC)


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

And they're off! The start of the 2013 Southend10k Classic 

Southend AC's winner Adam Hickey nearing the finish

Female winner Gemma Kersey of Basildon AC on her way to female victory

All photo credits to Peter Smale

Weekend Round Up 28/29th September

Essex Cross Country Relays take place at Hockley

Runners from across the county flocked to Hockley to compete in the Essex Cross Country Relay Championships on Saturday. Conditions were perfect as the racing got underway at 11am with the U13, U15 and U17 girls competing in teams of 3 over a 3km course. They were closely followed by the U13, U15 and U17 boys who also had the 3km course to conquer in their 3 man teams. The Senior Men and Women had 5km course to contend with as teams of 4 runners, setting off at 1pm.

The overall title went to Chelmsford Mens Team, with Southend AC 2nd and Basildon AC 3rd.

The ladies title went to Basildon AC, with Benfleet 2nd and Southend AC 3rd.

U13 Girls:
1st: Havering Mayesbrook A
2nd: Southend AC
3rd: Havering Mayesbrook B


U15 Girls:

1st: Chelmsford A
2nd: Basildon
3rd: Chelmsford B


U17 Girls:

1st: Havering Mayesbrook A
2nd: Chelmsford
3rd: Colchester

U13 Boys:

1st: Chelmsford
2nd: Southend
3rd: Thurrock

U15 Boys:

1st: Orion
2nd: Basildon A
3rd: Basildon B

U17 Boys:

1st: Chelmsford
2nd: Southend
3rd: Orion

Well done to everyone that took part, full results are available here

160 Runners take part in Southend Parkrun

There was another great turnout for our local Southend Parkrun on Saturday as 160 runners ran the 5km course in Shoebury's Gunners Park. The first male finisher was Southend Athletics Club's Lee Taylor whilst Benfleet Running Club's Lorna Garrod was the first woman to finish. 

The first 3 male finishers were:

1st: Lee Taylor (Southend AC) 17:50
2nd: Ged McMillan 18:44
3rd: Oliver Garbas (North Herts RRC) 19:04

The first 3 female finishers were:

1st: Lorna Garrod (Benfleet RC) 21:03
2nd: Charley Jennings 21:26
3rd: Anna Meggitt (East Essex Tri Club) 21:57

Well done to everyone that took part, especially if you were one of the 35 who managed to run a PB! Latest results can be viewed here.

Runners of all ages assemble for their Parkrun briefing