The sun shone for the 18th Halstead and Essex Marathon. This is the showpiece event of the year for the organisers, running club Halstead Road Runners (HRR). Once again the event was expertly managed by Race Director and HRR Chairman Keith Thorogood.
This is a significant event for the town of Halstead and its surrounding villages as competitors and supporters descend for the day from all over the country and overseas. They experience warm and friendly North Essex hospitality. The event also raises funds directly into the local community. Last year as an example, HRR donated more than £8,000 to local Schools and Charities.
The race got underway from Halstead Leisure Centre at 10am with more than 630 runners ready to sample the delightful rolling Essex countryside. The lanes of Halstead, Colne Engaine, Pebmarsh and Twinstead awaited, filled with support and cheer!
The race was won by local runner Allen Smalls of Colchester Harriers. Allen crossed the line with a broad smile and more than 14 minutes ahead of the next runner. A significant margin! Allen recorded a time of 2:35:39
Another local man finished in 2nd place, Lee Martin of Springfield Striders. Lee stopped the clock at 2:49:39. The fact that Springfield Striders men finished 2nd, 18th and 35th meant that they took the team trophy on the day! Third place overall went to Richard Watkinson in 2:49:55. More than 11 runners enjoyed the glory of a sub 3 hour Marathon time including the first women June Allen.
June from Springfield Striders was very pleased with a time of 2:59:27. Next home for the women was her club team mate Nikki Brockbank in 3:10:25. These two results plus the performance of Donna Hall-Fremont giving Springfield Striders further trophies for 1st Womens team! So Springfield Striders cleaned up in both male and female team categories! Third home for the women was Helen Mulhall from Bearbrook running club.
The host club HRR entered a few athletes and were expertly led home by Halstead man Gavin Allen. Gavin clocked 3:07:40 and 24th place overall. Next in for HRR was Phil Davies in 3:30:08 and 85th place. A result which gave Phil an Essex County Championship medal as 3rd in Vets 50 category. Full HRR results:
Name, time, place overall
Gavin Allen 3:07:41 24th
Phil Davies 3:30:09 85th
Sam Wolton 3:48:34 183rd
Andy Wilmot 4:32:16 438th
Matt Biggin 4:33:24 441st
Kate Allen 4:33:07 446th
Nathan Roulson 4:49:52 508th
Daniel Smith 5:06:10 555th
HRR were very pleased to have Halstead Mayor David Hume on hand at the finishing line to give out medals and for the presentation ceremony. Please see presentation photographs attached taken by HRR Press and Publicity Officer Matthew Ranson.
Special thanks to Anita Morris and the Halstead Leisure Centre team, Ramsey College led by Paul Taylor, Gosfield School led by HRR Phil Davies, 1163 Squadron Air Cadets, St John Ambulance, Halstead Hospital League of Friends, Halstead in Bloom, Grange Farm and Dunmow runners, Tiptree Runners, Witham running club, Havering 90 Joggers, Billericay Striders, Gt Bentley RC and the Halstead Residents Association. Thanks to our sponsors for their generous support - Lambert Chapman, Sainsburys, Holmes & Hills Solicitors, Spice Zone, Halstead Glass, Halstead Physiotherapy, Halstead Town Council, MTM Plant & Tool Hire, Woodlands Gym, Eat Natural, Halstead Tyre and Exhaust centre, Dale Hire and Runners World
The race has already had mountains of positive feedback from the runners. The continuous message is how friendly and supportive they found the people of North Essex. Members of the public handing out jelly babies and jaffa cake! People dancing on the lanes with pom poms! The runners loved the bountiful goody bag and the organisation delivered by HRR Keith Thorogood and his professional team.
Halstead Road Runners is a club for everybody from our Junior section, 8 to 15 year olds, to our Senior section 16 year olds upwards. For people that want to run for pleasure in friendly company and those that want to train with a specific goal in mind.
For senior membership enquiries please call Club Captain Wayne Kern 07801 722794 and for juniors (8-15 year olds) please contact Peri Collins 01787 223150.
Thanks
Matthew Ranson
HRR Press and Publicity Officer
First 3 Female:
Place Name Team
1 June Allen Springfield Striders RC 2:59:26.8
2 Nikki Brockbank Springfield Striders RC 3:10:24.7
3 Helen Mulhall Bearbrook Running Club 3:12:54.6
First 3 Male:
Place Name Team
1 Allen Smalls Colchester Harriers AC 2:35:38.7
2 Lee Martin Springfield Striders RC 2:49:38.8
3 Richard Watkinson 2:49:55.2
Click on the links below to download the PROVISIONAL results of the 2012 Halstead and Essex Marathon:
Four Halstead Road Runners made the short trip to the Discovery Centre for the Notley Duathlon. The course consisted a 4k off-road run including an ascent of the man-made hill, followed by a 2 loop 20k bike leg on road and finishing with the same run. The run was seriously wet underfoot and slippery in places. Thankfully the rain held off for the bike leg. In cold and grey conditions the following results were recorded:
16th Don English overall time 1:14:09 (splits of 15:22, 41:14 and 15:57)
19th Rob Thacker overall time 1:14:50 (splits of 15:46, 41:12 and 16:27) (competing for Born2Tri)
37th Matthew Ranson overall time 1:19:28 (splits of 15:42, 44:30 and 16:36)
107th Maurice Young overall time 1:41:37 (splits of 22:55, 52:19 and 23:20)
Thanks to Born2Tri Triathlon and Multisport Club for a very enjoyable event.
PLEASE BE REMINDED OF THE 18th HALSTEAD AND ESSEX MARATHON taking place on Sunday 13th May 2012. 10am start at the HQ Halstead Leisure Centre, Colne Road, Halstead, CO9 2HR.
For senior membership enquiries please call Club Captain Wayne Kern 07801 722794 and for juniors (8-15 year olds) please contact Peri Collins 01787 223150.
Thanks,
Matthew Ranson
HRR Press and Publicity Officer
Five Halstead Road Runners completed the Virgin London Marathon. Gavin Allen recorded a PB (personal best) with a cracking time of 2:49:32 . Apparently Gavin was “over the moon with his time!” Elsewhere Marathon specialist Andy Wilmot clocked a very respectable time of 4:11:19 placing him 50th in his age group 65 to 69 years young.
Full HRR results:
Gavin Allen 2:49:32 PB (running for Braintree)
Sam Wolton 4:38:20
Mick Purkiss 5:34:40
Hazel Buist 5:16:42
Andy Wilmot 4:11:19 (50th in age category 65 to 69)
PLEASE BE REMINDED OF THE 18th HALSTEAD AND ESSEX MARATHON taking place on Sunday 13th May 2012. 10am start at the HQ Halstead Leisure Centre, Colne Road, Halstead, CO9 2HR.
For senior membership enquiries please call Club Captain Wayne Kern 07801 722794 and for juniors (8-15 year olds) please contact Peri Collins 01787 223150.
Thanks,
Matthew Ranson
HRR Press and Publicity Officer
Here are the details of the 2012 Summer Handicap Series.
Races are for club members but close friends and family or potential new members will be welcome. There will be 6 races in all, two at each distance 5k, 5m & 10k.
Your best time at each distance will make up your overall time and the objective is to record the larget minus time against target, which is what you did last year. New members will be setting a target for 2013.
IMPORTANT - now that we have firmly established 7:30 as our start time on Wednesdays, all races will start promptly at that time and there will be one mass start, i.e. no early starts for slower runners as the extra half hour means there is no danger of darkness before you finish or the pub running out of beer!
May 16th 5k from The Essex Golf & Country Club, Earls Colne (post race at the Bird in Hand)
Halstead Road Runner and Multi-sport professional Maurice Young completed the Cambridge Duathlon. This was the 3rd of the qualifying races for the World Championships. The Race from Bottisham Village College near Newmarket consisted of a 7.5K run, 40K bike, 7.5K run. Over a pretty rural course with a few hills, the runs were 1 lap each and the bike two and half laps. The main challenge was the wind which became stronger as the race progressed, the side wind on the last lap made keeping a straight course difficult. Maurice’s times were - 1st run 48.28, bike 1.46.13, 2nd run 53.13 Transitions 4.,53 overall time 3.32.37. Two minutes faster than his 2010 time. Unlike the other races Maurice was the only person in his age group
HRR had 11 runners amongst the 103 finishers in the 5.5 mile Felsted Trail Run. Gavin, Stuart & Phil took the first three places and Wendy was 3rd woman.
Full HRR results as follows:
1 Gavin Allen 00:37:25
2 Stuart Prestney 00:37:25
3 Phil Davies 00:37:53
23 Don English 00:45:35
24 Bob Langley 00:45:35
28 Andy Carter 00:47:32
29 Wendy Carter 00:47:32
41 Bradley Doe 00:50:15
65 Keith Thorogood 00:58:20
66 Andy Wilmot 00:58:20
90 Sam Wolton 01:09:52
Halstead Road Runners have 7 competitors in the Virgin London Marathon this Sunday. The Club wish all the very best to Sam Wolton, Mick Purkiss, Hazel Buist, Maxine Rodwell, Andy Wilmot, Gavin Allen and Terry Rivers.
PLEASE BE REMINDED OF THE 18th HALSTEAD AND ESSEX MARATHON taking place on Sunday 13th May 2012. 10am start at the HQ Halstead Leisure Centre, Colne Road, Halstead, CO9 2HR.
For senior membership enquiries please call Club Captain Wayne Kern 07801 722794 and for juniors (8-15 year olds) please contact Peri Collins 01787 223150.
Thanks,
Matthew Ranson
HRR Press and Publicity Officer
Glorious spring sunshine welcomed the runners for early morning start of the Good Friday 5 in Sudbury. 445 runners completed this popular race including four from HRR. First home for the club was Stuart Prestney in 30:35 in 24th place. The final hill put paid to the sub 30 min time that Stuart was targetting. Mike Grealy in 62nd place (34:55) also struggled over the uphill section of the course though still managed 3rd place in his age group. Hazel Buist put in an excellent performance in 38:19 (112nd). Performance of the day however undoubtedly came from age group (over 65) winner, the evergreen Pam Jones in 43:01, finishing in the top half of the field in 220th.
Gavin Allen, Stuart Prestney and Brian Collins competed in the Braintree Skyline 5 mile road race on Sunday. With temperatures high for this time of year and a strong field of over 400 athletes, Allen was in superb form gaining 6th position and a personal best time of 27:02 smashing 28 seconds off his previous time. Stuart Prestney also had a super run despite an ongoing injury to finish 45th in a time of 31:47. Brian clocked 46:34
Wendy and Andy Carter completed the Diss Duathlon over a 5k run, 30k cycle, 5k run course. The overall times recorded in this Tri-Anglia event were:
Andy 1:56:19
Wendy 2:02:40
PLEASE BE REMINDED OF THE 18th HALSTEAD AND ESSEX MARATHON taking place on Sunday 13th May 2012. 10am start at the HQ Halstead Leisure Centre, Colne Road, Halstead, CO9 2HR.
For senior membership enquiries please call Club Captain Wayne Kern 07801 722794 and for juniors (8-15 year olds) please contact Peri Collins 01787 223150.
Four Halstead Road Runners made the trip to Chingford for the final cross country race of the year through Epping Forest. Gavin Allen,running for Braintree, maintained his recent off road form notching up 5th place (1hr 32mins) in his first outing in this classic 15 mile race. He is looking good for next month's London Marathon. Phil Davies also took a liking to the dry underfoot conditions recording an impressive 1hr 48mins in 48th position out of 322 finishers. A little further down the field and running together were a fast finishing Mike Grealy and Andrew Warner (running for Orion Harriers) in 2hrs 4minutes in 145th and 149th.
PLEASE BE REMINDED OF THE 18th HALSTEAD AND ESSEX MARATHON taking place on Sunday 13th May 2012. 10am start at the HQ Halstead Leisure Centre, Colne Road, Halstead, CO9 2HR.
For senior membership enquiries please call Club Captain Wayne Kern 07801 722794 and for juniors (8-15 year olds) please contact Peri Collins 01787 223150.
Halstead Glynn completes his first ever half marathon at Gt Bentley!
Halstead Road Runner and Multi-sport man Sam Wolton completed the NiceTri 18 in Offord, Cambridgeshire. An 18 mile 2 lap road race hosted by Triathlon Club NiceTri. In chilly overcast conditions Sam finished 40th in a field of 118 with a time of 2:25:35
Glynn Stone and Stuart Prestney completed the Bentley half marathon in cool conditions. This was Glynn’s racing debut for Halstead Road Runners and first ever half marathon. Glynn had set himself a target time of 1:40 and was delighted to stop the clock in 1:35:32, 108th position. Well done Glynn, the Club look forward to seeing you at many more races. After a month off with injury Stuart finished an impressive 27th with a time of 1:23:08. Stuart was running for Braintree AC.
PLEASE BE REMINDED OF THE 18th HALSTEAD AND ESSEX MARATHON taking place on Sunday 13th May 2012. 10am start at the HQ Halstead Leisure Centre, Colne Road, Halstead, CO9 2HR.
For senior membership enquiries please call Club Captain Wayne Kern 07801 722794 and for juniors (8-15 year olds) please contact Peri Collins 01787 223150.
Halstead Road Runner and committed Multi-sport man Maurice Young completed the Dambuster Duathlon around Rutland Water. Maurice stopped the clock at 3:34:38. Divided up as follows 10k run -1:00:25, 42K bike - 1:54:49, 5K - run 32:22. Maurice reported:
“It is a lovely route, the run is along the banks of the reservoir and over the dam and the bike route a single circuit around the reservoir, There are three consecutive hills to add interest known as "The Rutland Ripples" I was 11 mins slower than last year so need to up the bike mileage in training”
Stewart Ellis ran the Colchester half marathon in a time of 129.43 finishing 73rd out of a field of 1500. Conditions were recorded as perfect! Stewart was running for his first claim club Braintree AC.
For senior membership enquiries please call Club Captain Wayne Kern 07801 722794 and for juniors (8-15 year olds) please contact Peri Collins 01787 223150.
Thanks
Matthew Ranson
HRR Press and Publicity Officer
HalsteadRoadRunners.net
You can find all the photographs taken by our official photographer by clicking on the link below: