PAUL Whittaker was a class apart at Sunday’s Billericay 10km.

The Southend AC athlete finished in 30m 31s, more than two-and-a-half minutes ahead of the second-placed athlete Owen Cima who ran a personal best (PB) of 33m 07s.

Whittaker’s time was a new course record, eclipsing his own time from last year of 31m 17s.

Basildon AC’s Stephen Strange finished in third place in a PB of 34m 32s.

Leigh on Sea Striders’ Matibini Matibini was fourth and the first over-40 in 35m 27s while Basildon AC teenager George Elliott, 17, recorded a PB of 35m 48s.

Langdon Hills resident Chris Wayman was ninth in 36m 13s.

Rebecca Davidson was the first woman home in 40m 29s, just getting the better of Gemma Russhard (40m 32s).

Benfleet Running Club men’s team of Dan Carter, David Miller, Ciaran Byrne and Peter Watson secured an overall third place in the team standings.

Leading the pack, Dan Carter crossed the line in 37m 28s, David Miller followed closely with 38m 41s, hot on his heals was Ciaran Byrne, 39m 44s (PB) and then Peter Watson in 39m 49s.

Other Benfleet results: Brian Venton (40:37), Richard Nation (41:32), Mohammed Shofiuzzaman (44:09), Dennis Dudley (45:46), Ian Banthorpe (47:45), Gordon Greenhalgh (48:50), Christopher Chappell (49:54) and Bob Chapman (56:45).

Behind their lead runner Matibini, Matt Letley (39m 32s) was the second Leigh on Sea Strider home with wife Elisha (50m 0s), both got PBs Other Leigh results: Matt Rivers (41.56), Gary Brown (44.11), Ian Tatman (45.52), Arran Salmon (46.45), David Ward (47.10), Elisha Letley (50.00), Anne Howe (50.30), Mark Armitage (52.03), Tim Ketterer (52.40), Lynn Rivers (52.58), Matt Campbell-Carr – (54.20), Jo Hall (56.52), Laura McHugh (57.29), Cathy Salmon (58.33), Ellen McPhilips (59.19), David West (61.24).

Other Southend AC results: Ty Farrer (37m 12s), Glen Taylor (47m 08s).