ATHLETICS: THE weekend saw three of Thurrock Harriers’ road runners in action.

The fist ever National Vets off-road 15 mile championship took place in Bewl, Sussex on Sunday. Pat Dobbs took a rare defeat in the V75 age group but managed a silver medal. On a very hilly woodland course he recorded 2h27m.

Don Lawless, in the V45 age group, took a bronze medal with an excellent time of 1h44m45s - a sign that he is in great form.

Anthony Tobin finished 16th in the re-established Brentwood 10k. It’s a new course – faster than the previous route through Little Burstead. His time was 38m50s. It’s a pity that he had no team to support him in this well organised race.

This week the seniors tackle the fourth round of the Southern Athletics League at Sandy in Bedfordshire. The club will need support from the endurance squad and the under 17s in order to make a late bid for promotion. The opposition comes from the hosts, Biggleswade, Colchester and Tendring and Hillingdon.