ATHLETICS: THURROCK Harriers’ A team scooped the bronze medal at the prestigious Essex Road Relays at Chelmsford on Saturday.

The podium place was the borough club’s best finish since the 1980s, according to Harriers chairman David Stines.

And the Blackshots-based borough B team were on form too, finishing in 10th place in a field of 25 teams.

Harriers A athletes were only kept off the top two spots by winners Southend and runners-up Chelmsford AC. The annual road relay event was held on a fast 6K course.

Staines said: “It was definitely a morale-boosting performance. “The senior men’s team, in fact, consisted of one veteran runner, two under 20s and one senior athlete.

“Veteran Scott Rice took on stage one and finished sixth in what is always the most competitive stage.

“His time was 19 minutes and 47 seconds. This was a 40 second improvement on his previous best for the course,” he added.

More great individual runs followed. Alex Houghton ran stage two in 19 minutes and 14 seconds which was to be the club’s fastest performance. It also lifted them to fourth place. Dennis Cross held on to that position with an in-form performance of 20 minutes and 14 seconds.

And 17-year-old Tom Richardson had the responsibility of the fourth and final stage.

Staines said: “He was chasing the Ilford athlete who had an 80 second advantage, but in turn was being pursued by Colchester’s Adrian Mussett who’s a former international.

“He toughed it out, caught the Ilford runner and held off the fast closing North Essex star.

The last time the Harriers took medals in this event was in the 1980s. This quartet can be very proud of their effort.”

There was also a good B team performance from the club. They too finished third amongst the second string teams and were 10th overall.

Sue Lawrence and Lynn Talbert competed in the British Masters championship at Lee Valley. Sue competing in the Women 40 age group picked up four golds and a silver.

Shot 1st 10.74m; Disc 1st 34.16m; Jav 1st 27.12m; Hammer 1st 35.28m; Weight 2nd 10.46m.Lynn (Women 50) 1st 400m-68.00; 3rd 200m 30.42.