Essex Half Marathon championships (From Thurrock Gazette)

Big road calender event is good for borough runners

10:26am Wednesday 26th September 2012 in Sport

ATHLETICS: THE Essex Half Marathon Championships were held on Sunday on a new and attractive undulating course in the village of Pleshey. This event now looks as if it will be a fixture on the road running calendar for a long time and it proved a happy hunting ground for Thurrock Harriers. Three of the club’s road runners tackled the event.

Toni Noble produced an outstanding performance, finishing third in the womens race with a time of 91m4s. She also took the silver medal in the 35+ veterans category – behind the winner June Allen from Springfield Striders. Toni is hitting her best form after a flat few months following the London Marathon. Her short economical stride is ideally suited to the roads and more excellent performances on this surface will come.

John Green ran 79m35s to finish 20th in the 40+ finishers. John’s mileage is high at the moment as he prepares for the Amsterdam marathon.

Justin Renda can feel delighted with his effort finishing 54th in 86m53s. He had to withdraw from the London Marathon because of injury but if he continues this sort of form he can think about breaking 3 hours in next April's event.

This weekend sees the County Cross Country Relays at the Hadleigh Country Park. Harriers seniors have strong teams competing.

Grays-based David Johnson finished 200th in the Great North Run at the weekend.

Harriers are looking for senior distance running women (over 17 years old) to boost the team’s cross country squad. Call David Staines on 01375 01375 673261.