It was a very hot and humid Sunday as the runners lined up for the start of the Southend 10K, in fact many may have been thinking that a day on the beach with a dip in the sea followed by an ice-cream was a better prospect than a run up and down the promenade!

In the end it was an all male Witham contingent that made the short trip to the coast, only to be rewarded with a roasting race. Alan Reade followed up his age group 5K-club record on Friday night with a scintillating 10K time of 37:24 and 25th place (out of 1332 finishers). Leo Cole claimed a 10K season’s best of 40:08 while Seb Gwyn-Williams’ 45:40 was just a few seconds quicker than Lee Pembroke’s new PB of 45:58. Wayne Hazell finished in 46:55 and Mark Lynch completed the Witham men’s team finishers by crossing the line in 51:40.

Martlesham 10K:
Claire Blake was the only Witham runner to brave the soaring temperatures at the Martlesham 10K this Sunday. The 10K is made up of 4 laps and it took tons of determination to keep going and not make a break for the finish line early! Needless to say, this wasn't a day for a new PB and Claire finished her 10K in 76:40.

New Forest Half Marathon:
Down in Hampshire, Sue Aves's annual pilgrimage to the New Forest Half Marathon saw her record an excellent 1.40.05 over a tough course, finishing an excellent 4th in her age group.

Autumn Club Track 5K:
The club had 26 runners out for the Autumn Club Track 5K in Braintree on Friday evening. In ideal conditions (although some may have found them a little too warm), Jon Booty took the lead from the start and was first across the line in a brilliant time of 17:21, followed by James Farren in 17:39 and Alan Reade in 17:48. Alan’s time was good enough to set a new club record in the male 40-44 age group.

In the ladies race Brigid Wallen was first across the line in a fantastic time of 21:08, followed by Claire Gordon in 21:48 and Liz Stuckey in 21:51.

The club had six juniors battling it out with the seniors on the track. 16-year-old Tom Beard finished 5th overall in a time of 19:21, followed by 10-year-old Courtney Gordon, who finished 29 seconds behind her mum, in a time of 22:17. The next junior was 10-year-old Ryan Mold in 24:16 followed very closely by 11-year-old Alex Waring in 24:17. 9-year-old Jasmine Kenny was running in her first 5K and finished in 27:10.