It was cancelled in 2009 and 2010 due to the bad weather but this year’s ideal conditions saw the welcome return of Witham Running Club’s Boxing Day 5 – it was cool (as you’d expect in December) but there was no sign of rain or wind to dampen the proceedings.

The runners started trooping out from the race headquarters at Witham Town FC and assembled on the pavements ready for the start, bringing a surprising atmosphere of post-christmas excitement. Runners began by streaming up the hill on Spa Road, past The Victoria pub for the first time before turning right onto Flora Road, back to the roundabout and right up Power Hall Road again. By the time the runners passed The Victoria for the second time and headed out into the country, the field was really stretched out and the leaders were pulling away.

After the cottages at Dancing Dicks the course was mainly downhill, wending it’s way round the double bend at the bottom of Blunts Hall Road, under a couple of railway bridges before the final left turn and the last sprint up the access road back to Witham Town FC and the finish in the car park to pick up a celebratory T shirt!

Springfield Strider’s Paul Whittaker was in fantastic form and won the race in 24:53 with room to spare. Second man home was Nick Wood (26:02) from Dartford Harriers AC, just in front of Crispian Bloomfield (26:13) of Billericay Striders.

The Open Ladies prizes went to Alexa Joel (28:16) who was placed a brilliant 11th overall. Hayley Munn (29:02) of Enfield & Haringey AC was second lady home and Marie Shirley (31:37) of Colchester Harriers AC took the third prize.

The men’s age category winners were John Barker of Thrift Green Trotters (28:40 – M40 category), Ross Boyer of Braintree & District AC (30:44– M50 category), Raymond Hill of Ipswich Jaffa (33:34 – M60 category), Roger Duffield of Tiptree Road Runners (45:15– M70 category) and Stephen Woodford of Brentwood School (27:26– Male Youth category).

The ladies age category winners were Jenny Chewter of Springfield Strider (34:19 – F35 category), Rachel Jarvis of Harwich Runners (36:15 – F45 category), Janet Pardon of Billericay Striders (40:18 – F55 cattegory), Brenda Bloomfield of Billericay Striders (46:53) and Karen Baker of Colchester Harriers AC (38:18 – Ladies Youth category).

There were a number of Witham RC runners in the field. James Farren (29:50) was the first Witham man home, followed by Daniel Beckerleg (32:34) and then Frank McKeown (35:15) in a welcome return to racing. Shawn Beckerleg came home in 38:08, Nick Manley (29:17) just held off Kevin Atwill (39:18) with Angie Manley (39:34), Michael McKeown (39:53) and Dave Beckerleg (39:58) close behind. Gary Levey (40:51) was the next Witham runner under the finish banner, then came Ruth Fosker (41:44), Sally King (42:10), Jane Noble (48:32) and Claire Blake (55:07).

As expected the refreshment counter was really busy – plenty of orders for tea, coffee, juice and of course, cake! And what a selection of cakes there were – so much choice that most people had trouble deciding what to have.

So finally the last runner was home and the Boxing Day 5 was over. Witham RC members had turned out in force to man the late entry desk, enter names into the PC, marshal the course, man the finish line, give out the T shirts and water, serve the teas and coffees, work out the results and finally present the prizes – so a big thank you to everybody for their help. All we need now is good weather for next Boxing Day (fingers crossed)!