THE THIRD Mel Batty 10k was held on Sunday 24th August starting from the
Blackshots track and continuing round the roads of Orsett and North
Grays. 121 competitors completed the course.
The race was won by an American, Colin Leak, in 32m30s. In 3rd place,
with an excellent run, was Grays’ resident, Chris Wayman. Chris was 5th
when he entered the stadium but after producing a spectacular sprint
finish moved into the bronze medal placing.
Nick Trencher, a relative newcomer to the sport was the first Harrier to
finish, in 8th place, with a personal best of 39m15s. Jason Syrett was
just outside his pb in 12th place with a time of 39m38s. 15 year old
Luke Strudwick tried his hand at this distance and finished a
respectable 31st in a time of 44m31s.He was just in front of Iain Scott
who should be pleased with his time of 44m39s. Last week Pat Dobbs won
the Southern Veterans Half Marathon Championship, for the 70+ age group,
in the Burnham Beeches event. This week he won Thurrock’s only medal by
winning the 70+ section with a time of 54m41s and 84th place overall.
Other finishers included David Sales, a renowned Club hurdler of
yesteryear, competed for the first time for over 30 years and finishing
49th in 47m46s. Claire Smith-Allen, well known in local sporting
circles mainly for swimming, was pleased to beat the 1 hour barrier
with 57m53s. Peter Johnson, formerly a Harriers stalwart, but now long
time resident in Norfolk, produced an outstanding run of 39m18s to
finish 9th overall. He was beaten in the 60+ age gorup only by world
class performer Dave Cox.
Former international marathon star Merv Brameld was 74th just in front
of Nomad’s stalward Ray Davies.
The women’s race was won by Katie Sanders, a mother of 3 from Cambridge
Harriers. Southend’s Sarah Jeffrey was 2nd. Anne Jenkinson was 3rd who
also won the 35+ section. Sarah and Anne together with Kasai
Kostyrka-Allchome took the ladies team race.
The men’s team race was won by Woodford Green’s team of veterans,
Gareth Cavell, Ray Dzikowski and Dave Cox who also won the veterans
prizes in the 40+, 50+ and 60+ age groups respectively.
Faye Scott who runs with the Horndon Belles won the ladies section in
the 45+ age group and Southend’s distance running star Adam Hickey can
be proud of his Mum’s victory in the 55+ age group.
