HARWICH Runners competed in the always-popular summer five-mile handicap race.

Run on a flat course on quiet country roads behind Lawford, the measured route offers a good opportunity for people to challenge their best times.

With runners trying to beat carefully calculated predicted times, many overcame the hot evening conditions to record new personal bests.

The runner who beat his predicted time by the most was Jez Downs, who is returning from injury and did well to post 40 minutes and 21 seconds.

The fastest runner on the night was Graeme Knott, who zipped round in 28m 12s, while Mark Lloyd continues his comeback and was the only other runner to duck under the 30-minute barrier (29m 56s).

The two fastest ladies finished within a few seconds of each other.

Becky McCorquodale crossed the line in 34m 20s, with Madeline Lewis just seven seconds behind.

There were a number of impressive personal best times recorded.

Lee Allen continues to improve and managed a swift 30m 57 while Archie Barrington (31m 17s) and Mark Higgs (33m 11s) are also becoming stronger runners.

Kris Dalby has shown terrific improvement over the last two years and improved another two minutes to 42m 7s.

There were big gains made by Ruth Benham (40m 30s), Kelly Peck (49m), Valentina Burley (41m 55s) and Ian Bolton (37m 54s).

Alan Gardner, Harry Young, Christina Pretty and Helen Benham all recorded new best times while Faye Elliott, Andy Thorne, Jean Weir, Katie Holmes, Niall Burke also completed the distance faster than ever before.

There were also some runners running their first five-mile race for the club including Alexander McCreadie (36m 27s), Emma McKillop (40m 46s), Samie Franklin (44m 59s) and Trevor Lewis (36m 48s).

Mark Rutter narrowly missed out on a club record for his age at the five-mile race (32m 26s) but also ran a one-mile challenge a few days earlier managing a decent 5m 35s for that distance.

At the weekend, several runners from Harwich travelled to Newmarket for a 10km race.

It was a blisteringly hot day and none of the six recorded best times.

Claudine Benstead won the FV55 category in 44m 33s.

Kate Hodgkiss was third in her age group (female open) in 44m 12s and Robin Brookes placed 19th overall and fourth in the MV45 group in a decent 40m 57s.

Ellie and Niall Burke and Claire Bransby also did well in the hot conditions and, to add to the trophies, the ladies also won the team prize.

Elsewhere, Kris Dalby completed the Nayland 10km trail run in just over an hour and Norman Gooch recorded 52m 16s, finishing 56th out of the 465 that ran.

Two club members completed the Holkam Half Ironman.

It involved a 1.2-mile swim and 56 miles on the bike followed by a 13.1-mile run.

Simon Day finished in 4h 59m 57s and Jules Lawrence in 6h 2m 56s.

At the local Parkrun, only one club member set a new PB in the hot conditions.

Junior member Michael Knowles improved his best by 17 seconds to 20m 15s.

The event was won by fellow club member Mark Lloyd in 18m 21s.

Simon Harrison was third, in 19m 2s, and first lady finisher was Claudine Benstead, in 20m 49s.