HARWICH Runners were well represented at the Colchester Half Marathon, which saw a turnout of 1,906 runners.

Rob Reason was one of many who had run a leg at the Essex Road Relay the day before and showed no ill effects with a fine performance of 1h 14m 50s.

This placed him fourth overall and was his fastest time for the distance in two years.

Simon Day recorded a second successive personal best (PB) for the distance this year, finishing 27th in 1h 23m 51s.

Steve Burbidge claimed 30th in 1h 24m 36s, just two seconds ahead of Simon Harrison. Ian Flook ran his first half marathon for Harwich and finished in an impressive 1h 25m 48s.

There was also a debut for Karen Martin who finished in 2h 3m 31s.

A number of PBs were achieved in good running conditions with John Francis 68th in 1h 28m 54s, Aaron Rudkin 1h 30m 17s, Phil Sanderson 1h 35m 37s, Justin Cooper-Keeble 1h 42m 3s and Anne Herbert 2h 25m 50s all achieving this accolade.

Claudine Tisbury finished 167th overall in a time of 1h 34m 42s and was first in her age group (FV55) and tenth lady.

Ann Piercy was third in the same age group in 1h 57m 21s, while Jeff Higgon was fourth in the MV60 category in a time of 1h 48m 36s.

At the Braintree five-mile race, three Harwich runners were among the 308 finishers.

Ian Cannons was 92nd in 38m 17s, with Steve Kent 132nd in 40m 37s and Sarah Roxby-Clarke in 215th, in a time of 46m 26s.

Always one for a longer challenge, Paul Kerrison completed the Hardmoors 55-mile race in a time of 13h 32m 30s.