IT was another splendid morning at Dovercourt seafront for the Harwich Parkrun.

With great conditions for fast times, 40 of the 92 starters took full advantage to record yet another cluster of personal bests (PBs).

At the front of the run, the three fastest men battled it out for the top positions.

Mark Rutter held off tough challenges from Matt Durrant and Matt Stafford, all running close to their best times.

The men all finished within 13 seconds of each other, around the 19-minute mark.

All members of Harwich Runners, Rutter clocked 18m 50s, Durrant 18m 54s and Stafford 19m 3s.

Fourth place also went to a Harwich club member, Aaron Rudkin, in 19m 33s.

Antoinette Wilson, of Great Bentley Running Club, was the first lady home in a time of 24m 23s.

This was nearly a minute faster than her previous best time.

Next home was Harwich Runners' Ann Piercy, also in a new PB.

Ann completed the London Marathon last weekend and the long hours of training have paid handsome dividends.

She managed a new PB, was second lady home, the fastest age-related lady and she also has a 100 per cent attendance record at the Harwich Parkrun.

Claire Bransby crossed the finishing line a close third.

Claire, also of Harwich Runners, has been gradually improving week on week and is always in contention for one of the top places.

Harwich Runner Valentina Burley has now completed 18 runs at the local Parkrun and produced her second consecutive PB to come home in a time of 27m 30s.

Kevin Fitchett and Andy Farthing are third and first in the men's points league.

Both notched up PBs, as they inch ever-closer to the elite group of runners.

Kevin broke the 23-minute barrier (22m 57s) for the first time and Andy (23m 12s) was not far behind.

A person who is coming back from injury is Jo Higgon.

Jo has had two back-to-back PBs over the last couple of weeks to maintain a top-50 finish again.

Her time this week was 28m 16s.

Other members of Harwich Runners to achieve PBs were Isabella (29m 52s) and Kellie McCreadie (30m 35s), Alice Cole (26m 27s), Bob Rowles (27m), Sally Gillam (25m 27s), David Pleace (25m 44s) and Jeremy Downs (25m 51s).

Last to get a mention this week is young club member Alexander McCreadie.

Alex used to finish just under the 34-minute mark when he first ran at Harwich.

He is now down to 26 minutes.

A 45-second PB this week is a massive uplift in performance and for someone running in the under-14 age group, this is some potential for the future.

Parkruns take place every Saturday all over the country.

At the Colchester event, Paul Davison achieved a PB of 21m 1s and at Great Cornard Richard Flutter finished third in 18m 47s.

Other club members to compete at Colchester were Peter Fraser Hopewell (24m 10s) and Kieran Callaghan (25m 15s).