COOLER conditions greeted those taking part in Saturday’s Harwich Parkrun.

The lower temperature and hardly any wind made for better times this week.

Once again, Harwich Runners members occupied the top finish positions and they were all regular top-three finishers.

Steve Cooper has recently hit top form with a win at Harwich two weeks ago, followed by a win at Kesgrave Parkrun in 16 minutes and 53 seconds and then a third win in three Saturdays on his return to Harwich.

His time of 17m 9s was a 19-second personal best (PB) on the Harwich course.

Simon Harrison was second back to the bandstand in 18m 49s.

This was the 14th time he has been second at the local event and he has also been first finisher four times.

Third place went to Mark Rutter in 19m 12s - the 13th time he has been third finisher.

Rutter has also been first nine times and second on ten occasions.

Simon Day was fourth in 19m 49s, just six days after completing the London Marathon.

He has been first 13 times and second 12 times.

The top lady club members are also regular top finishers.

Karen Stapleton was third lady finisher this week in 23m.

She has been first lady three times.

Claudine Benstead was once again first lady to cross the finish line, ninth overall in 20m 59s.

Her top finisher record far exceeds all others.

In her 52 Parkruns, she has been first 32 times.

One hundred and 19 people completed the 5k run and of those 26 recorded new personal bests (PBs).

Club members Jean Weir (29m 23s), Clare Richardson (31m 29s), Andy Carter (22m 21s) and Neil Richardson (25m 43s) were among those improving their times.

Clacton Parkrun regular Sam Plummer was first junior in 21m 5s, his fastest at Harwich since last September.

Second junior was club member Eddison Barker in a new personal best time of 21m 30s.

Becky McCorquodale joined 309 competitors at the Ipswich Parkrun and ran 22m 37s - her quickest at that venue since March 2016.

Also away from Harwich, Hannah Jarvis ran the Preston Parkrun, in Brighton, in 24m 53s.

Back at Harwich, one of the race organisers, Edward McCreadie, celebrated a double, his 50th birthday and his 100th Parkrun.

On Sunday, club member took part in two races.

Andy Thorn travelled to Chelmsford to take part in the Viper and Grass Snake trail run and he completed the 15-mile event in 2h 44m 40s.

Closer to home, five members ran in the Frinton and Walton Half-Marathon.

Claudine Benstead continued her winning weekend, finishing first female in 1h 35m 50s.

Charlie McCarthy was 11th finisher in 1h 30m 50s.

Other members who completed the longer distance were Norman Gooch in 1h 48m 36s, Valentina Burley in 1h 58m 17s and Zoe Orr in 2h 25m 21s.

Anne Herbert opted for the two-mile fun run, which she ran with some children from the school where she works, and her time was 20m 54s.