Runners battle to claim fourth place (From Harwich and Manningtree Standard)

Runners battle to claim fourth place

7:00am Friday 26th February 2010

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HARWICH Runners endured sleet, snow, rain and strong winds in the penultimate fixture of the 53-12 League at Great Notley Country Park.

Despite key athletes missing, the Black and White Vests still rallied to fourth place overall.

Leading the Harwich charge were star athletes Graeme Knott (fourth man) and Becky McCorquodale (fifth woman).

The duo achieved their high positions with differing approaches to training, McCorquodale racking up as many as 95 miles in eight days, with Knott only covering that distance in a month.

For McCorquodale a 20-mile race and the London Marathon are the next targets, while lightly-trained Knott will be focusing his attentions on cycling and running races.

Sam Matthews again showed he is the top Harwich athlete for the future, placing a majestic 11th and one spot in front of vastly experienced team-mate Jason Meachen.

With eight men to count, important support came from Mark Rutter (43rd), Richard Newman (55th), Ian Cottee (60th) and Marc Driscoll (64th).

In his first full season, Dan Pierce was the all-important eighth scorer, in a good 77th position.

Former racing cyclists Richard Flutter (82nd) and Nick Beales (87th) again showed running potential.

Others to run well in the tough conditions were Tony Anderson (116th), Roly Knott (117th) and Paul Crowson (133rd). The highlight of the morning for Harwich was fielding a 12-strong women’s team over the testing 4.2 mile course, which included two stiff climbs up to the Kestrel of the South.

Kate Hodgkiss showed she was back to stop form in an excellent ninth.

Team-mate Elspeth Knott can always be counted on to run well and did not disappoint in 29th.

With four women to count, Karen Mowle made her first scoring team position, running strongly to 31st.

Having returned from the warmth of Gran Canaria the night before, the icy Great Notley winds proved a shock to the bronzed but frozen Claire Bransby in 35th. With the bulk of the finishers suffering with frozen hands and struggling to remove their spikes, seven other Harwich women were elated to cross the finish line.

They were led by Kate Thomas (34th), followed by Carla Holroyd (40th), Ann Piercy (53rd), Angela Paxon (55th), Anna Anderson (61st), Miranda Rayner (60th) and Louise Papworth (63rd).

As runners thawed out in the hall, it was announced that Ipswich Jaffa had pipped Colchester Harriers to top spot.

Springfield Striders were well clear of Harwich in third place.

Harwich will now need to be at their best to hold off their Chelmsford rivals for third place overall, in the final league fixture at Hadleigh this Sunday.

Harwich went for quality over quantity in the supporting junior race.

Jack Barrington led the way in 17th and won a age category prize.

George Barrington placed 30th and Sara Hughes also won an age category award in placing 38th.

The team was completed by Archie Barrington in 44th.

The young Harwich squad dropped to joint fourth place in the league and will need to be at full strength to hold off improving Colchester Harriers and Witham squad’s to maintain that position.

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