Essex Way Relay – Teams and information

28 August 2025 - By Jodee Mayer

Runners

If runners want to join the individual leg WhatsApp groups, you can text Sally on 07939 109444, stating the leg you are running. This was helpful a couple of years ago when I left my headphones on the water table at the end of my leg, and there might be some handy updates shared in the group on the day.

Please make your own number (this just needs to have the number on, i.e., 6 or 7) and ensure it can be seen at start and finish. There are pre-made ones for downloading and printing here. Any issues with access please let me know.

On arrival at your start, find the leg organiser and get ticked off the start list.

I will be our team captain this year and I can be contacted on 07725 269270 in case of emergency or if you can’t finish your leg – I am not running a leg this year so can’t accidentally leave my phone at home.

The spirit of the Essex Way Relay race is friendly and cooperative and so runners are expected to help each other. As an example, if a runner sees another runner go off course, the expectation is that the runner will be called back.

Stage Team 6 Team 7
Stage 1 Karen Flowers Celine Elson
Stage 2 David Kelly James Attenborough
Stage 3 Clive Smith Andy Watson
Stage 4 David Jobling Graham Eyre
Stage 5 Lisa Leader Rachel sharp
Stage 6 Steven Alder Annalise Etherington
Stage 7 Terry Alabaster Claudia Baba
Stage 8 Angela Wray Harry Solomon
Stage 9 James Attenborough Clare Boston
Stage 10 Angela Read Andrew Read

Huge thanks to Angela W – now running much further from home -, Harry – now running 2 races in a day – and James A – now running 2 legs – who have all stepped in / swapped legs – very much appreciated.

NB – Leg 7 remained oversubscribed so I have done a name wheel spin thing (recorded if anyone wants to see), but if either of the runners selected no longer wish to run, we have two reserves for that leg so please let me know ASAP.

Route

If you haven’t and don’t plan to recce your route beforehand, at a minimum you should have the route narrative printed (please see links below) or have downloaded the GPX file (available here), as this is self-navigating and there aren’t marshals or markers (other than the poppy Essex Way markers) along the way.

If you don’t have time to recce the route, don’t panic. There will be lots of other runners so likely you’ll see other runners about (presuming they are heading in the right direction).

In case you’d forgotten, the start and end point are not the same. In terms of logistics there are a couple of options:
  • Two cars, one car at each end of the leg – this is the most commonly used practice. Liaise with the other runner on your leg and drop one car at the start and one at the finish (though that does mean you have to wait for each other).
  • Do an out and back to give you a nice long run.

Distances and start times (approximate – and please arrive 15 minutes before the below times!)

Leg Start location Finish location Distance Link for narrative Start time
1 Epping Station, CM16 4HW

///bills.speeds.shift

 Chipping Ongar, CM5 9AR

///sharp.double.bind

 7.5 miles Stage 1 8am
2 Banson’s Lane (opposite library), Chipping Ongar, CM5 9AR

///sharp.double.bind

 Good Easter, CM1 4RX

///quickly.myself.cupboards

 9.5 miles Stage 2  9am
3 The crossroads near the rec, Good Easter, CM1 4RX

///quickly.myself.cupboards

 Little Leighs, CM3 1PQ

///sinkhole.magma.collide

 9.5 miles Stage 3  10.15am
4 Fishing Lake, Church Lane, Little Leighs, CM3 1PQ

///sinkhole.magma.collide

 Cressing, CM77 8PQ

///deflated.jingles.levels

 10.1 miles Stage 4 11.30am
5 Cressing Parish Church, Cressing, CM77 8PQ

///deflated.jingles.levels

 Great Tey, CO6 1JY

///ruler.seagulls.operation

 9.4 miles Stage 5 12.45pm
6 The Chequers, Great Tey, CO6 1JY

///ruler.seagulls.operation

 West Bergholt, CO6 3DU

///spindles.trouser.scariest

 5.7 miles Stage 6 2pm
7 Old Church, Hall Lane, West Bergholt, CO6 3DU

///spindles.trouser.scariest

 Dedham, CO7 6AA

///robots.nightcap.backpacks

 11.2 miles Stage 7 2.40pm
8 War Memorial, Dedham

CO7 6AA

///robots.nightcap.backpacks

 Bradfield

CO11 2UW

///luck.slipped.assess

 8.0 miles Stage 8 4.15pm
9 Sports field opposite Mill Lane, Bradfield, CO11 2UW

///luck.slipped.assess

 Ramsey, CO12 5HH

///highways.wildfires.shopping

 5.3 miles Stage 9 5.15pm
10 The Castle Inn, Ramsey, CO12 5HH

///highways.wildfires.shopping

 St Helens Green, Harwich, CO12 3NH

///shark.grad.trap

 5.5 miles Stage 10  6pm

More info here

Parking

This is what we know on the car parking based on last year – there will likely the more information in the WhatsApp groups!

Leg One – Epping – the station car park – however you need to pay.  There may be parking in local streets but be careful of the restrictions.
Leg Two  – Ongar – car parks – again payment is required.
Leg Three  – Good Easter – Parking in the sports field available but not very big. Otherwise in local streets.
Leg Four – Little Leighs – Paddock parking available – map here – then streets near A131.
Leg Five  – Cressing – there is limited parking here. Please park considerately.
Leg Six – Lots of Parking on Greenfield Drive – alleyway to start.  Plus local Streets Please park considerately.
Leg Seven – West Bergholt – this is always a difficult one and we would advise against going to this Leg unless you are running or collecting someone. However Springfield advises parking in New Church Road.  Don’t try to park at the start itself.
Leg Eight – Dedham – there is parking in the street and local (paying) car parks.
Leg Nine – Bradfield – there is a community centre car park and parking in the street.
Leg Ten – Ramsey – Do Not park on the streets in the Village… Instead we have two ample car parks – A field between the Castle pub and the A120.  This is just for people leaving their cars in advance. It will be closed at 6.30-45.
For Leg 10 Runners – Ramsey Hill Garage which is just over the A120 and is also where Leg 10 starts for safety reasons.
At Harwich for the Finish and Fish and Chips – parking in the streets

The Volunteers

Andrew Read, our leg manager, will be in touch in relation to volunteering in due course.

As always, any errors, queries, issues, do let me know!

JM

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