Benfleet 15 Results

15 January 2017 - By Anita Grainger

16 WRC members headed off to tackle Benfleet 15 this morning. The damp conditions were particularly uninviting but that didn’t seem to stop 13 PBs being broken. Mark Finbow made his annual visit to the race running in his first claim club colours and was our first man home in a new PB of 1:43:18. Vicky Hunt, continues to get quicker and our own pocket rocket stormed round sneaking under the 2 hour mark in a new PB of 1:59:48 and in doing so picked up a shiny new trophy for 3rd lady vet, well done Vicky!

The route starts in downhill in Hadleigh country park, followed by lots of up and downhill sections in the first 3 miles going past Hadleigh castle before heading down to Leigh station. Then follows a flat section across Hadleigh marshes for the next few miles then over the bridge onto Canvey Island and along the sea wall and then back along the grass section before heading back over the bridge and past Benfleet station up a sharp hill and back into the country park for the last 2.5 miles of muddy hills. There was lots of team spirit during the race and it was great to be able to see fellow WRC runners on the out and back section in Canvey Island with lots of encouragement being offered. Anita and Brigid ran the last 6 miles together keeping each other company and went across the finish line together hand in hand in true team spirit.

Thanks our supporters; Graeme Roberts who stood out on the cold for the entire race and to Martyn Byford, Mark Austin, David Hunt, Bill & Jo Smythe for coming to see us all across the finish line…. it was a very welcome sight!

The marshals were fantastic along the route offering lots of encouragement and humour and deserve a medal for standing around in such miserable conditions. I have sent a thank you on behalf of the club.

Full results below, well done all

Mark Finbow	01:43:18	PB
Paul Cole	01:57:10	PB
Vicky Hunt	01:59:48	PB	3rd Lady Vet
Tony Wallen	02:07:28	PB
Mark Lynch	02:09:56	PB
Charlotte Elms	02:18:05
Alex Stuckey	02:24:23
Brigid Wallen	02:27:31
Anita Grainger	02:27:31	PB
Clare Morrision	02:33:19	PB
Tony Smith	02:38:58	PB
Ross Silverton	02:42:00	PB
Emma Sweeney	02:42:12	PB
Becky Grimwood	02:44:56	PB
Tracey Denby	02:52:28	PB
Penny Clarke	03:13:13	PB