THE toughest of distance runners gritted it out at the 25th running of the Benfleet 15 on Sunday.

The ever-popular off-road race, which starts and finishes at Hadleigh Country Park, attracted close to 600 runners. many of whom used the distance as the perfect training for spring marathons.

Woodford Green’s Tom Beedell proved the strongest over the testing course, coming home more than two and a half minutes ahead of anyone else in 1h 31m 31s.

George Gurney was the runner-up in 1h 34m 4s while Leigh on Sea Striders’ Neil Spicer was a fine third in 1h 38m 28s.

Other south Essex finishers to crack the top 10 included Billericay Striders’ Kurtis Swan who was fifth (1h 40m 20s) and Benfleet duo Paul Prosser (1h 42m 42s) and James Caldon (1h 43m 28s).

Prosser was the second over-40 runner home, with Southend AC’s Ty Farrer, who was 11th overall, the third over-40 in 1h 43m 42s.

The first woman was Odette Dobson from Saint Edmund Pacers in 1h 46m 23s, followed by Havering’s Debbie Appleton (1h 48m 56s) and Colchester Harriers’ Laura Shrewbridge (1h 58m 34s).

Other runners from the home club Benfleet RC well up in the field included Matt Leeman in 15th (1h 44m 49s) and Billie Burroughs (47th, 1h 53m 39s).

The club’s first woman home was Jacqui Watson in 2h 6m 39s.

Video footage of the Benfleet 15 courtesy of Blackwing Aerials

Nine Castle Point Joggers took part in the race, with Paul Jackaman leading them home in 2h 8m 3s..

Other finishers included Paul Jackaman (2h 8m 3s), Barry Hockley (2h 9m 7s), Richard Bonham (2h12m 23s), Cliff King 2h 16m 55s), John Sweeney (2h 18m 39s), Adam Poulton 2h 18m 54s), Ian Bartram (2h 21m 27s), Mel Brady (2h 35m 32s), Nick McCullagh (3h.00m 02s).

Pitsea RC had a strong turnout of 15 runners and were led by a fine run by Jack Morris who finished in 28th place in 1h 50m 22s.

Also among the Pitsea contingent was Keith Passingham who raced the first Benfleet 15 25 years ago and was still going strong in 2015, finishing in 3h 36m 25s.

The club’s other finishers were: Mike Woodward (1h 52m0 4s), Andrew Coombes (2h 03m 31s), Justin King (2h 09m 55s), Kevan Wind (2h 12m 06s), Chris Reed (2h 19m 52s), Steve Ray (2h 20m 45s), Chris Huggins (2h 31m 09s), Louise Kingsley (2h 46m 37s), Graham Lengthorn (2h 46m 37s), Terri Howe (2h 46m 38s), Samantha Coombes (3h 03m 38s), Steve Macdonald (3h 21m 52s) and Tim Shea (3h 26m 55s).

There was a big contingent of Rochford Running Club members with Joseph Neighbour their first athlete home in 1h 54m 26s.

He was followed by Gary Pitman (2h 02m 07s), Darren Latter (2h 03m 55s), Paul Claydon (2h 06m 50s), Paul Stranks 2h 13m 21s), Dave Joy (2h 15m 37s), Steph Ager (2h 25m 14s), Natasha Neighbour (2h 25m 14s), Mark Robertson (2h 30m 11s), Daniel Benwell (2h 34m 04s), Keith Lovell (2h 44m 42s), Bridgette Bradley (2h 50m 41s), Ian Sherman (2h 57m 26s), Jacqui Knowles (3h 03m 30s).

* Runners will be back on Hadleigh Farm again this Sunday, as the third running of Castle Point Joggers’ Hadleigh Legacy 10k takes place over two arduous laps of the Olympic mountain bike course.

A few entries can still be taken on the day. Please contact info@nice-work.org.uk to express an interest.

Echo:

The start of the fun run

NATHAN THORNTON WINS BENFLEET ONE-MILE FUN RUN

NATHAN Thornton was the winner of the junior one-mile fun run that was held before the Benfleet 15 on Sunday.
The youngster, who was representing the Southend Flyers, covered the mile in 7m 32s.
George Hey was the second athlete to finish in 7m 50s with George Pavey winning the bronze medal in 8m 2s.
The first girl home – and a superb sixth place overall – was Benfleet Running Club’s own Hannah Mickleburgh-Gardham in 8m 35s.
Ruby Muffett was the silver medal winner in 8m 40s and Bree Lock third in 8m 50s.
A total of 38 young runners took part in the race.

Echo:

The fun run top three: Nathan Thornton is flanked by George Pavey and George Hey

Echo:

The top three girls (l-r) Bree Lock, winner Hannah Mickleburgh-Gardham and Ruby Muffett