2:50pm Friday 10th October 2008
By Dick Marshall
THE ladies of Benfleet Running Club are celebrating enjoying their most successful year in the club’s history.
It was was topped off with a win in the Essex Way Relay in September, competing against the county’s top athletic clubs to take an emphatic 21-point victory over nearest rival Springfield Striders.
The victorious team was made up of Louisa Latham, Debbie Slack, Sharon Garrard, Vanessa Dodds, Karen Goode, Catherine Stunt, Nicola Goode, Lucy Mancer, Debbie Gibbins and Jacqui Watson.
“It is the depth of running amongst Benfleet’s ladies that is so impressive,” said a club spokes-man. “The club has some 12 or 13 ladies capable of finishing in top 10 positions in races, which is unprecedented for the club.”
The ladies in the winning Essex Way Relay team have had some outstanding individual performances this year.
Louisa Latham had a fine start to 2008 and competed in all five South Essex Cross Country League races, finishing in the top 10 every time.
Her highest position was fourth and she run a personal best time of 32mins. 53secs at Canvey’s Nicola ‘5’ race in April, finishing fourth.
Debbie Slack has only just returned to racing again after several months absence.
She ended 2007 in fine form in the Essex Championship Vets Cross country race where she was the first of Benfleet’s ladies home in seventh position, an outstanding performance as she was competing against the county’s best athletes.
Sharon Garrard recorded her first race win at the Bluebell ‘5’ in May. She also took the over-35 vets prize in the Nicola ‘5’.
Vanessa Dodds also took her first win at the Dark Lane 10k in July. She finished in fourth place three times in 2008 at the Southend Half Marathon in June, High Ongar 10k in July, and Little Havens 5k at Basildon in August.
Karen Goode collected two race victories in March in the South Essex Cross Country League, first lady at the Crown to Crown 5k the same month and first at the Dark Lane 5k.
Catherine Stunt had an outstanding cross-country season, finishing in third, second, third, second and fifth in the five races.
She was second at the High Ongar 10k in July where she was also the Essex 10k champion. She was also second at Dark Lane 5k.
Stunt took third at the Barking 5k in August and she won the first 35 vets prize at the Essex PB 5 in June, Dark Lane 5k and the Barking 5k.
Nicola Goode is a primarily a track athlete who has recorded some excellent performances in her first road and cross country season.
After displaying her cross-country potential, in her first road race in September at Ingatestone she finished in the top 20 (in 18th position).
Lucy Mancer won the Crown to Crown 5k off road race in July and August and coming third at the Little Havens 5k race in August.
Debbie Gibbins has taken the over 45s vets prize at the Malta Marathon in February, Blackpool Marathon in April and Mersea Island 10 in August.
She also had two over-45s vets seconds at the Paddock Wood Half marathon in March and Ingate-stone ‘5’ in September. Gibbins top race positions are Southend Half marathon 5th, Blackpool marathon 7th, Serpentine 5k (August) 8th, Mersea Island ‘10’ - 7th, Ingatestone 5 - 8th.
At the age of 48 she recorded personal best times in 2008 over 5k, five miles, 10 miles and marathon distance.
Jacqui Watson started the year well in the cross-country season, finishing fourth in three of the four races she competed in.
She took third place and first over 35 vet at Southend Half marathon in June, fourth place in the Round the Island Race in Mersea in the same month, second in the Little Havens 5k in August and fifth at the Mersea 10 where she was also first over 35 vet.
Other notable Benfleet ladies to feature in 2008 were Charlotte Peppiatt, second lady at the Crown to Crown 5k in August, and Julia Palmer, who was first lady at the Tilty Hilly 5m race in June 2008 and also at the Little Havens 5k in August.
She was fifth lady and first over 45 vet at the Felsted 10k in July, second lady and first over 45 vet at the Southend half marathon and third lady and first over 45 vet at the Thrift Green 10k in July.
>The Benfleet Ladies continued their good form at the Southend 10k last Sunday.
They took the second female team prize behind Southend AC with their line-up of Julia Palmer, who finished fifth and was also first over 45 vet; Catherine Stunt, who was 10th and third over 35 vet; and Vanessa Dodds, who came home 11th and was first over 40 vet.
Both Stunt and Dodds recorded personal best times despite the wet conditions.
Debbie Gibbins won the second over 45 vet prize.
© Copyright 2001-2010 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.echo-news.co.uk