Local Sport
Bloomfield takes Benfleet 15 win
BENFLEET Running Club's annual multi-terrain race, the Benfleet 15, saw another record entry this year.
There were 534 entries and 465 finishers in sunny but windy conditions.
The 2008 winner was Crispian Bloomfield, from Billericay Striders, in an impressive time of 1hr 26mins 05secs.
He was closely followed by unattached athlete Hendrik Zietsman in 1:26:33, with last year's winner Greg Deacon, of Basildon AC, in third place in a time of 1:29:52.
"This is my second Benfleet 15. I won it two years ago," said Bloomfield.
"It was tough though with the wind in your face; those miles coming back from Leigh station seemed to go on forever.
"I was in the lead for most of the race, but after a mile and a half I took a wrong turn and was in second place for a while.
"It wasn't as muddy as my last Benfleet 15 though. There was only one muddy bit which was just as well as I don't run well in the mud."
Benfleet Running Club's own men featured strongly among the top places with Paul Prosser fifth, Jez Mancer 11th, Paul Todd - who was also second over 40 vet - 12th and Graham Booty 14th.
They were just pipped for the team prize by four points by Billericay Striders' team of Bloomfield, Paul Wyatt (seventh) and Anthony Squire (16th).
The ladies' field attracted many runners from out of the area, with the winner being Tracey Curl from Norwich Road Runners, finishing in a time of 1:49:46.
Despite having run the Parliament Hill Southern Cross Country race the day before, and being in the over-45 age category, she was still outrunning her younger rivals.
Gail Royston, of Billericay Striders, was second lady (1:50:11) with Melissa Winters of North Herts Road Runners third (1:50:48).
A spokesman for Benfleet Running Club said: "We are once again delighted at the success of our race, with another record number of entries and finishers.
"This year we are grateful to our club member Karl Cadman who set up our on-line entries which proved immensely popular with over 200 runners entering this way.
"The popularity of this race is a tribute to the organisation and support from club members, not to mention the sense of pride the runners get from successfully completing such a challenging course.
"We are only sorry we couldn't deliver more mud this year!
"We particularly owe a vote of thanks to the Castle Point St John Ambulance as without them we could not provide the medical support we need to host the race."
St John Ambulance numbers are dwindling though as members have retired or moved away.
The organisation desperately needs volunteers to keep up with their workload. Anyone interested should call Ian on 01702 559018 or 07768 106224.
Other prizes
First man past the Castle: Crispian Bloomfield; First lady past the Castle: Melissa Winters; First man with SS postcode: Mike Mansfield (Leigh Striders); First lady with SS postcode: Suzanne Croudass (Billericay Striders); Over 40 men: 1, Andy Pritchard (Cardiff AC); 2, Paul Todd (Benfleet RC); 3, Alan Clark (Billericay Striders); Over 50 men: 1, Alan Butler (Thrift Green Trotters). Over 60 men: 1, Patrick Dobbs (Thurrock Harriers); Ladies' team prize: Cambridge Harriers; Over 35 ladies: 1, Kim Masson (Cambridge and Coleridge); 2, Clare Kerr (Ware Joggers); 3, Helen Hoyle (Barnet and District); Over 45 ladies: 1, Lesley Andrew (Unattached); Over 55 ladies: 1, Teresa Flannigan (Pitsea RC).
FULL RESULTS IN TODAY'S ECHO
9:56am Tuesday 29th January 2008
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