SOUTHEND AC’s Paul Whittaker smashed the course record to win the Billericay 10km on Sunday.

Whittaker was a run-away winner of the race, clocking 31m 17s and knocking 12 seconds off the previous best set by his Southend AC team-mate Adam Hickey six years ago.

Runner-up was Woodford Green’s Tom Beedell (32m 34s) with Springfield Striders’ Scott Cousins third in 34m 5s.

Next home was a wave of yellow and blue vests with four Basildon AC runners packing out the top 10.

Grant Webb led them home in fourth place (34m 31s) with Stephen Strange sixth (35m 27s), Sebastian Cirillo seventh (35m 29s) and teenager George Elliott eighth on his 10k debut in 36m 24s.

It was no surprise that Basildon were comfortable team winners.

The first woman home was Anita Cox in 42m 4s with Southend’s Sarah Jeffrey second with 42m 8s.

A number of Benfleet RC members were in action in Billericay.

First to finish for them, in a time of 33m 33s, was David Harrell closely followed by Mike Grout (40m 05s) and Adam Chapman (41m 11s).

Personal bests were posted by Stephen Burton (44m 57s) and Angela Hall (45m 30s) a time that secured a second in category.

An impressive run for Lynda Crisp also secured a second in category with a time of 63m 58s.

Other Benfleet results: Richard Nation (43:55), Stuart Taylor (46:28), Graeme Newman (47:05), Ian Banthorpe (49:26), Gordon Greenhalgh, (51:03), Richard Lee (53:56), Bob Chapman (58:42).

Gary Pitman led a squad of Rochford Running Club members home in 41m 17s, followed by James Bowker (43.00), Dave Joy (44.53), Mark Benham (45.37), Nicki Benham (50.25), Roy Ferdy (50.57) and Julia Davison (54.53).

Pitsea RC had a great turnout in Billericay with 20 finishers.

Their first man home was Andy Doig (41m 16s), with Paul Wallis placing fourth in the V50 category in 44m 34s. Chris Reed was the fourth V60 (45m 34s) and Cheryl Macdonald fourth V55 (51m 26s).

Other Pitsea results: Steve Beech (51m52s), Ingo Dierkschnieder (52m33s), Terri Howe (52m34s), Caz Wallis (55m39s), Keith Passingham (57m52s), Teresa Flannigan (58m33s), Jackie Beech (59m06s), Ian Hawthorne (59m33s), Peter Bates (59m35s), Linda Matthews (61m02s), Angela Smith (65m07s), Karen Wallis (65m26s), Timothy Marsh (68m15s), Mick Kennedy (68m45s), Dennis Jones (69m37s), Glenn Burton (89m01s).