A COURSE record set by Jessica Judd when she was aged 16 was smashed in the Boxing Day Crown to Crown race.

Judd’s time of 18m 20s over the tough 5km course around Langdon Hills Country Park was beaten by a second by Bristol athlete Jasmine Finney who was visiting the area over Christmas.

The race was won by Victoria Park’s Tom Heslop in 17m 6s with Stephen Strange (Basildon AC, 17m 42s) and Alec Finch (Thurrock Harriers, 17m 55s) second and third.

The first junior athlete was Basildon AC’s Brandon Thorpe, 16, who was fourth overall in 18m 16s.

Thurrock Harriers’ Gemma Holloway was the second female home in 18m 55s while Billericay Striders’ Emma Prideaux was the third woman back in 20m 0s.

In total, a record 309 runners finished the increasingly popular event. The first running of the race in 2015 will be the traditional Good Friday race on April 3 at 11am.