HUNDREDS of runners proved their toughness as they completed the gruelling Benfleet 15.

Nearly 600 athletes wound their way from the Hadleigh Downs, along Benfleet Creek and back again, over energy-sapping, undulating ground.

And it was Woodford Green AC’s Tom Beedell who proved to be the best of all as he defended the title he won 12 months earlier.

Beedell was nearly two minutes quicker than last year, crossing the line in 1h 29m 44s.

His nearest challenger was Harry Smith (East Essex Tri) who was the runner-up in 1h 31m 29s while in third place was previous winner Crispian Bloomfield who clocked 1h 32m 20s.

East Essex Tri’s Lee Baynton was sixth in 1h 36m 40s, while the first athlete of host club Benfleet home was James Caldon whose time of 1h 37m 33s was good enough for seventh place.

Leigh on Sea Striders’ Neil Spicer was ninth in 1h 38m 3s.

Rochford Running Club’s Lindsey Colman was victorious in the women’s section, coming home in 1h 51m 23s.

Below is a club-by-club guide to how their runners fared.

Echo:

The Leigh on Sea Striders team 

LEIGH ON SEA STRIDERS

THE first Strider back was Neil Spicer in 1h 38m 3s and first female strider was Stephanie Simpson in 1h 56m 22s, which was good enough to be the fifth lady overall.

Other results: Dean Ovel 1.41.59, Chris McClay 1.46.14, Elliott Cone 1.48.37, 46th Mark Blee 1.49.53, Matt Letley 1.51.30, James Burns 1.51.45, Martin Dempsey 1.53.28, Danny Flint 1.58.36, Rob Burns 2.00.46, Paul Cornwell 2.01.21, Nikki Baynes 2.02.03, Matt Rivers 2.02.15, Colin Barnes 2.03.54, Jerry Bethell 2.05.48, Neal Marlow 2.08.38, Niki Read 2.12.58, Ben Wood 2.13.47, Matt Barrett 2.14.06, Paul Champion 2.14.11, Gary Brown 2.15.20, Mark Norton 2.16.55, Katie Spicer 2.17.30, Pete Karaiskos 2.17.30, Mark Keeble 2.18.13, Ian Hamilton 2.18.55, David Hallett 2.18.56, Jemma Lee 2.19.40, Fiona Walker 2.21.59, Carol Drake 2.25.10, Gail Alexander 2.29.42, Johnny Lau 2.29.48, Mark Armitage 2.35.02, Tania Hagan 2.37.41, Gary Walsh 2.40.10, Elisha Letley 2.41.45, Lynn Rivers 2.41.4, Kerry Slesser 2.47.12, Laura McHugh 2.47.18, Ellen McPhilips 2.50.01, Martin Diggines 2.50.25, Loren Murrell 3.02.04, Maria Wood 3.28.10, Michelle Roberts 3.46.21.

SOUTHEND AC

A DOZEN of Southend’s fittest took on the Benfleet 15 with Ty Farrer leading the club’s contingent by storming into 12th place with 1h 40m 07s – a personal best of almost four minutes.

Next home was Dan Slayford who impressed in 32nd placed in 1h 47m 27s. James Campion also reduced his run-time, now sitting at 1h 50m 58s giving him 52nd place. Justin King dipped under the two-hour barrier for the first time with 1h 57m 12s. Gary Cheek also nudged under the mark with 1h 59m 02s.

Keeping them company round the course were Jeff Bolton (159th), Anne Jenkinson (182nd) and Andrew Coombes in 187th. Kasia Kostyrka-Allchorne, Glen Taylor, Al Monte and Ian Glover completed the Seasiders’ line-up

CASTLE POINT JOGGERS

RICHARD Bonham led the Castle Point Joggers home in 1h 57m 6s while John Sweeney was not far behind in 2h 1m 18s which was more than 17 minutes faster than he ran last year.

Other results: Cliff King 2.06.46, Mike Hopkins 2.08.28, Graeme Edwards 2.17.0, Colin Dunn 2.17.15, Ian Bartram 2.20.48, Christina Edwards 2.21.06, Phil Ransom 2.41.31, Nigel Thorne 2.41.31.