THE fourth race in the Harwich 5km series took place on the promenade.

With runners trying to beat a carefully calculated predicted time, 69 of the 167 finishers managed to succeed with that target.

With the overall winner being the runner who beat their predicted time by the biggest margin, this time the winner was Sharon Cox. Second place went to newcomer Jay Rusecki, with Harwich’s Tracey George third.

Seventy-seven of the finishers were from Harwich Runners and, despite conditions being maybe not quite as favourable as the previous races in the series, it was good to see a healthy number of personal best times being recorded.

Trevor Lewis improved by six seconds to 21 minutes and one second, Nicola Challis knocked off another 14 seconds to post 22m 22s and young Harry Pitham continues to show improvement, having improved a full minute from the first race to now boast a personal best of 19m 19s.

Others leaving with new best times included Steve Manley (23m 43s), his third in three races, Mike Isted (25m 5s), Karl Leach (24m 18s) and Christina Pretty (28m 36s).

Some of the newer members of the club continue to progress with gains made by Tanya Cane (28m 19s), Louise Brundle (28m 34s), Martha Spooner (40m 26s), Jennifer Griffiths (32m 4s) and Alison Evans (27m 28s).

Deborah Smith got her third best time in a row while Kathy Barfield has impressively reduced her time from 29m 9s to 28m 11s over the four races.

The fastest runner on the night was Harwich’s Rob Reason, who zipped round the course in a decent 16m 32s.

The fastest lady was Heidi Steele, of Colchester Harriers, who posted 18m 36s.

There were a few impressive season-best times produced too. Among them there was a return to form for Jason Meachen (18m 50s), Katie Holmes (24m 54s), Claire Bransby (24m 1s) and, tantalisingly close to his previous best, Robin Brookes managed 18m 9s.

In the accompanying junior run where the youngsters had to try and beat their predicted times over a one-mile off-road course, there was victory for Max Stapleton, whose time of 7m 18s proved decisive.

In second was Jack Manley, with Eryn Lewis third.

Dalia Jaballah was the fastest girl in 7m 29s while the fastest overall time of any of the 27 competitors was by Peter Hughes, with an impressive 6m 44s.

The final race in the series takes place on Tuesday, July 30.

At the Harwich Parkrun on Saturday, there were few new personal bests (PBs) for club members but a number came close. Alan Gardener (20m 47s), who finished ninth, was just one second off his previous best.

Antony Westgate (23m 3s) and Deborah Smith (26m 55s) were two seconds off.

Rem’a Eagle, who finished third, equalled his best time of 18m 42s.

Michael Isted did claim a new PB of 24m 48s - his best since August last year.

First finishing lady was club member Madeline Lewis, in 22m 9s. Second finishing female was junior member Dalia Jaballah and her time of 22m 45s was a massive improvement of 1m 42s on her previous best set only two weeks ago.

Elsewhere on Sunday, Deborah Smith took on a charity 10k run for Porridge and Pens for Ghana in Brightlingsea.