SCORES of Leigh Striders members have been put through their paces in a number of events.

Two representatives took on the Colchester Stampede, a half-marathon which starts inside Colchester Zoo before going across the backroads and fields of Colchester and returning to the zoo.

Profits from the event went to Action for the Wild and Striders’ David Harding and Gail Randall put in fine performances.

Harding completed the Colchester Stampede in one hour, 42 minutes and 56 seconds, while Randall crossed the finish line after one hour, 54 minutes and 20 seconds.

And Randall was full of praise for the event.

Randall said: “I ran one hour, 54 minutes and 20 minutes but David ran faster than me by about 10 minutes!

“It was a pretty fun event and I did a 10k there a while ago as well.

“I’m amazed my legs managed it after competed in the the latest Essex Summer Cross Country 10k Series event at Weald Park the day before.”

Meanwhile, a solitary Strider was in action at the New Forest Half-Marathon.

Jack Wright completed the event, which saw competitors run through Brockenhurst Park and the surrounding countryside, after one hour and 39 minutes.

Wright’s time was 10 minutes slower than when he competed in the race 12 months earlier.

In continental Europe, Darren Summers travelled to Belgium to participate in the In Flanders Fields Marathon.

Summers ran from Diksmuide to Ypres through the Flanders Fields on the 20th anniversary of the race.

And Summers clocked a time of three hours, 29 minutes and 13 seconds.

Elsewhere, 30 Striders members were involved in the final Essex Summer Cross Country 10k Series race.

Stuart Cable was the first representative home, recording an impressive time of 38 minutes and 26 seconds to claim seventh place.

Nikki Baynes was the best of the ladies, finishing fourth female with a time of 44 minutes and 47 seconds.

A time of 43 minutes and 51 seconds was enough for Ronan Quinn to finish first in the MV50 category.

At the climax of the Essex Summer Cross Country 10k Series, John Western was rewarded for winning the MV50 category and Alison Hall picked up the trophy for third female.

Entry is now open for the 10th Leigh 10k, which will take place on Sunday, October 21.

The route of the award-winning run has been tweaked, with a new start and finish point.

To book your place, visit losstriders.org/loss-10k.