Best yet for Latham at the Nicola 5 race

A total of 37 runners from Benfleet competed in the five-mile race which is fast and flat, and resulted in some impressive performances particularly by the ladies.

Benfleet's Louisa Latham, with a fine run and a personal best time of 32:53, was just squeezed out of the top three when overtaken in the final mile but still finished an impressive fourth.

Cubmates Sharon Garrard and Debbie Smith took first prize in the over 35 vets and over 45 vets respectively.

This was a good race for Benfleet's youngsters as their first runner over the line was Alan Britain, aged 16, in 14th place in a time of 29:15.

George Watts, 15, and Oliver Thomas, 19, battled it out in a sprint to the finish in 30th and 31st place and times of 31:02 and 31:04 respectively.

A spokesman for Benfleet said: "We have some wonderful young talent now in the club.

"Since the launch of our juniors club we have attracted some fine youngsters to the club who are now blossoming through to the senior races and recording some impressive times.

"We are encouraging youngsters of all abilities to join our juniors club as it is all about fun and fitness for youngsters and for those who are looking to be competitive there is plenty of scope for that too!"

RESULTS Runners: 1, David Miller (Woodbridge Striders) 25:13; 2, Paul Whittaker (Southend AC) 25:36; 3, Crispian Bloomfield (Billericay Striders) 25:41; 4, Ross Clarke (Havering Mayesbrook) 27:00; 5, Steven Whittaker (Southend AC) 27:06; 6, Daniel Bradley (Tonbridge AC) 27:14; 7, Mark Crook (Springfield Striders) 27:21; 8, Shay Joyce (Orion Harriers) 27:32; 9, Jonathan Briggs (Thurrock Harriers) 27:54; 10, Grant Webb (Basildon AC) 28:03; 11, David Butter (Billericay Striders) 28:40; 12 Paul Wyatt (Billericay Striders) 29:03; 13, Alan Clark (Billericay Striders) 29:09; 14 Alan Britain 29:15; 15, Graham Pritchard (Havering Mayesbrook) 29:32; 16, Pete Johnson (Norfolk Gazelles) 29:40; 17, Keith Wilkinson (Chelmsford AC) 29:46; 18, Kevin Harper (Witham RC) 29:49; 19, Keiron McGill (Benfleet RC) 30:02; 20, Neil Crisp (Ilford AC) 30:07; 21, John Russell (Thurrock Harriers) 30:10; 22, James Roberts (East Essex Triathlon Club) 30:19; 23, Abdi Berleen (Ilford AC) 30:24; 24, Cain Bradley (Tonbridge AC) 30:31; 25, Peter Binns (Southend AC) 30:37; 26, Natalie Kipps (Orion Harriers) 30:42; 27, Andy Catton (Ilford AC) 30:48; 28, Martin Hawkins (Cambridge Harriers) 30:55; 29, Ronald Vialls (Barking Road Runners); 30, George Watts (Benfleet RC) 31:02; 31, Oliver Thomas (Benfleet RC) 31:04; 32, Ian Cardy (Springfield Striders) 31:09; 33, Scott Tilson 31:10; 34, Colin Pierson 31:12; 35, Danielle Hurley (Southend AC) 31:14; 36, David Hurley (Southend AC) 31:16; 37, Carl Nanton (Barking Road Runners) 31:41; 38, Craig Beech 31:44; 39, Leo Cole 31:45; 40, Jason Fitchew (Leigh on Sea Striders) 31:57; 41, Tony Hyde 32:00; 42, Ian Tatman (Leigh on Sea Striders) 32:08; 43, Richard Bonhom (Castle Point Joggers) 32:08; 44, Mike Mansfield (Leigh on Sea Striders) 32:08; 45, Vic Wilson (Woodford Green AC) 32:10; 46, Steve Allen 32:18; 47, Martin Edwards 32:23; 48, Paul Ruffy (East Essex Triathlon Club) 32:23; 49, Steve Donoghue (Barking Road Runners) 32:29; 50, Rob Sargent (Loughton AC) 32:30; 51, Colin Jones (Barking Road Runners) 32:39; 52, Alan Cowan (Istead and Ifield) 32:40; 53, T Harvey 32:41; 54, Arthur Whiston (Colchester Harriers) 32:44; 55, Nicola Pyle (Colchester and Tendring) 32:46; 56, Phil Hernon (Orion Harriers) 32:52; 57, Louisa Latham (Benfleet RC) 32:53; 58, Michael Sutton (Ilford AC) 33:00; 59, David Gum 33:09; 60, Ben Massey (Benfleet RC) 33:14; 61, Dean Ovel (Leigh on Sea Striders) 33:17; 62, Clare Reeves (Bexley AC) 33:17; 63, Reece Watson (Mid-Essex Casuals) 33:32; 64, Edward Skinner (Tiptree RRC) 33:34; 65, Mark Williams (Benfleet RC) 33:36; 66, Philip Hardy (Billericay Striders) 33:38; 67, Martin Avent (Tiptree RRC) 33:41; 68, Rebecca Adams (Colchester QT) 33:45; 69, Daniel Evison 33:45; 70, Martin Page (Barking Road Runners) 33:48; 71, Robert West (Leigh on Sea Striders) 33:51; 72, Emma Earl 33:53; 73, David Smith (Witham RC) 33:57; 74, Kerry Holland (Southend AC) 33:57; 75, Robert Burns (Leigh on Sea Striders) 34:18; 76, John O'Shea (Thurrock Harriers) 34:21; 77, Ian Foskew (Mid-Essex Casuals) 34:28; 78, Paul Ward (Barking Road Runners) 34:37; 79, Matthew Showbridge (Woodson Park) 34:37; 80, David Edwards 34:42; 81, Andrew Hutson 34:47; 82, Paul Martin (Woodson Park) 34:51; 83, Kyle Aldridge (Southend AC) 34:54; 84, Jon Ward 35:18; 85, Mike Grout (Benfleet RC) 35:18; 86, David Scott (Thrift Green Trotters) 35:23; 87, Kein Colyer (Great Bentley AC) 35:32; 88, Robert Boult 35:32; 89, Greg Timbrell (Thrift Green Trotters) 35:34; 90, Lauren MacGregor (Orion Harriers) 35:34; 91, Dean Collins 35:40, 92, Brian Butcher (Castle Point Joggers) 35:47; 93, Sharon Garrard (Benfleet RC) 35:47; 94, Stan Coleman (Thrift Green Trotters) 35:48; 95, Steven Cardy (Springfield Striders) 35:50; 96, Ian Pike (Benfleet RC) 35:50; 97, Rob Marek (Leigh on Sea Striders) 35:55; 98, Jay Andrews (Orion Harriers) 35:57; 99, Sally Wilson (Leigh on Sea Striders) 36:01; 100, Connor Hobbs 36:03; 101, Caroline Tuck 36:07; 102, Ian Lewis (Castle Point Joggers) 36:13; 103, Julian Holder (Pitsea RC) 36:19; 104, John Boram (Benfleet RC) 36:21; 105, Paul Watson 36:26; 106, Anthony Anderson 36:34; 107, Colin Bicknell 36:39; 108, Carys Sutton (Thrift Green Trotters) 36:40; 109, Matthew Cops (Benfleet RC) 36:40; 110, Dave Cox (Thurrock Nomads) 36:41; 111, Catherine Stunt (Benfleet RC) 36:44; 112, Debbie Smith (Benfleet RC) 36:46; 113, Jason Parker 36:46; 114, Roger Duffield (Tiptree RRC) 36:48; 115, Robert Armstrong (Barking Road Runners) 36:53; 116, Rob Hadgraft (Tiptree RRC); 117, Angela Bent (Pitsea RC) 37:00; 118, Simon Smith 37:11; 119, Mark Fribbens (Halstead RR) 37:20; 120, Dianne Crisp (Ilford AC) 37:23; 121 Steve Beech (Pitsea RC) 37:25; 122 Glen Taylor (Southend AC) 37:25; 123 Simon Boyes (Leigh on Sea Striders) 37:27; 124 Karen Phillips (Pitsea RC) 37:39; 125 Andy Sims 37:40; 126 Nicola Evans (Benfleet RC) 37:41; 127 Robert Abrey (Dagenham 88 Runners) 37:42; 128, Gary Hamill (Met Police AA) 37:46; 129, Helen Garrett (Beckenham RC) 37:49; 130, Geoffrey Kay 37:51; 131, Ben Jacques 37:52; 132, Tina Dove 38:00; 133, Kevin Appleyard 38:09; 134, Cherie Hipkins (Great Bentley RC) 38:09; 135, Robert Horwill 38:10; 136, Wendy Figes (Barking Road Runners) 38:12; 137, Mick Staines (Pitsea RC) 38:13; 138, Paul O'Brien (Billericay Striders) 38:15; 139, Danny McLaughlin (Orpington RR) 38:16; 140, Julia Pierson 38:16; 141, Dave Williams (Billericay Striders) 38:19; 142 Denise Simmonds (Thrift Green Trotters) 38:22; 143, Colin Short 38:22; 144, Vic McCloud (Benfleet RC) 38:25; 145, Sarah Miller (Ipswich Jaffa) 38:25; 146, Martin Rule (Thanet Road Runners) 38:31; 147, Ian McGuiness 38:32; 148 Peter Chaplin (Castle Point Joggers) 38:34; 149, Andrew Jackson (Serpentine Runners) 38:36; 150, James Williams (Plumstead Runners) 38:43; 151 Graham Jones (Leigh on Sea Striders) 38:45; 152, Beverley Thomas (Pitsea RC) 38:49; 153, Lisa Ward (Leigh on Sea Striders) 38:58; 154, Fiona Hawkins (Southend AC) 39:01; 155 Ken Gilbey 39:03; 156, Sarah Stone 39:11; 157, Alan Porter (Billericay Striders) 39:17; 158, Gary Johnson (Benfleet AC) 39:23; 159, Adam Parker 39:27; 160, William Murphy 39:27; 161, Martin McVeigh (Havering Mayesbrook) 39:28; 162, Susan Barnett (Cambridge and Coleridge AC) 39:29; 163, Meredith Owen 39:36; 164, Martin Starns (Pitsea RC) 39:41; 165, Alex Mullett (Dagenham 88 Runners) 39:44; 166, Emma Summers 39:48; 167, Graeme Edwards 39:50; 168, Gail Patman (Leigh on Sea Striders) 39:52; 169, Jamie Saich 39:53; 170, Samantha Mack 39:57; 171, Linda Daniel (Croydon) 39:58; 172, Gemma Fuller (Leigh on Sea Striders) 40:00; 173, Jodie Timbrell (Thrift Green Trotters) 40:00; 174, Mark Dobson (Leigh on Sea Striders) 40:00; 175, Jennifer Watsham (Colchester Harriers) 40:03; 176, Susan Crompton (Southend AC) 40:06; 177, Barbara Williams (Billericay Striders) 40:08; 178, David West (Leigh on Sea Striders) 40:40; 179, Peter Pye 40:44; 180, Paul Lowry (Castle Point Joggers) 40:45; 181, Andrzej Gajbutowiz (VPH) 40:45; 182, Christina Edwards (Castle Point Joggers) 40:51; 183, Douglas Adams (Dagenham 88 Runners) 40:58; 184, Peter Collier (Fitness First Flyers) 41:03; 185, Barry Storey 41:04; 186, Elaine Brown 41:06; 187, Michael Wilby (Barking Road Runners) 41:06; 188, Keith Passingham (Pitsea RC) 41:09; 189, Rita Chalkley (Braintree AC) 41:09; 190, Richard Stobbs 41:14; 191, Peter Davenport 41:15; 192, Clair Walford (Castle Point AC) 41:15; 193, Michael Jones 41:18; 194, Patrick Waters (Castle Point Joggers) 41:18; 195, Dennis Spencer-Perkins (Barking Road Runners) 41:24; 196, Mark Groves 41:27; 197, Anne Gifford (Havering Mayesbrook) 41:27; 198, Stephen Wallaker 41:38; 199, Lesley Smart (Billericay Striders) 41:44; 200, Mick Shea 41:50; 201, Drew Simpson 41:52; 202, Eddie Crace 41:54; 203, Charley Kober (Castle Point AC) 41:59; 204, Pamela Jones (Ilford AC) 42:01; 205, Ceri Agass 42:08; 205 Sam Crow (Benfleet RC) 42:11; 206, Alastair Kendrick (Castle Point Joggers) 42:12; 207, Danny Timbrell (Thrift Green Trotters) 42:16; 208, Peter Rogers 42:20; 209, Christopher Easter (Thrift Green Trotters) 42:16; 210, Mark Keeble 42:30; 211, Clare Smith 42:32; 212, Roy Jones (Castle Point Joggers) 42:43; 213, Nicki Curling 42:45; 214, Peter Brown 42:45; 215, Kirsty Reuby (Wimbledon Windmillers) 42:51; 216, John Rickard (Castle Point Joggers) 42:52; 217, Peter Watson (Benfleet RC) 42:56; 218, Nicole Miller 43:01; 219, Terry Walford (Castle Point AC) 43:02; 220, Sharon Wells (Springfield Striders) 43:09; 221 Linda Pyke (Pitsea RC) 43:12; 222, Eddie Moss 43:12; 223 Martin Hall 43:15; 224 Paul Smith 43:15; 225, Robert Courtier (Barking Road Runners) 43:15; 226, Karen Lammert 43:15; 227, Charlott Peters 43:18; 228, Dean Johnson 43:18; 229, Gorgia Alden (Benfleet RC) 43:19; 230, Michael Hoy (Benfleet RC) 43:19; 231, Laurence Blainey (Legh on Sea Striders) 43:19; 232, Victoria Byrne 43:19; 233 Stephen Lawson (Havering 90 Joggers) 43:20; 234, Linda Ingram (Benfleet RC) 43:26; 235, Shemitt 43:27; 236, 236 Mark Ambrose (Barking Road Runners) 43:33; 237 Janet Finch (Barking Road Runners) 43:35; 238 Jan Glover 43:35; 239 Kevin Massey (Benfleet RC) 43:37; 240, Kim Hollington 43:37; 241 Liam Robinson 43:37; 242 Colin Donovan 43:35; 243 Fred Lowman (Castle Point Joggers) 43:55; 244, Danielle Kober (Castle Point AC) 43:56; 245, Jennifer Crisp (Ilford AC) 44:00; 246 Vicki Groves (Barking Road Runners) 44:00; 247, Matthew Lock 44:01; 248, Jim Jennett (Leigh on Sea Striders) 44:01; 249, Lisa Macey 44:08; 250, Brian Phillips (Barking Road Runners) 44:10; 251, David Balding (Southend AC) 44:10; 252, Kate McSweeney (Leigh on Sea Striders) 44:24; 253, Jim Hayes (Benfleet RC) 44:26; 254 Rod Shulton 44:29; 255, Jan Hamill (Benfleet RC); 44:33; 256, Chris Gilbert 44:35; 257 David Thomas (Havering Mayesbrook) 44:35; 258, Jennifer Joyce 44:36; 259, Remy Bradley 44:36; 260 Peter Bates (Pitsea RC) 44:40; 261 Maggie Shea 44:44; 262 Barbara Crowley (Thrift Green Trotters) 44:44; 263, John Smith 44:49; 264, Perry Agass 44:50; 265, Joyce Taylor 44:50; 266, Michael King 44:53; 267 Vicky Mansfield 44:56; 268 William Metcalf (Basildon AC) 45:03; 269 Amanda Barlow 45:07; 270, Scott Baker 45:07; 271 Debra Murphy 45:09; 272 Julie Borton 45:09; 273 Laura Sanders 45:11; 274, Gerry Pells (Ilford AC) 45:16; 275 Colin Morton (Comets RRC) 45:26; 276, Peter Brand 45:28; 277, Albert Miles (Castle Point Joggers) 45:31; 278, Laurence Witte 45:37; 279, Lisa Catchpole 45:40; 280, John Waggon 45:47; 281, Richard Lowery (Benfleet RC) 45:48; 282, Linda Bates (Pitsea) 45:52; 283, Debbie Docherty (Leigh Strollers) 45:58; 284, Sarah Formosa 46:07; 285, Cheri Stokes 46:08; 286, Lindsey Nelson 46:12; 286, Chas Matthew 46:13; 287, Sam Rowe 46:14; 288, Emma James 46:22; 289, Mike Wells 46:22; 290, Lee Storey 46:38; 291, Kevin Dove 46:28; 292, Lee Davis (Dagenham 88 London) 46:40; 293, Philip Crow 46:43; 294, Andrew Cooper 46:48; 295, Paul Burchett (Havering 90 Joggers) 46:51; 296, Neil Cornelius 46:54; 297, Patrick Allen 47:00; 298, Bruce McMillan 47:02; 299 Cheryl Lang 47:03; 300 Jason McCarthy 47:07; 301, Kate Wade 47:07; 302, Julie Schofield 47:15; 303 Leanne Johnson 47:18; 304 Wendy Amies 47:22; 305, Cheryl Wells 47:25; 306, Sonia Russell 47:25; 307, Sally Spencer (Barking Road Runners) 47:33; 308 Paul Johnson (Benfleet RC) 47:38; 309 Vin Harrop 47:46; 310, Hamish McKinley 47:46; 311, Marion Bullock 47:58; 312, Sarah Connelly (Leigh on Sea Striders) 48:04; 313, Peter Thomas (Colchester Harriers) 48:07; 314 Jacqueline Fisher (Pitsea RC) 48:12; 315, Gemma Clark (Barking Road Runners) 48:16; 316, Amanda Wiley 48:16; 317 Shemitt 48:20; 318, Arlene Haffie (Leigh on Sea Striders) 48:35; 319, Paul Condon 48:46; 320, David Rontree (Pitsea RC) 48:55; 321 Tom Brown 49:00; 322 Olivia Gillespie 49:12; 323 Michelle Robinson 49:12; 324 Lilani Wijayatilake (Barking Road Runners) 49:26; 325 Karvalee Hall 49:27; 326, Sharon Ruffy 49:31; 327, Michael Ball (Barking Road Runners) 49:37; 328, Christine Porber (Billericay Striders) 49:42; 329, Julie Dalphinis (Dagenham 88 Runners( 49:46); 330, Margaret Blamey 49:56; 331 Annette Johnson (Roach Runners of Rochford) 49:56; 332, Michael Moreton (Benfleet RC) 50:04; 333 Pasha Das 50:17; 334 Barry Paton (Ford Fitness Centre) 50:18; 335 Lisa Fuller (Fitness First Flyers) 50:18; 336 Beckie Eshmade (Castle Point Joggers) 50:23; 337, John Gouldine (Benfleet RC) 50:25; 338, Kerry Barwick 50:39; 339, Jenny Dutton (Castle Point AC) 50:40; 340, William Donovan (Benfleet RC) 50:41; 341, Carrie Harvey 50:52; 342, Kevin Nelson 50:54; 343, Elaine Mitchell (Castle Point Joggers) 51:24; 344, Nikolette Johnson 51:31; 345 Michelle Smith 51:31; 346, Chris Zuber 51:32; 347 Cynthia Thomas (Benfleet RC) 51:33; 348 Tony Crone 51:40; 349, Jeff Bowen 51:41; 350, Clive Dunnico (Castle Point Joggers) 51:49; 351, Lorraine Irwin (Roach Runners of Rochford) 51:53; 352, Ozel Osman 52:00; 353, Elizabeth Esdaile 52:04; 354, Tony Bullock (Southend AC) 52:31; 355, Dominique Smith 52:40; 356, Rosemary Abrey (Dagenham 88 Runners) 53:12; 357 Dennis Attridge 53:16; 358 David Watson 53:20; 359 Julia Attridge 53:33; 360, Karen Challis 53:49; 361, Eileen Earl 54:25; 362, Brian Green (Roach Runners of Rochford) 54:45; 363, Gordon Franklin 54:48; 364, Debbie Desborough (Castle Point Joggers) 54:55; 365, Emma Stephens 54:57; 366, Lorraine Peters (Benfleet RC) 54:57; 367, Roy Page 55:01; 368, Lloyd Williams 55:20; 369, Joanne Chamberlain 55:20; 370, Gemma Young (Benfleet RC) 55:23; 371, Rebecca Baker 55:58; 372, Mike Cook 55:58; 373, Douglas Hooder (Leigh on Sea Striders) 56:07; 374, Liliana Amaral 56:10; 375, Joy Mickleburgh 57:01; 376, Anita Freemantle (Castle Point AC) 57:08; 377, Alan Barwick 57:12; 378, Lisa Ward 57:59; 379, Frances Barbour 57:59; 380, Stella Cox 59:03; 381, Sarah Mott (Castle Point AC) 59:24; 382, Victoria Prior (Roach Runners of Rochford) 1:00:44; 383, Sharon Potter (Roach Runners of Rochford) 1:00:44; 384, Claire Rainbord 1:01:35; 385 Larri Gibson (Benfleet RC) 1:03:54; 386, Robert McMillan (Benfleet RC) 1:04:03; 387, Alison McMillan 1:04:03; 388, Nicola Bradley (Barking Road Runners) 1:04:40; 389, Claire King 1:05:09; 390, Bob Parsons (Barking Road Runners) 1:07:01.

Walkers: 1, Nick Silvester (Aldershot and Farnham) 38.37; 2, Philip Barnard (Castle Point) 39.25; 3, Trevor Jones (Hillingdon) 41.02; 4, Richard Emsley (Steyning) 41.52; 5, Jonathan Hobbs (Ashford); 6, Christopher Hobbs (Medway and Maidstone) 42.44; 7, Oliver Brown (Ilford); 8, Alan Ellam (Enfield and Haringay) 47.40; 9, David Sharpe (Ilford) 48.53; 10, Anne Belchambers (Hillingdon) 48.55; 11, Chris Bent (Pitsea) 50.36; 12, Laurence Dordoy (Ilford) 53.56; 13, Peter Howard (Enfield and Haringay) 55.10; 14, Jo Miles (Hillingdon) 55.18; 15, Bernard Hercock (Enfield and Haringay) 55.25; 16, David Hoben (Surrey Walking Club) 56.52; 17, Eric Hall (Belgrave Harriers) 56.59; 18, Ron Wallwork (Enfield and Haringay) 57.11; 19, David Ainsworth (Ilford) 1.02. 29; 20, Linda Stobbs 1.02. 48; 21, Sheila Kerr 1.03.55; 22, Sue Boreham (Castle View) 1.07.04; 23, George Beecham (Belgrave Harriers) and Shivani Mohalkar Castle Point) 1.07.47; 25, Ken Livermore (Enfield and Haringay) 1.08.36; 26, Michael Cope 1.09.20; 27, Val Mountford 1.09.31; 28, Jan Rowe 1.09.46; 29, Ray Young and Jan Young 1.12.11; 31, Georgina Fuller and Richard Wiseman 1.13.24; 33, Tracy Crone 1.13.41; 34, Kay Bloxham 1.17.30; 35, Ron Harris 1.19.24; 36, Robert Harding (Serpentine Runners) 1.24.13; 37, Louise Cattle and Jackie Stevenson 1.26.22; 39, Melvin Bignall and Mick Cope 1.30.04; 41, Lucy Cope 1.35.20.