ENDURANCE runners fine-tuning their preparations for this year’s London Marathon took part in the Essex 20 championships on an awful day in Langham.

Over a three-lap, undulating course and in the face of constant wind and rain, there were many stand-out performances, including that of Billericay Striders’ Crispian Bloomfield who was second overall, but won the Essex gold as winner Paul Molyneux was not county qualified.

Bloomfield’s Striders’ team-mate David Butler was 31st in 2h 13m 39s, while Leigh Stiders’ Colin Barnes was 57th in 2h 19m 27s.

Seven Pitsea Running Club members were in action with Tony Hyde leading them home in a time of 2h 21m 23s, followed a few seconds later by Mike Woodward in 2h 21m 46s.

The lone female Pitsea runner was Angela Bent’s whose excellent time of 2h 48m 18s was enough for a silver medal in the V55 section.

Other Pitsea runners to finish included John Tracey (2h 46m 8s), Tim Shea (2h 57m 15s) and Chris Bent (3h 46m 50s).

There was a flurry of personal bests for the contingent of Southend AC runners in Langham and a gold medal for Mel Panting who took the veteran’s 55 category in a PB time of 2h 45m 57s.

The first six Seasiders home all recorded PBs.

They were led by 20-year-old Eddie Cope-Prior (2h 25m 55s), followed by James Campion (2h 26m), Natasha Lagden (2h 34m 41s), Vanessa Mathers (2h 45m 49s), Panting and Julie Perrin (2h 51m 50s).

Mat Gillard was next home in 2h 55m 40s, followed by Fi Hawkins (3h 7, 17s), Dave Bridge (3h 16m 48s PB) and Debbielyn Hallam (3h 22m 2s PB).

The Southend women’s team of Lagden (11th), Mathers (30th) and Panting (32nd) finished fourth team overall.

Benfleet RC had two runners in the field and both won silver medals in their respective divisions.

Nick Rankin (2h 13m 54s) was second V50 and Vic Mcloud runner-up in the V70 category (3h 10m 19s).