HARWICH Runners again successfully hosted the Essex Championship 5k relays.

The fast route looped out from the oval shelter and round stone pier before heading back up through the park and back on to the seafront.

The best runners in the county descended on Harwich, with almost 300 athletes - 50 men's teams and 40 ladies' teams - representing 18 different running clubs from Essex.

The MV40 race was won by Colchester Harriers, who completed their three legs in just 50 minutes and 45 seconds.

Harwich had a team placed fifth in this highly-competitive category, with Mark Lloyd leading out and recording Harwich’s fastest leg of the day in 17m 24s, ably supported by Steve Cooper (17m 48s) and Simon Day (18m 29s).

A second team in this category also placed well in seventh of the 20 competing teams, with Robin Brookes ducking three seconds under the 18-minute mark and Steve Peck (18m 21s) and Andre Besant (19m 11s) also running strong legs.

Ilford won the MV50 category with Harwich placed fourth.

John Francis had a strong 18m 32s first leg, followed by Justin Burls (20m 13s) and Mark Rutter (18m 49s).

Ilford were also triumphant in the men’s open category and their team of four included the fastest leg of the day, with closing runner Blair McWhirter clocking an incredible 15m 34s.

Harwich were 15th, with Sam Gooding-Matthews producing a good opening leg of 17m 59s, and he was followed by newcomer Niall Burke (22m 36s), Ian Cannons (21m 15s) and Dennis Warner (22m 40s).

Another team from Harwich, comprising Jeff Higgon, Kieran Callaghan, Jeremy Downs and Andrew Thorn, finished three places further back.

In the ladies' races, Saffron Striders emerged victorious in the FV35 category.

Harwich were sixth, with Charlotte Hodgson’s run of 22m 28s sandwiched by identical 21m 54s legs by Claudine Benstead and Madeline Lewis.

In the FV45 category, there was a comfortable win for Colchester Harriers.

Harwich were eighth in that age group with a team formed of Penny Barrington, Claire Bransby and Ann Piercy.

Springfield won the ladies' open race and lead runner Elizabeth Davies produced the fastest time by any of the ladies running on the day, clocking 16m 56s.

Harwich placed 11th with a team comprising Anna Young, Hannah Jarvis and Ellie Haynes. Michelle Cooper-Keeble, Anna Anderson and Tracey George also formed a team.

Elsewhere, both Chris Payne (1h 35m 34s) and Paul Brown (1h 46m 50s) produced their best half-marathon displays in a Harwich vest at the Brentwood half-marathon.

Matt Doran travelled north to tackle the same distance at Stowmarket, finishing in 2h 16m 46s.