SIX Dengie 100 Runners took part in the Southend half-marathon on Sunday.

The large field of over 2,000 entrants was started in three waves, each two minutes apart, in order to reduce congestion over the first two or three miles.

This strategy worked well and also enabled wheelchair competitors to take part for the first time.

The event started in cool, overcast conditions which, combined with the flat, two-lap course, boded well for fast times for the earlier finishers.

The weather deteriorating into heavy rain for those unfortunate enough to finish beyond the two-hour mark.

Those that took part for Dengie were Richard See (one hour, 51 minutes and nine seconds), Chris McDonnell (1h 35m 33s), Emily de Orfe (2h 20m 50s), Dan Tunbridge (1h 51m 47s), Peter Agall (2h 9m 26s) and Joe Sawyer (1h 55m 47s).

Meanwhile, in the Maldon Parkrun, personal bests were achieved by Lydia Bazzard (21m 32s), Wendy Aldridge (22m 6s), Graham Palmer (22m 12s) and Jocelyn McInnes (29m 27s).

Also on Saturday, Steve Houghton took on the undulating Danbury Woods 10k.

This is a mixture of off-road and trail and it proved tough in the warm conditions.

Houghton finished in 51m 59s.