GREY skies, biting wind and drizzling rain did not deter nine Harwich Runners from attending various Parkruns.

The pick of the performances came from Gary Parker and Aaron Rudkin, with both breaking the 19-minute barrier for the first time.

Parker was among a field of 273 at the Ipswich event, which was held for the last time this season in the hilly grounds of Christchurch Park.

Setting a ten-second personal best by stopping the clock in 18 minutes and 59 seconds, Parker enjoyed his highest-ever placing, finishing fourth overall.

Over at the Colchester event, Rudkin was the first Harwich man back to the bandstand in an impressive 35-second best to finish sixth overall out of 260 in 18m 50s.

One minute and one second behind was team-mate Andre Besant, also setting a new personal best by 11 seconds for 16th overall and fourth V40-44.

Husband and wife team Will and Sarah Roxby-Clarke made strong Parkrun debuts at the event, finishing in 22m 35s and 28m 45s apiece.

Colchester stalwart Peter Fraser-Hopewell turned in another consistent run to finish second V60-64 in 23m.

A third top-ten finish for the club came via Richard Flutter at the Great Cornard event, in Sudbury.

He placed eighth out of 86 finishers and equalled his course best in 18m 24s to once again take top spot in the V45-49 age group.

Over in Suffolk, Becky McCorquodale tried out the off-road Kesgrave event based at Millenium Field and Dobbs Wood.

Her time of 21m 26s placed her 16th overall out of 139 finishers and first lady, setting a new V40-44 ladies’ course record in the process.

Further north, Vicky McCrea has been struggling with a quadriceps injury recently, but nonetheless decided to tackle the Hanley Park event in Stoke on Trent.

Her injury held out, allowing her to complete the course in 25m 14s for 71st place out of 238 finishers and 11th woman overall.