COMPETITORS were presented with ideal conditions for the Halstead and Essex Marathon and that helped Witham Running Club to single and team medals as well as another club record.

David Stephens was first Witham runner home and 11th overall in his marathon debut.

He ran a superb race crossing the line inside his three-hour target with a time of two hours 58 minutes 29 seconds.

Individual County medals were earned by Rachel Sweatt, who picked up a Silver medal as the second lady home in 3:06:59 and Leo Cole took the county Bronze medal for the Male 50 category in 3:04:55.

Cole also claimed another M50 Marathon club record by beating a time that had stood for more than 30 years.

Following Sweatt for Witham in the ladies' team event, were Charlotte Elms in a new personal best (PB) of 3:44:32 and Tanya Cregan in 3:54:26.

This ensured that Witham Running Club earned the Ladies' Team Essex Gold Medal.

Sandwiched between Stephens and Cole, Giles Sowerby completed the scoring for the men in a time of 3:06:17 to earn Witham the Men's Team Essex Bronze medal.

Nik Bainbridge, meanwhile, completed his first marathon in 3:57:48 and other Witham competitors completing the Halstead Marathon were Tracey Denby in 5:09:55 and Heydeh Safavi in 5:10:26.

Elsewhere, Witham's first club championship ten-miler of the season saw some great runs on a challenging course at Great Baddow.

Mark Finbow was best-placed in eighth, while Steve Watson got a PB, Aimee Brinzer limped home to one and Danny Connor clocked up his second of the week after his best in the Maldon Summer 5K.

RESULTS: Mark Finbow 01:00:05, Steven Watson 01:10:08 PB, Kevin Harper 01:13:11, Danny Connor 01:17:04 PB, Gerry Greenwold 01:17:29, Lee Blake 01:19:31, Carina Taylor 01:26:14, Helen Came 01:31:28, Dave Holdich 01:34:39, Aimee Brinzer 01:36:53 PB, Sasha Rush 01:40:23, Julia Bacon 01:41:08.

At race one of the Essex Summer Cross Country Series in Hylands Park, Ross Silverton finished in 59:30 and he also completed the CrossColchester 10K in a time of 56:50.

At the Dereham ten-miler, Steve Hennings ran 1:19:48 and Martina Hennings ran a PB of 1:41:18.