More Country Medals for Striders

19 Oct 09 Kevin Wright

There was more County Gold for Springfield Striders this week as the club's veterans took centre stage.

Last year's winners and hot favourites the Striders' over 40 squad duly raced to victory at Colchester's Abbey Fields course in the Essex Veteran Relay Championships on Sunday.

The in form Kev Harris gave the white and yellow vests the best possible start clocking 16.54 and handing Paul Dobson a healthy lead. Dobson, who is coming back to form himself, clocked 17.01 to increase the lead over closest rivals on the day Billericay, and Gary Chandler ran the fastest time of the day (16.29) to give the Striders victory by 90 seconds.

Billericay held off the challenge of hosts Colchester for silver.

The over 50 men could not quite match this performance but Lindsay Broadbridge (19.07), Tim Brockington (18.49) and Richard Taylor (20.56) ran superbly to take silver behind Chelmsford.

With late drop outs the scratch ladies team of Liz Turk, Nicole Callaghan and Jane Forrester ran their hearts out to finish a magnificent fourth with the latter two making their championship debuts.