Jo Bisset-Smith with her dog Meg at Sheering, 15 miles into the race

Marathon

COMPETITORS gathered at Cold Christmas, near Ware, to run off the excesses of the festive season.

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The off-road marathon to Good Easter is a biennial event organised by Springfield Striders. The race attracted 109 runners, including 28 from Grange Farm and Dunmow Runners (GFDR).

And the unseasonably mild, dry conditions resulted in impressive times.

First to complete the 26 miles was Allen Smalls of Colchester Harriers, in 3hr 12min. For GFDR, Jo Bisset-Smith, along with her dog Meg, and Ian Lawson were fastest in 4hr 34min, closely followed by Hayley Smith, Pru Hayhow and Steve Read in 4rh 35min.

Jane Smith finished in 4hr 39min just ahead of her husband Andy (4hr 40min).

Natalie Herbert (4rh 47min) and Sue Harrington (4hr 49min) were followed by Kath Birks, John Smith, Jo and Rob Kings (4hr 51min), James Hawkes and Ashwin Shah (4hr 54min), Chris Hayhow (5hr 10min), Nick Perry, Jackie Adams and Lee Prowse (5hr 18min), Lesley and Simon Burpitt (5hr 22min), Peter Inman and Simon Woolley (5hr 23min), Tim Rowntree (5hr 29min), Jeanette Hartley and Jane Pomfret (5hr 47min) and Gavin Foster (6hr 16min).

A well-deserved hot meal was provided for the runners at the end of the race.