HARDY souls braved wet and windy weather to run the first Clacton half-marathon and 10k races for 20 years, on Sunday.

Despite battling rain and a head wind during the return leg of the course, some excellent times were achieved, not least by Charlie Keitch, who was 12th home in one hour, 25 minutes and 54 seconds.

Gary Hill only narrowly missed out on a personal best (PB) in 1h 59m 6s, while Steph Horner was eighth lady in just 1h 49m 22s.

Other Great Bentley Running Club times: Michael Clark (1h 58m 10s), Mark Crittendon (2h 9m 30s), Ben Ficken (1h 29m 30s), Darren Horner (1h 34m 35s), Sue Sorrell (2h 3m 48s) and Kieron Hayes (2h 4m 5s).

Scott Young and Patrick Reynolds ran the 10k event in 49m 16s and 41m 50s respectively.

This was a PB for Reynolds and club bronze age group standard.

Other runners were Ray Baggs (42m 21s), Grahame Clark (46m 33s) and Sandra James (1h 7m 15s).

Young also ran the Colchester Castle Parkrun the previous day, clocking 32m 10s as he paced his sister round the course.

The race was won by Joe Alexander in a stunning 17m 4s.

Other Parkrunners were Belinda Palmer-Jones (29m 29s, for a PB) and Ruth Metcalfe (34m 18s). This was her best time this year.