HARWICH Runners have suffered relegation in the 53-12 Cross-Country League.

Despite a good showing in the final race, the club finished the series at the bottom of Pool A.

Great Bentley pulled off an incredible result to take second spot on the day and render the efforts of the 41 who turned out in Harwich colours insufficient.

Harwich managed to get all eight scoring men home in the first 52 places - far better than any of the previous five races this season - yet the men finished fifth.

Rob Reason was the highest-placed finisher for Harwich in seventh place, followed by Simon Day, who showed excellent improvements over the six races and claimed 19th in the final race at Witham.

Graeme Knott (24th) and Sam Gooding-Matthews (52nd) claimed scoring spots, despite recent absences from racing, while Steve Cooper went well in 30th.

There were solid runs for two runners preparing for marathons, with Stuart Weaver taking 49th, just behind Robin Brookes in 45th.

One of the finds of this series has been Stephen Peck, whose placing of 42nd here underlines his progress since joining the club late last year.

Outside the scoring places, Chris Payne, Will Roxby-Clarke and Matt Doran ran well while there was a debut outing from Niall Burke.

In the ladies' race, Kate Hodgkiss recorded her best position of the series in fifth with the consistently strong Sophie Scott next home for the black and white vests in 17th.

Madeline Lewis was next in 20th, followed by Ellie Haynes, making a sparkling debut in a Harwich vest and finishing well in 35th.

There were also good performances from Elspeth Knott, Penny Barrington and a welcome return for Sally Gillam.

There were eight runners who were ever-present at all six races.

Sophie Scott was the only lady to achieve this feat.

Alongside scorers Day, Brookes and Weaver, John Francis, Jeff Higgon, Kieran Callaghan and Julian Cordwell completed all the races this series.

In the accompanying junior race, over a one-mile distance, there were three girls in the under-11 category.

Daisy Ward continues to show huge promise, taking eighth, while there were really strong runs from Eleanor Newman and Bella Ward.

Samuel Barstow and Corey Hare both ran well in the MU11 group, while there was a top-ten place in the U13 category for Tony Greenwood where James Cooper also ran.

Archie Barrington was the highest-placed Harwich junior, taking 17th overall.

Meanwhile, the conditions for this week’s Parkrun were a lot better.

It was about five degrees, with very little wind, which showed in the results with 27 personal bests (PBs).

There were 105 runners - of whom 11 were first timers.

Nick Davies brought the field home in 18 minutes and 19 seconds, which was also a PB.

Mark Rutter, of Harwich Runners, was second in 18m 29s and Warren Byrd was third in 19m 22s.

For the ladies, the first two places went to Harwich club members.

Ann Piercy was first in 24m 58s, Nicola Flatt was second in 25m 5s and Helen Ivory, with a PB, was third in 25m 28s.

Two club members were among those who achieved PBs.

Tracey George recorded 29m 18s and Michael Ball improved by 20 seconds to finish in 24m 44s.