HALSTEAD Road Runners were active over the Christmas break with the highlight being the club's annual Boxing Day Turkey Trot.

It is a notable date in the Christmas calendar for Halstead members, with runners having to predict how long it will take them to run the course, race it without a watch - preferably in fancy dress – and aim to finish as close as possible to their predicted time.

There was a fantastic turnout, including long-standing member Terry Rivers.

The event has a real family feel, with all welcome, including visiting relatives and children.

Martha May ran with her mum Charlotte and Jordan French was accompanied by his two boys.

Newlyweds Rich and Sara Burnham claimed their first trophy as Mr and Mrs, finishing only three seconds off their predicted time of 32 minutes.

Only two seconds behind in second place was Lizzie Griffiths, who finished five seconds quicker than predicted.

Last position on the podium went to Axel Voigt, in third place, as he completed the course 19 seconds off his predicted time.

Among the festive fancy dress were several superheroes (including Barney the dog!), a pair of unicorns but only one man who could fix it and that was Andy Carter, who won best dressed as Bob the Builder.

There were still other opportunities to race over the Christmas break for Halstead Road Runners members, with Parkrun events on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

Axel Voigt ran at Great Notley on Christmas Eve and was pleased with his time of 32 minutes 39 seconds on the winter course.

Steve May also ran at the Great Notley course, this time on Christmas Day, to finish in a time of 21m 26s.

Nicole Smith did some Parkrun tourism racing both days on a muddy and windy Greenham Common in Newbury, Berkshire.

Smith got a course personal best of 25m 57s on Christmas Eve and was first in her age category.