HALSTEAD Road Runners competed in the Essex 20.

This event is excellent preparation for runners training for marathons and the race is a challenging three-lap course with a mile-long testing hill halfway through each lap.

The weather was more suited to cross-country than road running, with torrential rain and strong headwinds.

The race is also part of the Essex Road Running Championships, with county medals awarded to the first three affiliated runners in male and female individual age categories, as well as teams.

Bob Langley took the top honours, bringing home the gold medal in the M60 category in two hours 33 minutes and nine seconds, with club-mate Andy Wilmot claiming silver in the M70 in 3h 12m 13s.

Despite the horrendous conditions, there were a number of personal bests for the club, with some racing over the distance for the first time.

Richard Candler managed to knock three minutes off his personal best, completing his second 20-mile race in consecutive weeks, finishing in 2h 18m 33s.

The men then followed in relatively close succession, with Andy Owen clocking 2h 26m 13s (a personal best, PB), Tom Porter 2h 29m 4s (PB), Jon Buist 2h 35m 20s, Dan Hollinshead 2h 36m 19s (PB) and Steve May 2h 40m 16s (PB).

Mike Grealy made his return to the roads, finishing in 3h 2m 39s.

Laura Marfleet was in sync with training partner Andy Wilmot, finishing in 3h 12m 13s (PB) which bodes well for her debut at next month's London Marathon.

Sarah Frost and Sara Burnham provided each other with perfect company and motivation.

Frost finished mere seconds ahead in 3h 28m 5s and Burnham in 3h 28m 20s. Both also achieved personal bests.

Elsewhere, Dan Smith continued his pursuit of 100 Marathon Club membership, completing the Mill Hill Marathon in 5h 41m.

Maurice Young also continued his duathlon season, competing in the Oulton Park Sprint held on the motor racing circuit in Cheshire.

Young finished the 4.13k run, 21.5k bike and 4.13k run in 2h 7m 59s. This was faster than last year.