WHAT a difference a season makes – at least for the organisers of an annual 10k race which was postponed after heavy rain in the summer.
Numbers were down from previous years with just 186 taking part in the 23rd Brentwood 10k on Sunday, compared to the 450 who normally compete each year.
But the members of the Brentwood-based Thrift Green Trotters, who organise the event, were delighted just to hold it at all this year after the disappointment of having to call the race off in July.
It was repeated and heavy downpours that left the main practice field at Herongate Athletic Football Club, in Billericay Road, severely waterlogged.
The decision was taken to cancel the race – the first time it had been called off in its history – amid fears that scores of cars would have churned the turf into a quagmire. But that was all in the past as dry and sunny conditions greeted runners for the tough course.
Coming first was Crispian Bloomfield, from the Billericay Striders, who crossed the line in an impressive 33 minutes 42 seconds.
The 36-year-old, from Thrift Green in Brentwood, said: "For me this year that's quite a good time, although I have done it quicker. I think I was quite lucky to win. One of the other runners has only just done the Berlin Marathon, but I think it was still in his legs."
The course, which starts and finishes at Herongate Football Club, is regarded as one of the toughest on the Essex running calendar.
Crispian, who has been running with the Billericay Striders since 2000, said: "The first 3km are very nice – but then you go up a long hill and at about 7km there is a really steep hill that carries going up for about 500 metres – that's a real killer."
Coming over the line in 47 minutes 28 seconds was Jodie Timbrel – who came 59th over all but fifth in her class.
The 30-year-old from Romford, who has run with the Thrift Green Trotters for seven years said: It's a tough course I never actually like running."
Earlier on in the day 21 runners ran the 3k fun run – with 11- year-old Kate O'Neill coming first.
Brain Harding, chairman of the race organisers, said: "We are all delighted with the way it has gone. From the depths of despair a few months ago we have turned the event into a triumph."
