Leigh Crispin was the surprise winner of the William Edwards 10k Road Race on Sunday.

This is now a slick well-organised event and on a fast course around Grays and Orsett it attracted a big entry.

Nonetheless it was Thurrock Harriers who were to dominate, with Crispin emerging from the far reaches of South Ockendon as an impressive winner.

The 22-year-old swept aside the challenge of pre-race favourite Edwards van der Schans to win in 33mins 53secs.

To his delight, race co-ordinator Paul Jones was runner-up and some four seconds behind Crispin after out-sprinting the 20-years younger van der Schans (33.59).

van der Schans is now at Loughborough University where the hot-house atmosphere for athletics should take him on to some fine track performances - and his bronze medal in the Essex Senior 5,000 metre championship during the summer could indicate where his future ambitions lie.

Geoff Wiseman 12th and Neil McGregor 14th provided strong back-up for the leading trio, while David Taplin's 37.47 for 18th was a strong run.

The women also dominated the team race, although individual victory went to Essex half-marathon champion, Eleanor Newman (Colchester).

Juliette Nicholas ran well to take second place by getting the better of training companion Sarah Bridger on the run-in. Their times were 39.39 and 39.40 respectively. Harriers' third scorer was Gail Dawson in sixth position (42.40). Sarah Kemp was also a top ten finisher with a decent time of 43.56.

Results: Men: 32, G Collins (38m 46s); 36, P Oatham (39.23); 37, M Staines (39.35); 57, D Brookes (41.44); 55, D Crispin (41.07); 65, A Chruch (42.24); 68, C Howforth (42.40); 73, R Crispin (43.04).

Published Wednesday December 19, 2001