Springfield Striders had a successful Bank Holiday with three winners and two third placings on a busy weekend for running.

Most successful was Julie Hurst-Smith who won both of her races.

On Sunday, she strode to victory in the Halstead 10K, and followed this up with another excellent run on a muddy multi-terrain course at the Bocking 5 on Monday.

Paul Dobson was the other successful Strider, at the Suffolk Heritage Coast half marathon on Sunday.

Dobson demolished the field and built up a four and a half minute winning margin by the finish.

His time of 76 minutes was impressive on another multi-terrain course which included three miles of beach - all good practice for his next race, the Round Mersea Island race this Sunday.

Also running at the Suffolk event were Phil Claydon, Kevin Wright and Ivan Howlett.

Pete Tremain continued his return to distance running by completing the accompanying marathon in 3.30.

Seven Striders tackled the Witham half marathon, on Sunday in wet conditions.

Mark Healey recovered from his London Marathon exertions with his best time at this distance for several years, 1.18.36 being good enough to give him third place.

Good runs from Simon Green and Alan Wheelhouse ensured that the Striders were always in contention for the team prize.

Richard Taylor also ran on Sunday in the Upminster 5K, finishing in 19 minutes.

The main attraction of the weekend, however was the Bocking 5 with 25 Striders toeing the line.

Rain on Sunday had flooded the course and underfoot conditions were tricky, making the choice of footwear of paramount importance.

Simon Green chose well as he held off Jamie Woodyard for third place.

There then followed a procession of Striders with good runs from Alan Wheelhouse, Alec Coleman, Richard Taylor, Dave Turk, Steve Perry, Cathy Ross, Helen Walker, Theresa Tremain, Jean Driscoll and Rachel Fenner.

This weekend three Striders are representing Essex in the Inter Counties Fell Running Championships.

Paul Harris, Lindsay Broadbridge and Rob Rodie will be tackling the Moel Eilio ridge from Llanberis in Snowdonia.

Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.