A quartet from Witham Running Club bagged new personal bests (PBs) at the Nicola Five at Canvey Island.

Rita Chalkley, Kev Harper, Dave Smith and Colin Short all performed well.

Harper stretched away from the other Witham runners followed by Smith, who ran his first mile in six minutes 20 seconds, only to regret it later in the race. As the runners reached the turning point to start back along the seaward side of the wall, the wind was behind them and the temperature started to warm up.

Harper was again the first Witham runner home in 24th place and a season's best time of 29m 48s.

Smith achieved a 50+ PB of 33m 56s and Short's time of 38m 16s was a 60+ PB.

Chalkley ran a new all-time PB of 41m 10s.

Meanwhile, four other members of Witham RC took part in a Swimathon at Bramston Swimming Pool, in support of Marie Curie Cancer Care and The Swimathon Foundation.

The quartet had to swim five kilometres, a distance that would not trouble them at all when running.

Peter Gold was first in the pool and handed over to Alan Pilgrim, after he completed his 50 lengths in 28m 47s.

Pilgrim looked very relaxed during his leg, finishing in about 25m 15s and handing over to Annabelle Reed.

Reed had run the London marathon the previous Sunday but still managed to complete her 50 lengths in about 26m 15s.

Then Yvonne Mortimer took over for the final leg and proved to be the quickest Witham swimmer of the evening finishing in approximately 24m 45s.