ROBERT Chenery, of Ipswich Jaffa, claimed victory at the annual Harwich Discovery 10km road race, which as usual attracted a large contingent from Holland.

By Carl Marston

ROBERT Chenery, of Ipswich Jaffa, claimed victory at the annual Harwich Discovery 10km road race, which as usual attracted a large contingent from Holland.

Chenery finished in 35mins 20secs, well clear of Dutchman Pieter van der Wiel and third-placed Chris Green, from Great Bentley Running Club.

Helmie Ramaters, from The Haag, had nearly six minutes in hand on her way to victory in the ladies' race in 40.29. Eloise Calver, of Saint Edmund Pacers, was a fine second in 46.07, with Harwich's Claire Bransby in third.

Meanwhile, a father-and-son team filled two of the top three places in the supporting 5K event. Witham's Kevin Harper won in 18.02, pursued by leading junior James Powley and his father Nigel Powley, both of Ipswich Triathlon Club.

While Dad Nigel was a regular winner on the Suffolk roads back in the early 1990s, his 13-year-old son James shows signs of following in his footsteps. He has certainly made rapid strides over the last few months.

Nigel said: “It was a pleasure to run alongside James, moving through the field from the gun. For a 13-year-old to finish second in a senior race is stunning. In fact, he is gutted not to have ducked under the 19 minute barrier.”

The event was sponsored by Stena Line and was staged from the Mayflower School in the centre of Harwich. The course went along the promenade. There were 132 finishers in the 10K event and 50 in the 5K.

Results round-up

Harwich Discovery 10K, top three: 1 R Chenery (Jaffa) 35.20; 2 P van der Wiel (AV Hollandia) 36.56; 3 C Green (Gt Bentley RC) 37.52.

Other leading local finishers: 5 M Rutter (Harwich Runners) 38.38; 6 P McClelland (Harwich) 39.09; 8 R Tilley (Unattahced, Dovercourt) 39.40; 11 I Sutcliffe (Halstead RR) 40.38; 12 K Macrosson (Jaffa) 40.42; 13 C Parmenter (Un) 40.50; 14 A Macmillen (Colchester Harriers) 41.23; 18 R Steele (Col/Harr) 42.23; 23 M Driscoll (Harwich) 43.51; 24 N Ross (Un, Harwich) 44.01; 27 A Maclean (Framlingham Flyers) 44.26.

Top five ladies: 1 H Ramaters (Haag Atletik) 40.29; 2 E Calver (Saint Edmund Pacers) 46.07; 3 C Bransby (Harwich) 47.58; 4 J Steele (Col/Harr) 48.16; 5 M Moore (Col/Harr) 48.17. Also: C Wincomb (Jaffa) 49.01; C Smith (Thetford) 49.42; L Horton (Gt Bentley) 50.36; C Holroyd (Harwich) 50.56; B Law (Gt Bentley) 51.57; C Antliff (Harwich) 52.02; M Rayner (Harwich) 53.04.

Harwich 5K, top four: 1 K Harper (Witham RC) 18.02; 2 J Powley (Ipswich Tri) 19.03; 3 N Powley (Ipswich Tri) 19.04; 4 J Burls (Harwich) 19.20. Ladies: 1 A Jalink (Atverni) 20.07; 2 R McCorquodale (Harwich) 20.17; 3 A Collitt (Un, Clacton) 26.34.