Competitors braved the dismal morning weather today to take part in the Colchester Half Marathon.

The undulating course took in a town section through the centre of Colchester as well as winding its way through the north Essex countryside.

Despite the less-than-ideal conditions 1,906 people made it round the circuit which started and finished at Colchester United’s Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Coming home first in a time of 1:12.07 was David Green from Northampton Road Runners, followed by Stephen Gibbs from Norwich Roadrunners (1:13.28) and Tom Cammack from Springfield Striders (1:14.02).

Fastest woman was Colchester Harriers AC’s Sarah Stradling, her time of 1:20.52 earning her 14th place overall.

The two oldest competitors were both in the men’s 70+ age category, Bernard Scanlon and John Etherden making it round just over a minute apart with times of 2:18.30 and 2:19.33 respectively.