Colchester Harriers monopolised the Essex 10km road race, incorporated within the Brentwood 10K and held at Blackmore in wet conditions on Sunday.

The Harriers’ men’s and ladies’ teams took the team gold medals, which is always a main priority for the club.

The ladies were led home by Laura Shewbridge, who took the individual bronze medal for a superb third place in a time of 40mins 08secs.

Shewbridge was strong in the second half of the race, coming through the field to lead the Harriers to team gold medals.

Joanna Hudson was eighth in 41.34, despite running on tired legs due to her Ironman training, while Andrea James won her first County medal in ninth spot with a time of 42.13. Other fine runs came from Anita Mussett (47.56) and Fay Smalls (57.52).

Meanwhile, Adrian Mussett who, at the age of 41, has been selected for the Essex team to compete in next week’s Inter-Counties Track Championships, finished a fine second overall in the men’s race.

Mussett clocked 31.49, in the process finishing second veteran, and he was supported by Chris Sellens (fifth in 33.23) and Carwyn Jones (eighth in 33.52) to seal the team gold medals.

Allen Smalls was 16th in 34.56, which earned him the bronze medal in the over-40 category, while Arthur Whiston scooped silver in the over-60s in 42.04.

Personal bests came from Paul Rodgers (37.01), Ian Haw (41.15), Simon Taylor (39.20) and Dan Wilkinson (44.44), while Pete West (37.07) and David Wright (38.36) were well up in the over-50 placings. Simon Smith ran 41.15 and Jon Nears 36.19.

The men’s race was won by Southend’s Paul Whittaker (31.49), with Springfield Striders’ Nikki Brockbank winning the ladies’ event in 38.26.