Swinburne shines for Dagenham 88s at Benfleet 15

Dagenham 88 Runners Beverley Eagles, Timi Veerasamy and Sharon Robinson at the Benfleet 15 (Image: Archant)

Dagenham 88 Runners’ Nigel Swinburne set a big personal best as local athletes checked their fitness levels at the Benfleet 15.

The annual fixture takes in the Olympic mountain bike course at Hadleigh, before heading to Leigh on Sea and along the sea wall to Canvey, before a hilly finish around Benfleet.

Competitors have battled snow and gale force winds in previous years and this year’s proved wet and muddy, but Swinburne came home in 14th place in one hour 40 minutes and 20 seconds.

Richard Dudman was the next Dagger home in 2:10.54, as Rahana Islam (2:23.55), Timi Veerasamy (3:02.09), Sharon Robinson and Beverley Eagles (both 3:17.11) also took part.

Clubmate Trevor Robinson was in action at the latest Essex Cross-Country League meeting at Great Notley, near Braintree, and finished the 8k race in 38.01.

n Nigel Swinburne had more to celebrate as he finished first at the latest Valentines parkrun.

Swinburne clocked 18.13 for the 5k event, to finish ahead of clubmates Manji Gami (24.32), Hannah Sheikh (25.30), Mark Jermey (26.44), Debbie Vince (34.38) and Julie Dalphinis (34.54).

And a group of six Daggers took part in the first Roding Valley parkrun, with Ryder Islam leading them home in 24.55, ahead of mum Rahana (25.09), Ian Cummins (29.44), Sam Veerasamy (32.42), Vennisa Chowdhury (33.08) and Caroline Cummins (33.30).

Others, Barking: Kelly Drake-Tapscott 29.48.

Bury St Edmunds: Caroline Tuck 21.50.

Harrow Lodge: John Phillips 21.33; Laura Jayne Peskett 27.11.

Hockley Woods: Bill Metcalfe 44.14.

Raphael: Mick Brown 23.55; Jamie Austin 26.57; Luke Summers 26.58; Louise Chappell 27.30; Rosina Salmon 28.16; Suzanne Easley 28.35; Julie Cardnell 33.14; Debbie Joy 34.22; Sharon Robinson 34.24; Kirsty Hannan 36.02.

Thurrock: Joanne Kingston 41.49.

n Dagenham 88 youngsters dominated at the latest Barking & Dagenham Junior parkrun at Central Park on Sunday.

Thomas Dudman was first home in 8.36, with Ryder Islam (9.00) and Jack Palmer (11.02) completing the top three.

Krishan Chowdhury (13.53) and Freddie Palmer (14.02) also represented the club, as Zach Bridges (13.51) pipped brother Lewis (13.52) and Ansh Thomas (14.07), Alice Southall (15.50) and debutant Amelia Beazeley (18.00) also took part.