TEN members of COLCHESTER AND TENDRING ATHLETIC CLUB took up the challenge of the Flora London Marathon.

And, in good conditions, except for one heavy shower, there were some great performances and personal-best times.

Steffan Kennett was the first to show for the CATs, running an excellent race to finish in two hours 41 minutes and 53 seconds.

Next home for the Black Vests and running her first marathon was Charlotte Knappett, in a time of 3h 31m 58s.

Knappett was very pleased with her performance.

She felt very strong and was running well until she twisted her foot at 24 miles, having to limp to the finish.

Julia Gardiner was next to show, running her fourth marathon six months after having her second child.

She was delighted to cross the finish line in a personal-best time of 3h 38m 15s.

For super veteran Diane Wooller, it was her ninth London Marathon and she was equally pleased to finish the course in a personal-best time of 3h 44m 39s.

Kevin Frost was next home for the CATs, having a very good run to finish in 3h 49m 49s, just ahead of Marie Shirley, also running an excellent race to finish the course in 3h 50m 54s.

A very disappointed Robert Hobson crossed the line in 3h 57 24.

He suffered a calf injury very early in the race and did well to finish.

Others finishers for Colchester and Tendring were Ashleigh Ranson in 4h 3m 10s, Suzanne Warren in 4h 46m 39s and Louise Duckling in 5h 9m 39s.

COLCHESTER HARRIERS also had some excellent results in the capital.

Sarah Stradling (pictured right) completely blitzed the club record with an incredible run of 2h 51m 47s.

Stradling has received extensive training from club-mate Adrian Mussett and it showed on the day, with months of tough distance running paying dividends.

Stradling was 34th and 12th in her age group, almost perfect five-kilometre pacing a testimony to her fine coaching.

Mussett, apart from his training duties, also took on the event and clocked an impressive 2h 29m 30s to finish in 47th place and well among the top English runners.

Mick Bond was 13th over-50 in 2h 50m 15s (492nd overall) while a great run came from Paul Helliwell in 398th place, his first-ever marathon produced a staggering time of 2h 48m 02s.

David Wright faltered in the last two miles but came home in 1,234th position in 3h 02m 10s.

Mellisa Dowell's iron man training is certainly paying dividends and she set a new over-40 club record of 3h 17m 02s.

Mike West was another first-time marathon man and clocked a good 3h 20m in 2,865th position.

Malcolm Statham was as consistent as ever in 3h 27m (3,799th) while John Driscoll had his first crack at 26.2 miles and was rewarded with a time of 3h 47m 20s (6,914th).

Other times were Fiona Geraghty in 4h 45m, Nick Mussett (first marathon) in 3h 59m, Jamie Beadle in 3h 58m, Susan Cuin in 4h 25m 30s, Carol Lodge in 5h 30m and Paul Shewbridge in 4h 20m 40s.