Crispian chalks up Benfleet win

5:54pm Wednesday 30th January 2008

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BILLERICAY Striders' Crispian Bloomfield won the Benfleet 15 annual multi-terrain race for the second time in three years.

This year's event, on Sunday, saw a record 534 entries and 465 finishers in sunny but windy conditions and Bloomfield added to his 2006 triumph with victory in 1:26:05.

The race started and finished from Canvey's Castle View School and covered a scenic route along Hadleigh with the castle in the background.

Bloomfield said: "It was tough with the wind in your face. Those miles coming back from Leigh station seemed to go on forever. It wasn't as muddy as my last Benfleet 15 though. There was only one muddy bit which was just as well as I don't run well in the mud."

Billericay Striders also took the team prize through Bloomfield, Paul Wyatt (seventh) and Anthony Squire (16th). Another successful member, Gail Royston, was second lady home in 1:50:11.