THREE south Essex athletes competed in the Clacton Half-Marathon.

Castle Point Joggers, Leigh Striders and Benfleet Running Club had representatives who made the trip to the north of the county for the 13.1 mile event.

Martin England, of Castle Point Joggers, finished eighth in his category and 76th overall.

England registered a time of one hour, 40 minutes and 10 seconds.

And the Castle Point Joggers member was delighted to take part in the half-marathon.

England said: “I finished with a steady one hour, 40 minutes and 10 seconds, which was pleasing because of the heat and breeze.

“I loved competing in a two lap promenade race and the medal, of the pier, is great.”

Meanwhile, Scott Mangham completed his first ever half-marathon.

The Leigh Striders representative had never competed in a race exceeding 10k before making the trip to Clacton.

Mangham finished with a respectable time of one hour, 57 minutes and 58 seconds.

As a result, Mangham notched 157th place out of 314 runners.

Mangham also raised more than £1,000 for Brain Tumour Research, in the process.

Benfleet Running Club’s Matt Humphrey also completed his first half-marathon.

Humphrey negotiated the fast and flat coastal course in a time of two hours, 14 minutes and 43 seconds.

Elsewhere, one of Humphrey’s club-mates travelled to the Danish capital to compete in the KMD Ironman Copenhagen event.

Andy Jopson conquered the continental course in a time of 11 hours, 21 minutes and 19 seconds.

Leigh Striders also boasted a competitor overseas.

Charles Baynes took on the Ironman Challenge, in Sweden, which consisted of a 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile cycle and 26.2 mile run.

Baynes finished in 12 hours and 13 minutes to come sixth in the 60-64 category.

>To sponsor Leigh Striders’ Mangham and add to the £1,000 raised so far, visit justgiving.com/runscotty.