Race handicap is no bar to winner Scott (From Southend Standard)

Race handicap is no bar to winner Scott

12:10pm Wednesday 30th December 2009

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IT was a case of great Scott on Southend Pier on Boxing Day morning as Southend-on-Sea AC’s marathon man Roy Scott won the 55th staging of the club’s annual handicap race.

The event was implemented in the early 50s by now life member John Tyler, who himself won the maiden race and was on hand to supervise the latest event.

The 2009 race attracted 29 entries but two who had entered turned up too late to run and two others obviously could not pull themselves from their beds!

The traditional entry fee for this event is a wrapped present donated by each entrant and, as the runners return from their efforts, they are invited to choose their “prize”.

To the club’s great surprise and delight, their long-time club record holder over all the distances from 1500 metres up to the marathon — as well as the fastest Pier race of all time, 10mins. 02 secs set in 1984 —Graham Payne, turned up to spectate.

He found himself the focus of attention when he was invited by the club president Mary Green, the former Olympian, to present the three trophies.

The first athlete back was veteran Gareth Crompton but, on the handicaps as usual astutely worked out by Mike Seaman, senior athlete Scott — who had a top 100 finish in this year’s London Marathon — won with 12.20.

The fastest woman was senior Kerry Holland in 14.35 to finish fifth overall.

Despite his age group (under- 13) Josh Mann continues to eat up the ground and produced an awesome 15 minutes performance, giving him an impressive seventh place in a race generally dominated by under-17s and 20s.

At a little over a minute behind Scott, however, Alex Masterson, who has just recently turned 15, and Rhys Gillard, just a few months older, put up impressive performance with their 13.38 and 13.45 clockings.

The mini race for the under-11s was won by J Gillard, with W Gillard second and J Haiser third.

Full story and results in Wednesday's Echo.

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