The Pitsea Five is going big time...

After years of being run as a relatively minor end-of-season affair in November when major athletes were winding down, the Pitsea Running Club race has moved to April 7 this year.

Organisers hope the new timing -- a week before the London Marathon -- will attract some top names from the sport to the new town.

One star is Basildon's own Nick Wetheridge, who is likely to run the Pitsea competition before setting out in a bid to emulate his coach Eamonn Martin as London Marathon winner.

The Pitsea Five will be run over a new course, mainly based on the Pipps Hill Industrial Estate around Gloucester Park, where the race starts and finishes.

Organiser Peter McLaughlin believes the flat course could produce some near world best times, given the right conditions.

Published Monday, March 25, 2002