Allan Smalls ran to success in the Essex Marathon Championships.

The Colchester Harrier produced his second two hours 55 minutes marathon in six days at Halstead to continue his build-up for his England debut in the 100km at Cardiff this weekend.

Smalls finished fourth overall to take the bronze Essex medal as the third man was out of county, Smalls also was second veteran over 40 and a member of the silver medal Harriers team to take triple glory.

The race included the roadrunners championship which Smalls also was victor in.

Team-mate David Wright kept to one pace and saw the field disintegrate in the second half of the race as the going got hot.

Moving up from 60th to 19th in the final 15 miles.

Wright's reward was the second veteran over 50 medal and silver team medal in 3h 15m 46s.

A suprise medal winner was Leigh Barringer, who ran a fine race to clock 3h 21m 37s in 25th spot and win his first county medal as the last member of the team.

Another great run came fron Sandy Mcmillian, who on his debut at the distance was rewarded with 57th place in 3h 32m 33s.

Malcolm Statham struggled in the heat but still clocked a respectable 4h 20m 9s in 215th spot.

Colchester Harriers Lyn Higgs finished a fine second in the recent Heritage Half Marathon held from Thorpeness.

Also running well was Sandy Mcmillian and Jack Fryer who were well to the front of the field.

Rachel Abbott beat her father Lance Williams for the first time in the six-mile event.