Dagenham 88 Runners’ Jamie Smith had reason to celebrate at the weekend after scooping a new personal best at the Chelmsford Marathon.

Barking and Dagenham Post: Dagenham 88 runners at Chelmsford (Pic: Ian Cummins)Dagenham 88 runners at Chelmsford (Pic: Ian Cummins) (Image: Archant)

The event in Essex is in its fourth year and takes in views across Shire Hall, Writtle, Roxwell and Willingale before returning to the new city and finishing in the City at Central Park saw Smith as the first club runner home.

Not only that but he also clocked a new best of three hours, 41 minutes and 49 seconds to set the stall out for the club challenge, with Mo Toki next past the finishing line in 4:25.53, ahead of second claimer Nazia Islam on 4:49.07.

Beverley Eagles stopped the clock on 5:09.56 before Jane Swanson-Brent set a new personal best of 5:12.28, closely followed by Sharon Robinson (5:12.40).

Louise Chappell recorded 5:35.28 and another new best came from Denise Woolston in 5:47.14.

A number of club runners also made the journey to Portsmouth to take part in the Great South Run and first home was Peter Salmon in 1:09.01 ahead of Steve Whitfield on 1:27.37.

Luke Summers and Jamie Austin broke the 100-minute clocking in times of 1:29.20 and 1:29.21, closely followed by birthday girl Rosina Salmon (1:40.10)

She was followed in by Sara Prior (1:45.30), Emma O’Shea (1:52.08), Lorraine Moor (1:52.16), Lynne Northcott (1:55.06), Christine Lopes (2:05.01), Lorraine Scott (2.03:35) and Claire Broadley (2.09:54).

Meanwhile, 10 Dagenham 88 members headed to Jubilee Park in Leyton for the second fixture in the Chingford Cross Country League and Paul Grange enjoyed an excellent five-mile race, finishing in third spot overall in a time of 29.31, followed by Gary Coombes (32.08), Ian Cummins (42.01) and Trevor Robinson.

Next up for the club were Michael Pegnall (45.19), Nikhelesh Chowdhury (47.35), Timi Veerasamy (49.15)

Sonya Veerasamy (53.14, Sam Veerasamy (55:07) and Ingrid Woolford (1:04:14)

In the weekly parkrun series, Ryder Islam scooped the top club runner spot over at Valentines Park in a time of 24.48, while Ayla Altunbicak (29.43) followed suit over at Raphaels Park and Caroline Tuck recorded a time of 22.46 at Bury St Edmunds over the 5km distance event.

While many other runners broke their personal bests at the park runs.