There were 632 finishers in the 2023 Clacton Carnival Half Marathon and 10K on Sunday 20 August, as M40 master Wayne De'ath (unattached) successfully defended his title in the flagship 13.1-mile race in 1:15:50 – a minute slower than his winning time last year.

Conditions were on the warm side for running but that didn't deter Hannah McGowan-Jones (Thurrock Harriers, 1:21:24) from setting a women's course record in the half marathon or Lizzie Wellsted (Colchester Harriers, 36:25 – number 1533 above) from doing the same in the women's 10K – winning the race outright!

Both races started simultaneously on the Clacton-on-Sea Promenade in the largest town on the Essex Sunshine Coast, bedecked with bunting for the annual Clacton Carnival that adds a superb atmosphere and many more spectators for this popular event, managed by Nice Work on behalf of Clacton Carnival Committee.

Wayne De'ath set a blazing pace in the main race but he was put under pressure for his victory by Gareth Carey (unattached, 1:16:08). The only other men to finish ahead of the flying female winner were Chris Cook (Pitsea RC, 1:20:29) and Aaron Graves (Tiptree Road Runners, 1:20:51).

Hannah McGowan-Jones was fifth overall and totally dominated the women's race despite being lightly raced this year, with her only other outing seeming to be a first at Colchester Castle parkrun in 18:27 back in February. The runners-up in the women's race were W35 Chantel Coetzer (1:35:24) and W50 Wendy Smith (Saint Edmund Pacers, 1:36:52).

As for the supporting 10K race (with 310 finishers), the headline was the astonishing win by Lizzie Wellsted, still officially an under-17 competitor on the road, with her 36:25 seeing off all challengers. Wellsted ran her first 10K in 2021 in 58:33 and improved to 37:52 in 2022 and 34:20 to top the UK under-17 age group rankings this year – certainly, one to watch!

The female 10K rostrum was completed by Jemma Clarry (Suffolk Trail Runners, 40:48) and W40 Natalie Simmons (45:28). Meanwhile, the men were led by Dominic Hazell-Evans (unattached, 37:13), Michael Ball (St Neots Riverside Runners, 37:35) and Alex Archer (Ipswich Jaffa RC, 39:52).

Full results and previous stories are available at the runABC South race listing here.

Photo courtesy Clacton Carnival on Facebook