History

The Essex Way was conceived as a result of a competition organised by the Campaign to Protect Rural England in 1972.

The race was started in 1989 by Thurrock Nomads and by 2000 there were 7 teams.  Just look at the results to see how many in 2024 – well beyond the wildest dreams of the original Thurrock Nomads.

Format

• STAGE 1 EPPING – CHIPPING ONGAR 7.5 miles 8am
• STAGE 2 CHIPPING ONGAR – GOOD EASTER 9.5 miles 9am
• STAGE 3 GOOD EASTER – LITTLE LEIGHS 9.5 miles 10.15am
• STAGE 4 LITTLE LEIGHS – CRESSING 10.1 miles 11.30am
• STAGE 5 CRESSING – GREAT TEY 9.4 miles 12.45pm
• STAGE 6 GREAT TEY – WEST BERGHOLT 5.7 miles 2pm
• STAGE 7 WEST BERGHOLT – DEDHAM 11.2 miles 2.40pm
• STAGE 8 DEDHAM – BRADFIELD 8.0 miles 4.15pm
• STAGE 9 BRADFIELD – RAMSAY 5.3 miles 5.15pm
• STAGE 10 RAMSAY – HARWICH LIGHTHOUSE 5.5 miles 6pm

Running Order

Stage 1                          Rhys Gillard, Robyn Bartholomew and Peter Binns

Stage 2                          Steve Kirsh, Sarah Griffith, Zilda Brackenbury

Stage 3:                         Max Stapleton, Jennie Gall, Richard Lewis

Stage 4 :                        Ollie Randall, Becky O’KIll, Mat Warner

Stage 5 :                        Sam Schubert, Vanessa Mathers, Mat Gillard

Stage 6 :                        Ben Brooks, Izzy Carlin, Dave Girt

Stage 7:                         Lee Taylor Anne Jenkinson, Jackie Sutton

Stage 8 :                        Sam Norris, Juliette Le Mare, Mat Campbell

Stage 9 :                        Hugo Jones, Rebecca Taylor, Grace Ralston

Stage 10 :                     Toby Jones, Poppy Carlin, Mike Stapleton

Finish Approximately 6.45pm, total distance – 82 miles (approximately)

Southend Scorch to Victory

City of Southend won the Essex Way Relay with a record-breaking low score of just 12 points. Only Benfleet on stage 5 and last year’s winners Grange Farm & Dunmow on stage 6 stopped a grand slam of ten top spots.

The holders took second place on leg one and like the winners retained their position to the end. Billericay took third after a battle with Benfleet who were in third spot until stage six.

The ladies’ race was closely fought. On the leg from Epping, it was Grange Farm ahead of Southend and Leigh Striders.  At Good Easter it was Southend leading from Springfield and Leigh Striders. Southend retained the lead into Little Leighs with Grange Farm bouncing back ahead of Springfield. At this stage just two points separated the top three.

Essex Way Relay Results 2024