PROBABLY the best known and certainly the most visible club in Billericay has just celebrated its 20th birthday.

Billericay Striders was born in the Spring of 1986 when around 70 runners packed into a hut beside the Rising Sun pub to form the club.

Today more than 100 members pound the streets every week in and around the town.

They can thank Brian Hughes, who teamed-up with secretary of the Essex AAA, Howard Williams to set the ball rolling two decades ago.

Both men are among more than ten people who have been members ever since the original meeting.

The London Marathon, the Essex Cross Country league, the Ingatestone 5 and Great Baddow are among countless races which have welcomed to club's runners says spokesman Ian Grant.

He added: "In August 1986, the Striders organised the first Billericay Half Marathon and three Mile Fun Run from Sun Corner and this event has developed into the current 10 km Race which attracts over 650 athletes from all over the country.

"In 1988 the Striders organised its first charity event, a 400 mile relay around Billericay High Street.

"This is now an annual activity raising money for local charities such as St. Luke's Hospice."

Local celebrities such as athletes Eamonn Martin and Rob Denmark, Premier league referee Andy D' Urso and Billericay's MPs, Teresa Gorman and John Baron, have supported the club.

But Mr Grant admits the patter of trainer clad feet do not always run like clockwork.

"At the 1990 National Fun Run in Hyde Park a member was lost'," he revealed.

"He decided to have an extra run, could not be found when the coach had to leave and consequently made his way back to Billericay by train dressed in running kit covered by a plastic mac.

"Even the change to BST has confused a few members who turned up at the regular Lake Meadows run on Sunday morning one hour late and just as the rest of the club was warming down."

Runners reasons for joining range from keeping fit by jogging round the town to competing in official events.

In 1993 the Striders finished 4th in the Today's Runner National Cross Country Championships beaten only by "big city clubs" and members have won Essex County Championship medals in cross country, road and track races.

To join in the fun and run round the town's streets, or Norsey Wood or many other venues in Essex call 01277 652855.

10:47am Monday 5th June 2006

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