Barking and Dagenham Athletics Clubs Secure Multi-Event Success 2026

Key Points

• Multi-Discipline Participation: Barking Roadrunners and Dagenham 88 Runners completed a diverse week of competition encompassing trail runs, road races, 24-hour endurance challenges, local parkruns, and an international open-water swim.
• ELVIS Series Progress: Both clubs fielded competitive lineups in round five of the East London Vanguard Inter-Club Start (ELVIS) series, navigating the multi-terrain Newman Hilly five-mile course at Hainault Forest and the ELVIS 5ish race.
• Endurance Achievements: Athletes from both factions took part in the demanding Spitfire Scramble 24-hour endurance challenge, securing notable solo distances and a podium finish in the team categories.
• International Open-Water Swim: Two Barking Roadrunners successfully crossed the Arctic Circle, completing a 2,000-metre swim from Sweden to Finland.
• Age-Group and Road Milestones: Individual runners secured top-tier placements in senior age brackets and recorded multi-year personal milestones across London and Shrewsbury events.

Barking and Dagenham (East London Times) July 13, 2026 — Barking Roadrunners and Dagenham 88 Runners achieved notable competitive success across multiple athletic formats over the past week, displaying high participation rates in trail races, road running events, extreme endurance challenges, parkruns, and an international open-water swim within the Arctic Circle.

As reported by the sports desk of the Barking and Dagenham Post, members of both organizations demonstrated substantial versatility, securing leading club positions, podium finishes, and personal benchmark times across varying terrains and distances.

The week’s activities highlight the robust presence of amateur athletics in East London boroughs, particularly through key events such as the local ELVIS series and the 24-hour Spitfire Scramble endurance race.

What Were the Results of the ELVIS Series Round Five and the Newman Hilly Trail Race?

The fifth round of the East London Vanguard Inter-Club Start (ELVIS) series presented a challenging multi-terrain profile for competitors. Barking Roadrunners took on the Newman Hilly five-mile trail race located at Hainault Forest, an event traditionally hosted by Ilford Athletics Club (AC).

According to documentation compiled by the Barking and Dagenham Post, Rory Burr was the first male representative to cross the finish line for Barking Roadrunners.

On the women’s side, Jean Bridgeman delivered the leading performance for the club, heading the female contingent home. Following Bridgeman’s initial finish, the Barking Roadrunners women’s team showed strong depth with sequential finishes from:

• Joyce Golder
• Belinda Riches
• Debra Jean Baptiste
• Nikki Cranmer
• Louise Chappell
• Dawn Curtis

The club’s competitive positioning was reinforced by the male backup squad supporting Burr’s lead time, which included consistent performances from Martin Page, Ron Vialls, John George, Kevin Wotton, and Gary Harford.

How Did Dagenham 88 Runners Perform at the ELVIS 5ish Event?

Concurrently, Dagenham 88 Runners established their presence in the ELVIS series structure during the ELVIS 5ish race. As recorded by the Barking and Dagenham Post sports desk, Billy Walkington spearheaded the Dagenham 88 contingent, crossing the line in a time of 38 minutes and 10 seconds.

Walkington was followed closely by teammates Chris Newland, who registered a time of 38:41, and Allan Lacey, who completed the course in 40:30.

A standout age-group performance was logged by Timi Veerasamy, who claimed first place within the Female Veteran 70 (FV70) classification, clocking a final time of 56:15.

The club also received competitive finishes from James Byers, John Hughes, Amy Lacey, Gary Cardnell, David Lacey, and Roger Westwood.

How Did the Clubs Handle the 24-Hour Spitfire Scramble Endurance Challenge?

The Spitfire Scramble stands as one of the region’s more rigorous endurance tests, requiring solo participants or teams to navigate a five-mile loop continuously over a 24-hour period.

Barking Roadrunners’ duo Belinda Riches and Emma Paisley combined forces under the team moniker ‘Barking Mad’. The pair completed 19 laps of the designated course, accumulating a total distance of 95 miles within the 24-hour window.

Which Dagenham 88 Teams Secured Podium Placement?

Dagenham 88 Runners found success across both individual and collective categories at the Spitfire Scramble. In the solo endurance category, Sam Taylor achieved nine complete laps (45 miles), while Rosina Salmon and Mel Embery each contributed seven completed laps (35 miles) to their respective tallies.

In the team categories, the ‘Loomie Ladies’ secured a third-place overall finish by lodging a collective 24 laps. This podium effort was led by Emma Dudman, who personally accounted for seven laps, with support from her teammates.

Furthermore, the Dagenham 88 team named ‘Who’s Round Is It Anyway’ recorded 21 laps, while their club counterparts ‘Chasing the Dream’ concluded their 24-hour campaign with 18 laps.

What Metric Results Were Achieved in the London and Shrewsbury Road Races?

On the tarmac, both clubs maintained high competitive standards. At the RunThrough Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park 10k event, Dominic

Herring acted as the frontrunner for Barking Roadrunners, registering a finishing time of 45:46. The club’s continuous arrivals were documented as follows:

Additional road metrics were established at the Saucony London 10k, where Barking’s Maysen Davies crossed the finish line in 56:59, followed closely by Joyce Golder in 57:23 and Jason Li in 1:04:17.

How Did Rob Sargent Perform at the Shrewsbury 5km?

Veteran runner Rob Sargent recorded an important individual performance for Dagenham 88 Runners at the Shrewsbury 5km. Having recently returned to formal competition, Sargent secured a time of 29:34. This mark represents his fastest recorded 5km time in two years.

Competing in an event structured alongside an international fixture between England and Wales, Sargent finished 52nd overall and claimed second place within the Male Veteran 70 (M70) division.

What Were the Weekly Parkrun and Open-Water Swimming Results?

The clubs maintained their standard weekend participation across regional parkrun events. John Phillips led the Dagenham 88 contingent at the local Barking parkrun course, finishing in 22:56.

He was followed across the line by David Lacey (28:25) and Abigail O’Shea (33:42). Regional results from other venues included:

• Valentines parkrun: Manji Gami completed the course in 28:57.
• Thurrock (Orsett Heath): Peter Grant timed his run at 33:02.
• York Community Woodland: Kresh Veerasamy crossed in 36:37.
• Queenswood Country Park: David O’Brien completed the 5km in 58:48.

How Fast Did Barking Roadrunners Swim the Arctic Circle?

Expanding beyond land-based disciplines, Barking Roadrunners members Cristina Cooper and Trevor Cooper travelled internationally to compete in the ‘Swim the Arctic Circle’ challenge.

This open-water swimming event requires athletes to complete a 2,000-metre course across the river boundary separating Sweden and Finland.

Trevor Cooper successfully navigated the open water in a time of 28:00, while Cristina Cooper finished the international course in 37:17, capping off a highly varied competitive week for the East London clubs.

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Background of the Particular Development

The multi-discipline success achieved by both the Barking Roadrunners and the Dagenham 88 Runners is rooted in the long-standing structure of the East London amateur athletics network. Central to this development is the ELVIS (East London Vanguard Inter-Club Start) series, a collaborative running championship established to foster affordable, high-quality competitive opportunities among local running clubs across the region.

By rotating hosting duties between participating organisations—such as Ilford AC managing the Newman Hilly trail race at Hainault Forest—the series maintains a low financial barrier to entry while challenging runners across five-mile and 5k distances on surfaces ranging from grass and forest trails to concrete tracks.

Over the past decade, grassroots clubs have increasingly adapted to consumer demand for varied fitness challenges, expanding their focus from traditional road racing to include ultra-endurance events like the Spitfire Scramble and cross-disciplinary open-water swimming.

The Spitfire Scramble, held annually as a 24-hour relay or solo race, reflects a broader UK trend toward ultra-marathon and multi-lap endurance racing.

Concurrently, the integration of weekly 5km parkrun data into club training regimens has allowed veterans and returning runners to benchmark their fitness in a structured environment, directly contributing to the depth of participation seen in the clubs’ current rosters.

Prediction

This development is expected to have a multi-layered effect on the local community, specifically affecting amateur athletes, sports organizers, and prospective club members within the Barking and Dagenham boroughs.

• Increased Membership and Retention: The broad range of disciplines showcased by both clubs—particularly unconventional events like the Swim the Arctic Circle and the Spitfire Scramble—will likely attract a wider demographic of fitness enthusiasts who do not fit the traditional “road runner” profile. This diversification will help local clubs counter the standard seasonal drops in membership by offering year-round multi-sport training alternatives.
• Strain on Voluntary Resources: As participation numbers across trail and ultra-endurance categories grow, local inter-club series like ELVIS may face logistical pressures. Organisers will need to allocate more resources toward electronic chip timing systems, medical support for extreme conditions, and environmental permits for sensitive locations like Hainault Forest.
• Favourable Public Health Metrics: From a community perspective, the visibility of senior success stories, such as top-tier placements in the M70 and FV70 age brackets, provides clear evidence of long-term health and athletic longevity. This visibility is expected to encourage higher physical activity rates among older demographics across East London, shifting local running clubs from simple competitive groups to essential public health delivery partners.