More than 100 members of Waveney Valley Athletic Club celebrated at the club’s combined 20th anniversary party and awards ceremony which took place recently.

For most, the awards were for annual achievements including most improved runner and age standards but for one long-serving member, it was an award for his unbroken and loyal 46 years’ service to athletics in the Waveney area.
In November 1970, Brian Boardley, with three like-minded running friends, formed Lowestoft AC. Brian had been a notable athlete in London with a best time of 53:12 for 10 miles but retired from competition through knee
injury seven years after moving to Lowestoft in 1969.
A qualified coach and race timekeeper, Brian was very much involved in the merger between Lowestoft AC and Beccles AC in the spring of 1996 with the new club being called Waveney Valley Athletic Club. He had served as club chairman for Lowestoft AC and has since for Waveney Valley AC.
He received the Chairman’s Lifetime Achievement Award from club chairman Alan Fairs.

On the racing scene, nineteen members competed in race one of the Great Yarmouth Promenade 5 mile series. Top honours went to Lee Cook for a splendid fourth place, and Harriet Lyman who has eased very comfortably up to the five mile distance from 5k’s, winning the Junior Girls 15-17 age group trophy in style.
WVAC results- 4 Lee Cook 27:28, 35 Lloyd Scriven 31:15, 36 Tim Earl 31:20, 41 Sebastian Lakes 31:49, 58 Harriet Lyman 33:10, 75 Bill Kingaby 34:46, 83 Matt Baldry 35:15, 94 new member Grant Rix 36:15, 95 David Mower 36:21, 128 Steve Gibbs 38:10, 156 Becky Langford 39:44, 172 Jay Butcher 41:18, 187 Cheryl Goymer 42:50, 189 Stuart Smith 42:52, 197 Stephanie Pimlott 43:23, 200 Sarah Phillips 43:36, 212 Jo Fisk 44:47, 228 Tracie Ashford 47:43 and 238 new member Zoe Caston 49:33.
On Sunday, five members took part in the Dereham 10-mile road race in very hot and sunny weather. Becky Langford seemed to cope best with the conditions, finishing in yet another personal best time. But the rest of the team found the going very tough in the heat.
Kyle Bowles was competing in his first official 10-mile race but was down on his training times while Mike Quantrill and Jo Fiske were below their recent form. Bill Kingaby was more than ten minutes slower than his previous ‘ ten-miler ‘ back in February, but still managed to win the third place trophy in his age group. When he was called up to receive it however, he was clearly overheard saying it was a miracle. Results- 57 Kyle Bowles 1-13.49, 130 Bill Kingaby 1-22.50, 132 Becky Langford 1-23.02pb, 138 Mike Quantrill 1-23.51 and 279 Jo Fiske 1-46.57. Almost 350 runners took part.
It was a race where all of the competitors truly earned their ribboned medals as they crossed the finish line.