Waveney Valley Athletic Club had a record number of senior athletes competing together at a race, with 54 members turning out for the first meeting of the Suffolk Winter Cross Country League, at Framlingham.
Waveney fielded some very strong teams, which resulted in the A ladies and men’s combined team finishing in 2nd place overall, just 2 points adrift of league leaders Ipswich Harriers. The B and C teams finished top of their section. An excellent all round team effort from all Waveney runners.
The 3-lap senior course that was held in the grounds of Framlingham Castle, which involved runners having to contend with running up and down the steep paths leading in and out of the moat several times.
Matt Jeffries was in fine form, being the lead runner home for the team, in clocking 25:09 in 2nd place overall, and top in his age group. Dominic Oliver was in the top 10 finishers in crossing the line in 6th place overall in 25:51. The rest of the A team runners all finished in the top 40 placing’s. Lee Cook 16th (27:18). Mark Thompson making a welcome return to the sport and the club was 24th with 27:58. Also making a comeback was Richard Moore who showed his class in finishing in 35th place overall but more importantly was top in his age group V50+.
Close on his heels and recording the same time of 28:38 was Jay Lingwood. Not far behind was Sebastian Lakes who clocked 29:03 in 40th place. In the ladies section Sam Lines carried her rich vein of form from the road to the cross country in being the third lady but first in her age-group in finishing in 63rd place overall in 30:14. Rose Nicholson, who is recovering from an injury, put in a steady performance finished 69th place overall, was fourth lady and 2nd in her age group with her time of 30:41. Jessica Vincent was third lady home for the club, recorded 37:08, crossing the line just two places behind was Lisa Knights who clocked 37:16.
Other notable performances, Alan Varle competing in his first cross -country race finished top his age group V70+. Ann Milett 1st in the V60+ age group.

Senior results:
2nd Matt Jefferies 25:09. 6th Dominic Oliver 25:51. 16th Lee Cook 27:18.24th Mark Thompson (V40) 27:58. 35th Richard Moore (V50) 28:38. 37th Jay Lingwood 28:38.40th Sebastian Lakes 29:03. 48th Chris Pimlott (V40) 29:33. 54th Martin Horlock (V40) 29:54. 56th Lloyd Scriven 30:03. Ist lady for club Sam Lines 63rd in 30:14. Close on her heels in 64th place was Graham Watering (V40). 68th Daniel Harris 30:25. 69th Rose Nicholson 30:41.71st Tim Earl 30:49. 75th Dylan Neeve 30:58. 99th Paul Sullivan (V50+) 31:49. 103rd Peter Andrews (V45) 31:53. 119th Liam Nudd. 32:36. 122nd Jon Comyn 32:39. 130th Steven Carruthers (V45) 32:58. 133rd Jason Browne (V40) 33:05.134th Paul Wright (V40) 33:07. 148th Leon Neeve 33:48 149th Nigel Herrod (V55) 33:49. 156th Richard Chilvers (V45) 34:00. 157th Colin Gater 34:02 162nd Robert Milner 34:14. 190th Chris Bradford 35:29. 202nd Mike Illingworth (V45) 35:59. 206th David Mower (V60+) 36:03. 225th Jessica Vincent 37:08. 227th Lisa Knights (V40) 37:16. 256th Alan Fairs (V45). 38:42. 261st Vladimir Laptikhovsky (V50+) 38:59. 265th Ann Millett (V60) 39:13. 288th Rob Knights 40:39. 301st Tony Millett (V60). 41:22. 303rd Sarah Norman (V35) 41:27. 305th Jay Butcher (Vet Lady 35+) 41:33. 312th Karle Howard (V45) 41:41. 346th Cheryl Goymer (V50). 43:17. 350th Alan Varle (V70) 43:36. 355th Joe Mayne (V50) 43:56. 357th Stephanie Pimlott (V35) 44:01. 362nd Gary Elvin (V40). 44:09. 374th Stuart Smith (V55) 44:54. 383rd James Gooch (V40) 45:48. 411th Sarah Phillips (V45). 48:57. 412th Paul Peek (V55) 48:58. 414th Kaly Gooch (V50) 49:16. 422nd Tracy Soanes (V45) 50:34. 439th Amie Ogilvie 59:08. 440th Alan Richardson (V65) 59:10.

In the junior race, as well as the more experienced middle distance runners the team also included several members who usually compete in sprint and throw events in the track and field season. So most of the squad used the cross-country race as part of their strength training during the winter period and they handled the tough terrain very well and recorded some very creditable times.
The junior middle distance runners were to the fore for the club, with Jamie Besford (U15) finishing strongly to secure 11th place overall with 10:17, only one second adrift was Sam Stevens in 12th. Harriet Lyman finished first in the U.17 age group, in finishing in 29th place overall with 10:57.

Junior results:
11th Jamie Besford (U15) 10:17. 12th Sam Stevens (U15) 10:18. 29th Harriet Lyman (U17) 10:57. 40th Alec Wilson (U15) 11:31. 57th Chase Hodds (U13) 12:33. 62nd Abeni Beckham (U13) 12:50. 73rd Tobias Scriven (U15) 13:13. 74th Benjamin Cone (U13) 13:13. 75th Naomi Boots (U15) 13:13. 76th Nathan Littlejohns 13:21. 79th Vaughan Beckman (U13) 13:29. 82nd Mason Hodds (U17) 13:37. 83rd Lily Collins (U17) 13:39. 90th James Russell (U17) 14:32. 96th Ethan Hodds (U13) 15:08.