The Freethorpe 10 mile road race organised by Great Yarmouth & District A.C., took place on January 29 with seventeen members of Waveney Valley Athletic Club taking part.
The event, which was race one of ten in this year’s Leathes Prior Norfolk Grand Prix series, proved a great success for Waveney Valley with at least 7 members running personal best times.
Almost 700 competitors completed the course with Tim Earl first to finish for the club in 49th place in a new best time of 1-04.39. Next was James Drake in 71st in 1-06.36 then Wayne Freeman 153rd in 1-12.45. Mark Smith finished 174th in 1-14.24 then Matt Baldry 201st in 1-15.44, knocking more than two minutes off his previous best time. Bill Kingaby, who received the second place award in last year’s Grand Prix series in his age category, finished in 206th place in 1-15.44 and David Mower was 239th in 1-17.49. Becky Langford was the first lady for the club to finish, in 322nd in 1-21.21, another fine personal best performance.
There was a pb also for David Lewis, in 395th position in a time of 1-24.57 with Jo Fisk next in 515th in 1-32.39. Jane Hunt was 560th in a personal best 1-37.54 with Karle Howard one place behind in 561st in 1-38.17. Beth Bell was delighted to knock more than five minutes off her previous best time, recording a new best of 1-38.23, in 562nd. There was a pb also for Demelza Hammond, who finished in 1-42.54 in 606th, with Nicky Illingsworth, competing in her first 10 mile race for Waveney, clocking 1-43.30 in 610th. Lisa Joyce was 614th in 1-45.01 and Claire Green, another 10 mile debutante for the club, finishing 636th in a time of 1-51.20.

Club members 5k parkrun personal bests for January: Simon Stevens 23:41, Jenna Killett 29:28, Nicky Illingsworth 29:27, Layla Bedford 24:55, Charles Hardy 25:14, Demelza Hammond 29:24, Pamela Warne 30:01, Sarah Harris 34:21, Andy Ayers 21:10, Thomas Spurgeon 22:14, Angelene Ayers 32:52,
Sarah Wood 33:13, Daniel Critoph 26:16, Seth Frankland 27:10, Paul MacCormick 28:02 and Emma Branch 31:38 and Stuart Brighty 26:08.