Last week, nine members of Waveney Valley Athletic Club entered race one of this year’s Great Yarmouth series of Promenade 5 mile road races and faced not just opposing club’s but also very heavy showers and gale force winds.

The race times in such conditions were understandably modest due to the affects of the weather which was especially ferocious on the seafront heading south where runners had a real battle against the strength of the wind and rain.

Tim Earl, back in his racing shoes just three days after his run in the London Marathon, led the Waveney runners home in finishing 23rd in a time of 32:41 from the field of 174 competitors. Bill Kingaby was placed 60th (36:30, 2nd prize Mens 60+ category) with Jonathon Comyn just a few strides behind in 61st (36:32). Stephen Gibbs 82nd (38:38) and Joe Mayne 102nd (40:30), competing in this event for the first time, put in very good performances and Ailsa MacDonald, making her debut appearance for the club, had an excellent run to finish 107th (41:12). David Mower 112th (42:06), David Pimlott 136th (45:44) and Stuart Smith 142nd (46:23) completed the encouragingly high turn out from Waveney Valley A.C.

Race two in the series takes place next wednesday evening, May 9, and runners will be hoping for a more pleasant spring-like feel to the weather. Race HQ is the Marina Centre. Race starts 7.15pm.

Further to Ailsa MacDonalds promising club debut in the Gt.Yarmouth 5 mile race, she ran again on Sunday in the Cambridge Town & Gown 10k and achieved an impressive time of 48:40mins.