A dozen members of Waveney Valley Athletic Club took to the hills of West Suffolk on Sunday to compete in either the Tarpley 20 or 10-mile road races organised by Bury Pacers.
Most members tackled the longer distance, providing the opportunity to build race stamina and fitness for forthcoming spring marathons.
In very blustery, energy-sapping conditions, 316 runners completed the 20-mile race with Becky Langford first to finish for the club in another excellent personal best performance. She recorded a time of 2-43.01 in 103rd place overall and second lady to finish in her age group. Lisa Knights finished 127th in 2-46.33 with Bob Milner doing very well to complete the course with an injury, in 195th in 3-02.43. Joe Mayne was 249th in 3-20.24, Patricia Tuttle 262nd in 3-24.44 and Lisa Wilson, in her longest race to date, 273rd in 3-26.49. David Goosey had to drop out of the race at the 8-mile point.
Five members were amongst a field of almost 400 for the 10-mile event. First for Waveney was Matt Baldry in 67th in a personal best time of 1-15.33. Just four places behind was Bill Kingaby in a time of 1-16.22 and, after it seems a lifetime of competition, well down on his best ever 10-mile time but good enough to be awarded the trophy for first in the Mens 60-64 age group, just two days before turning 65 Paul Peek finished 168th in a new best time of 1-27.14 and Jo Fisk was 224th in 1-32.11, only a minute outside her best time. Amanda Scarff, in her first 10-mile event, was 306th in 1-41.56 .She started running just last year and her focus this year will be on doing well in The Great North Run in September.
At the Roding Valley Half Marathon in Woodford Green, Essex on Sunday, Tim Earl finished 57th from over 500 athletes in a time of 1-30.35. On February 19, five club members took part in the Valentine 10k in Norwich. Wayne Freeman was 112th in 43:13, Mike Quantrill 119th in 43:28, Camilla Darling 376th in 56:29, Demelza Hammond 433rd in 59:47 and Graham Jackson 474th in 1-05.09. On the same day, Chris Mills competed in the Marriotts Way Half Marathon and finished 88th in a time of 2-14.43.
Club members 5k parkrun personal bests for February: Christopher Hulme 40:03, Tracy Mayne 39:58, Lee Roth 26:17, Sarah Wood 31:19, Daniel Critoph 24:45, Paul MacCormick 26:48, Emma Branch 30:38, Kirsty Howe 32:23, Chris Pitman 22:08, Jennifer Hoye 26:58, Mandy Roberts 32:52, Amie Williams 27:05, Tracey Peak 29:51 and William Browne 22:32.