Waveney Valley AC are celebrating a successful start to competitive road running this autumn with the crowning of a county champion to add to numerous personal best times achieved by members. At the Framlingham 10k, which served as the county championships, Samantha Lines ran almost a minute faster than her previous best to record a time of 36:58. She was the first lady to finish and was duly crowned Suffolk champion. Coach, and Sam’s training partner, Matt Jeffries ran a season’s best 33:10 to finish second overall.
At the Wissey Half Marathon, Jim Burgess and Steve Carruthers achieved PB’s. From a field of 255 runners, Jim was placed 13th in 1.25:40 and Steve 18th in 1.26:54. Sarah Norman ran a PB by almost seven minutes at the Great North Run, finishing in a time of 1.45:32. Other GNR times:- Leon Neeve 1.36:00, Andy Ayers 1.40:35, Matt Baldry 1.43:24, Dylan Neeve 1.58:13, Sonny Neeve 1.58:13, Chris Pitman 2.11:38, Angela Mower 2.39:14, Donna Cuppleditch 2.51:44. At the Great East Run held at Ipswich, Stuart Spurgeon ran a personal best 1.38:23, with a PB also for Daren Coulter in 1.45:49. Other GER times:- Andy Ayers 1.45:49, Vladimir Laptikhovsky 2.02:28, Lisa Wilson 2.06:50, Michaela Gooch 2.17:58, Kirsty Howe 2.23:24, James Gooch 2.30:57.
The Jolly Jaguars 10k, held at the former RAF base at Coltishall, proved a happy event for Waveney’s athletes. From a field of 503 runners, new member Stuart Coe finished 14th in 38:49, with personal best runs from Mike Quantrill, 42nd in 40:55, Dave Catchpole 213th in 50:48, Demelza Hammond 279th in 54:27, Debbie Foster 348th in 58:32, Rachael Finch 363rd in 59:05 and Peter Lang 366th in 59:03. Phil Hazell finished well placed in the 70+ age category, and an overall 285th in 54:50.
Eight members competed in the Bure Valley 10m race. Zoe Chase and Chris Strange, in their debut 10m races, finished 53rd in 1.11:28 and 55th in 1.11:50 respectively. There were personal best times for Matt Baldry, 57th in 1.12:02, Lisa Knights 73rd in 1.14:38, Ian Hawkes 82nd in 1.16:14, Louise Harrod 171st in 1.26:44 and Angela Mower 286th in 1.50:11. David Mower was close to his best with 87th place in 1.16:28.
Four members, Becky Langford, David Mower, Danni Liffen and Bill Kingaby, took part in the annual Reebok Ragnar White Cliffs Experience, a coastal relay race covering approximately 177 miles from Sittingbourne in Kent to Brighton, East Sussex. Ten runners per team competed over the 30-leg race, with each competitor running three legs each. Waveney’s part team of four, plus local runner Carl Frisby, were joined by Google employees, mostly from Seattle, to make a full team named Googling Warriors. In wet, muddy conditions, with several steep gradients, the team, with very little sleep, were pleased with their finishing placing of 37th out of 114 teams, in just under 26 hours.
Other results:- Greater Cambridge 10k – Antony Croucher 41:27. Nottingham Half Marathon – Stuart Smith 2.04:51.