Haughley Park, Stowmarket was the venue for the third fixture in the Suffolk Winter Cross County League. The conditions at Haughley Park proved to be ideal for cross-country running, with mild sunny weather and not too muddy underfoot to hinder runners, so some very fast times were recorded.

The date of this fixture had been changed twice, which affected Waveney Valley Athletics Club’s turnout for the event, as it clashed with other events, mainly a 10 mile road race, which several members had pre entered, before the change of date. So it was a small squad of 13 seniors and 2 juniors who travelled to Stowmarket.

Despite a smaller squad, there was some very fine performances, Dominic Oliver dominated the senior race from the start, and had a good lead at the end of the first lap of the 2-lap course. He finished over a minute ahead of the second placed runner with his swift time of 32:42.

Other notable performances, Martin Hewetson clocked 35:21 to take 8th place. Robert Cheverton was top in his age of V55+ finished in 23rd place overall in 37:18. It was good to see Chris Pimlott back to racing after over a month off with a foot injury; he put in a steady run in finishing in 94th place in 42:48. Stuart Smith’s run to the line, got the club’s team managers vote for the best sprint finish of the race, he was determined not to be beaten by the fast finishing runner from Felixstowe, and just managed to find the drive to keep ahead. The men’s A team finished in 9th place overall.

Rose Nicholson recorded her hat trick of victories in the senior ladies category, in crossing the line in 26th place overall and 2nd in the ladies race, with her time of 37:59. Elies Mann and Caren Elvin also ran well and recorded valuable points for the ladies team to secure them 3rd place in the league table. The combined ladies and men’s A team moved up to 6th place in the league, whilst the B team are 23rd.

In the junior race Waveney had only two runners owing to most of the juniors competing at sport hall events, but the club’s two middle distance runners Jamie Besford and Tai Elvin-Andrews both put in very creditable performances, with Jamie crossing the line in 19th place overall (8th U.13) with 14:16. Tai recorded his highest place over the 3 races in clinching 16th place (10th U.13) clocked 14:34.

The next race is on Sunday, which is hosted by Bungay Black Dog at a new venue Heveningham Hall.

Full senior results:

1st Dominic Oliver 32:42
8th Martin Hewetson 35:21
23rd Robert Cheverton 37:18
26th Rose Nicholson 37:59
36th Paul Sullivan 38:37
94th Chris Pimlott 42:48
98th Tim Earl 43:08
101st Bill Kingaby 43:19
150th Elies Mann 47:00
173rd Peter Andrews 48:58
190th Caren Elvin 50:53
225th Stuart Smith 56:35
253rd Andrew Brown 67:31