Ryston Runners step up a gear on the road

The dust had barely settled over the streets of Lynn after GEAR before several members of Ryston Runners AC were back in action.Before GEAR began, Ben Elmer finished fifth overall/fourth man over the 50k course of the Weavers Way in 4hr21min.Elmer was in action again last weekend, taking 3:29.21 to complete the ZizZag Suffolk Marathon, based at Barrow near Bury St Edmunds, where he finished second. Andy Williamson finished seventh in 3:47.35.The day after GEAR, six Ryston Runners competed in the Breckland 10k based at Croxton, just outside Thetford.Ruth Chadwick (93rd, 47.09) took the honours in the F55 age group, Lynne Howlett (198th, 55.04) was third F65 and Gina Hurrell (116th, 48.19) set a new club record for the F60 category.Gareth Hunt was seventh overall with 38.17. Colin Travi (25th, M55) and Martin Blackburn (17th, M65) finished 253rd and 254th with 61.10 and 62.02 respectively.More road action saw Chris Chaplin (33rd, 14th SM) complete a hat-trick of PBs over consecutive weekends at the Dereham 10 Miler, adding 1:06.04 to the 10k and marathon bests achieved at GEAR and Manchester. Cody Pearman had an excellent run to place 35th with 1:01.15, making him 15th SM although he is technically an under-17. Dereham 10 miler results: Michael Howlett (92nd, 31st SM, 1:13.58), Julie Williamson (117th, 4th F40, 1:17.09), Anna Kahn (133rd, 11th SF, 1:19.28), Andy Wicklen (135th, 21st M45, 1:19.31), Nathan Stockdale (139th, 44th SM, 1:19.39), Lisa Harris (241st, 5th F55, 1:34.11), Claire Chamberlain (288th, 33rd SF, 1:45.19), Andrew Hooks (301st, 14th M55, 1:46.57), Martin Elsegood (329th, 15th M55, 2:03.48).The first EMAC (Eastern Masters) League match took place at Lynnsport on Wednesday with various venues hosting county championships at the weekend. Ryston’s two teams had a challenging start to this year’s Masters competition with the women in third and men taking fourth place.It was two of the oldest members of the women’s team who had the greatest individual success, with Gaye Clarke (W60) notching up three events wins in the 80m hurdles, hammer and long jump plus second in the shot. Marlene Simmonds, now in her 80th year, dominated the W70 hammer and long jump competitions.There were solid performances from regulars Linda Marshall, Helen Driver (PB in 100m), Wendy Fisher, Zoe Flander, Claire Chamberlain, Helen Reed and Elaine Knight. Welcome returnee Liz Blakie and newcomers Pat Brightman and Cat Foley Wray ensured that events were covered with gusto and enjoyment.The men’s team suffered some last-minute unavoidable absences but even a decent cluster of individual event wins (Dan Yellop, M35 100m; Richard Van Baaren, M60 100m and long jump; Gavin Buffham, M35 hammer; Rob Simmonds, M35 long jump and high jump) could not compensate for points unavailable because of events not covered. However, the combined efforts of those already named, plus Ricky Huskisson, Matt Smith, Danny Smith, David Van Den Bergh, Jit Patel, Jeff Reed, Glen Paxman and Chris Palmer ensured that the club has a solid base to build on in future matches, with the goal a place in September’s final at Thurrock.None of this could have happened without the support of clubmates officiating, covering results and refreshments. These included Mick Ennis, Beck Tuff, David Lane, Paul Firmage and Keith Morris. Gaye Clarke, Richard Van Baaren, Dan Yellop, Matt Smith and Chris Palmer were among those Ryston athletes who headed to Norwich for the Athletics Norfolk County Track and Field Championships.They all enjoyed success in their respective age groups and events: Palmer (M70, 100m, 200m, 400m), Clarke (W60, hammer), Van Baaren (M60, 100m, triple jump, long jump), Yellop (M40, 100m, 200m), Smith (M35, 100m, 400m). Nathan Stockdale won the SM 5,000m with Gareth Hunt second, following on day two with a win in the SM high jump and third in shot, proving his impressive versatility as an athlete.The Price family had a successful weekend, with Riley winning his U13B 100m and shot, both with PBs, and Darren the SM javelin. Riley also placed third in javelin while Courtney was fourth in the U15G 100m. The Reynolds family featured at the championships with Freya placing sixth in her U11G 80m heat, and Gavin taking silver over 200m and 400m in the M40 category.Ella Goldring took second, with the same time (26.7) as the winner, in the U20W 200m. Freddie Hubbard (U13B) and Liam Clare (SM) both placed fourth in their respective long jump events.The Cambridgeshire championships featured Isaac Western, who took gold with a PB of 6.31m in the shot.There were a number of Ryston members in action at the Sunny Hunny Triathlon event at the weekend, some competing under the name of KL Tri Club (including race winner Ben Keeley, Pauline Sparrow and Lynne Howlett) and some in their familiar green, white and black. They all had to complete a 200m swim, 18k cycle, and 3.5k run.Lucy McDowie, in 21st place overall, won the F40 category with 58.35. Just behind her in 22nd (58.37). Wiktoria Marcinek won the F1-19 category, with her mother not far behind, finishing 24th and 3rd F40 in 59.04.Jurgite Janusauskiene finished 106th with 1:16.50. Making her triathlon debut at 72, Gill Hart, looking for another challenge after completing all seven Abbott Marathon Majors, completed her first such event in 114th, 5th F60 with a time of 1:39.40.Eamonn McCusker continued his marathon journey, which is now well into treble figures, on the roads around Halstead.“It was another hot one but, after the personal disaster of London, it was a significant improvement, and after three consecutive five-hour-plus times, it was good to have a time starting with a four, albeit 4:59.07. I was second over 70, despite walking on and off from around 21 miles.”