Fortunately for the 20 Ryston Runners taking part in the 2023 Wymondham 20 mile race on Sunday, the early morning rain stopped in time for them all to enjoy relatively good conditions for their races.
This “traditional” event, for those taking part in the London Marathon next month, gives competitors a last longish distance test before tapering down.
There were two category winners from the club, Lesley Robins F50 and Malcolm Tuff M55, the latter breaking a long standing club age group record by more than 12 minutes in the process.
Robins bettered her age group record by one minute.
Also heading home her age group, Jane Ashby was first F70, though only credited with second place in the F65 category as this was the highest offered by the event.
However, she secured maximum points in her true category in the Sportlink Series of which this event was a part.
Sarah Partridge was placed third in the F65 age group, while Julie Williamson, as has become her habit, secured herself a new personal best time.
Ryston results: 27th John Hopgood sixth M40 2.08.26, 28th Matthew Thrower seventh M40 2.28.26, 30th Jason Cooper 18th SM 2.08.54, 33rd Rob Skillings 8th M40 2.09.39, 43rd Ryan Oakes 24th SM 2.11.36, 48th Malcolm Tuff first M55 2.12.10, 49th Dan Guppy 11th M40 2.12.35, 52nd Warren Armstrong 4th M50 2.13.04, 88th Justin Walker 11th M50 2.23.21, 111st Graeme Leeson 18th M50 2.29.12, 113th Lesley Robins first F50 2.29.25, 138th Ian Wiggins 28th M40 2.35.14,157th Julie Williamson ninth F40 2.38.31, 173rd Caine Burton 64th SM 2.42.02, 185th George Pettit 25th M50 2.44.10, 226th Tristan Langley 81st 2.50.40, 257th Anna Smith 17th F40 2.56.06 360th Jane Ashby second F65 3.15.45, 425th Sarah Partridge third F65 3.37.37, 489th Martin Elsegood 37th M55 4.46.32.
Opting for a 10k race, Darren Easter was the lone Ryston Runner in the Thorney 10k.
Easter experienced what he described “tornado” conditions on the notoriously exposed out and back course.
With a time of 37.15, he was placed third in the M50 category.
The World Masters Indoor Athletics Championships began in Torun, Poland, on Sunday, where three Ryston Runners Athletics Club members athletes were among the competitors in the impressive stadium in the historically interesting Polish city.
Kicking off their competitions on the opening day were Gaye Clarke and Chris Palmer.
Clarke was placed 11th overall in the F60 high jump while Palmer was placed fourth in his 400m M70 semi final and ended up ranked 12th in the world overall with a 2.14 second PB for the distance.
