Ryston hosts fifth race in cross-country series

Ryston Runners AC were back in organisational action last weekend with the fifth event in the 2023/24 XCGP Series at Shouldham Warren.With several members otherwise engaged in alternative competitions it meant those remaining were spread thinly, but they still managed not only to put on another successful event but also to take home the spoils in several categories.The senior/masters race was over 9k and yielded a one-two-three for the home club in the senior men’s category, courtesy of Nathan Stockdale, Ben Keeley, and Gareth Hunt.Stockdale had previously competed on the Wednesday, where he was placed ninth overall at the notoriously difficult RAF Halton 10k XC to secure himself selection for the RAF men’s athletics team.Hunt was extremely pleased to have won a GP medal for the first time in his many years of loyal membership of the club.The senior women’s category saw another win for Dawn Robinson, with Charlotte Smith, another long-standing member, picking up a rare bronze.Cat Foley-Wray took second spot in the W35 race, Rob Simmonds achieving the same result in the same men’s age group, with Chris Chaplin in third place behind him.Lisa Harris was second W50, Andy Simmonds won the M40 age group and Kevin Howlett the M65+.Nic Bensley continued his 100 per cent record of wins in the M50 category, with Liam Dawson once again runner-up while Ruth Chadwick and Linda Marshall repeated the one-two combination in the W55 age group.Lynne Howlett secured second W60 place and Pauline Sparrow third and Nigel Kenny was third M60.Other Ryston results over the 9k course included: James Trim, sixth SM; Glen Perkins fourth M35; Christopher Cann fifth M35; Rob Skillings sixth M40; Mark Fountain fourth M45; Craig Harris fourth M50; Jan Knight fifth M50; Helen Driver sixth W50; U17M Christopher Milnes fourth M65; Paul Firmage sixth M60.In the younger age groups, Dylan Whitehouse and Cody Pearman wrapped up first and second places in the U17M while Belle McKenzie dominated the U17W race, winning by a clear two minutes.Ethan Ward won the U15B, and second places were secured by Olivia Ord U13G, Thomas Simmonds U13B, and Freddie Bagge U9B.Other Ryston results included: Freddie Hubbard sixth U11B; Rhys Howard 10th U11B; Toby Turner fourth U13B; Bonnie Norman- Foulkes fourth U9G; Freya Reynolds 16th U9G; Madison Hicks seventh U13G; Martha McKenzie ninth U13G.