Inaugural Fighter 5k event is hailed a huge success

West Norfolk Athletic Club proudly hosted the inaugural Fighter 5k on Sunday at the historic RAF Great Massingham airfield.This event was an ambitious race designed to replace WNAC’s long-standing Houghton Hall XC.With the popularity of the Wroxham 5k in recent years, race director Benjamin Collison saw a demand amongst local runners for a fast and competitive official 5k race.The event attracted a strong field of nearly 300 runners from clubs all over Norfolk, such as Ryston Runners, Conac and Bure Valley Harriers and amongst that field were some of the region’s fastest athletes, which meant for some fantastic racing.West Norfolk AC thanks landowner, Leicester House Farm, for their support of the event, which also raised £500 for the East Anglian Air Ambulance and took donations for the Purfleet Pantry on the day.Catering on the day for spectators and runners was supplied by Kevin Moulton and donations from a local Tesco.Post-race massages were supplied by Emma Dewdney and Callum Stanforth.A team led by race director Ben Collison, provided cycle support, marshalling, audio equipment and much more and the event was a true showcase of West Norfolk AC and what the club stands for. The weather on the day was almost perfect for the runners who battled some slight winds on the one-lap course of the airfield.The first West Norfolk athlete home was Mitchell Bunn, who was placed second with a time of 15:54, only a second behind the overall winner Billy Eccles from Bure Valley Harriers. Charlie Frammingham, ninth overall, continued his improving form with an impressive 16:46.Ryan Oakes claimed a new road 5k PB of 16:50 and was placed 10th overall, while Chris Elmer came in with a great time of 17:00.Karl Brown came home with a new PB of 17:06, Neil Stapleton clocked an impressive 18:12 and Oliver Foxwell posted 18:29.WNAC young athletes Alfie Bone and Henry Gosnell finished a second apart, running 18:41 and 18:42, respectively. James Watts, taking on his first road 5k at the age of 11, clocked 18:44 and Hanley Angell earned himself a new PB of 19:20.Cassie Moden dipped under the 20-minute mark, running a time of 19:57.Aidan Howard came away with a new PB as he was brilliantly paced by his father and clubmate Adam Howard, both running a time of 20:02. WNAC youngster Evie Clayton won the female U17 category, storming home in a time of 20:13.Ben Foxwell enjoyed another solid performance with a 20:37 effort, while Digby Frammingham continued his preparations for England Masters representation by running a solid 20:40 Hannah Greenhalgh continued her venture into distance running, crossing the line with a superb time of 21:28, less than 24 hours after representing the club on the track at Bedford on Saturday.Oliver Gayton enjoyed another strong performance on the roads, running a time of 21:49 and Robert Gosnell crossed the line running 21:51, after helping the set-up crew on Saturday and Sunday.Olivia Ord was placed as the third female U17, with a fantastic time of 22:16, and Katrina Wasteney was third in the female 50-54 category, running 22:20Flynn Angell, one of the club’s newest members, made his debut in the 5k, running a time of 23:56 and Ryan Towsey, also part of the set-up crew, ran a time of 30:47.West Norfolk Athletic Club thanks all who supported the event, and to race director Benjamin Collison for doing a fantastic job.