inaugural Fighter 5k race off to a flyer

The inaugural Fighter 5k race at Little Massingham Airfield attracted almost 50 Ryston Runners, notching up a few wins and PBs as is the norm.Matthew Thrower (M45), Nic Bensley (M55), Dawn Robinson (SF), Lesley Robins (F50), Ruth Chadwick (F55), Jane Ashby (F65+) and Kirsty Butters (F45) won their categories.Dylan Whitehouse (U17M), Linda Marshall (F60), and Lynne Howlett (F65+) took second places, and Stewart Robins (M55), Jit Patel (M65+), Lisa Harris (F55) and Lucy McDowie took third in their age groups.Ryston results: 11 Dylan Whitehouse 2MU17/16:53 (PB), 18 Matthew Thrower 1M45/17:24, 20 Daniel Barnes 11SM/17:42, 21 Nic Bensley 1M55/17:54, 23 Andy Williamson 13SM/17:58 (PB), 24 Danny Smith 5M40/18:01, 30 Chris Chaplin 14SM/18:16 (fourth consecutive PB in four weeks), 35 Rob Skillings 3M45/18:37, 46 Dawn Robinson 1SF/19:01, 55 Jake Whitehouse 8M45/19:43 (PB) , 67 Stewart Robins 3M55/20:04, 69 Will Honeybone 7M50/20:07, 71 Mark Ramsden 13M45/20:11, 77 Owen Jary 8M50/20:21, 82 James Trim 25SM/20:31 (PB), 83 Christopher Cann 26SM/20:31, 93 George Pettit 12M50/21:10, 95 Lesley Robins 1F50/21:49, 99 Chris Vurley 11M40/21:29, 105 Kirsty Butters 1F45/21:39, 108 Jan Knight 14M50/21:49, 114 Julie Williamson 7F40/21:56, 116 Jit Patel 3M65/22:02, 119 James Ordv12M40/22:15, 125 Lucy McDowie 3F45/22:38 (PB) , 139 Ruth Chadwick 1F55/23:08, 140 Linda Marshall 2F60/23:14, 143 Kate Penn 9SF/23:38, 146 John Crowley 18M50/23:39 (PB),147 Dan Yallop 13M40/23:40, 148 Olivia Chaplin 10SF/23:40, 163 Michael Mallett 20M40/24:16, 169 Matty Parker 20M50/24:29, 175 Lisa Harris 3F55/24:50, 180 Judith Berry 6F50/25:11, 184 Jane Ashby 1F65+/25:24, 190 Lynne Howlett 2F65+/26:13, 198 Anna Smith 4F45/26:55, 205 Pauline Sparrow 4F65+/27:41, 207 Louise Perry Vurley 13F50/25:03, 215 Heather Pocklington 5F65+/28:53, 228 Sophie Williamson FU17/30:10 (PB) , 230 Jonathan Gault 20M55/30:53, 241 Debbie Crowley 19F50/31:20, 246 Martin Elsegood 21M55/31:50 (PB) , 257 Jean Gault 14F45/ 47:02.Upping the distance, Alicia and Jon Pentelow cut their half-marathon teeth in the Great Manchester Run, clocking 1:53:45 apiece, while Christopher Brockbank completed the same distance in the Hackney Half in London.As ever, it was Ben Elmer who topped the distance charts at the weekend, this time with a mere 20 miler, albeit with an elevation of 2800m.Elmer was placed 25 out of almost 450 finishers in the Hathersage Hurtle in Derbyshire.Another weekend which saw Ryston Runners Athletics Club members in action on roads, trails, and in track and field in a variety of places. The club’s 2025 campaign in the Southern Athletics League saw a very depleted team competing in Bedford. Despite individual successes, they were always going to struggle to score well, but still managed to avoid finishing in last place in the match.Nathan Stockdale took a second off his own club record in the 3000m to finish third.Miles Hovell threw over 9m 80 in the shot competition for a PB and a second place.Ella Goldring, the club’s sole female representative, contested the 100m and 200m. Gareth Hunt and Robert Simmonds were busy filling gaps with 10 and 8 events completed respectively, a highlight being a synchronised 110m hurdles race between them, ending with both taking first places in the A and B strings.On the same day, Chris Palmer completed a successful week’s competition in the European Masters League fixture in Shkoder, Albania.In the M70 category, he picked up two bronze medals, from 100m (club age group, record 13.0 secs) and 400m.But Palmer’s greatest success came over the 200m distance, winning his heat in 31.48, and achieving silver overall when the time trial results were finally sorted out.