Runners tackle 10Ks

10K was the competition distance of the day for members of Ryston Runners at the weekend in various locations and over various terrains.

Performance of the day on Sunday was notched up by Malcolm Tuff who, despite pre-race concerns over the weather, achieved his objective of qualifying for selection for the England team for next year’s Masters International 10K by running 38:02 for third place in the M55 category (158th overall out of over 2,000) on a Brighton seafront course, whipped by gale force winds. The qualifying standard was 39 minutes, so Malcolm had almost a minute in hand, despite the inhospitable conditions.

Eamonn McCusker, who was named on Friday as Norfolk County M70 Marathon champion after postal time submissions had been considered, had elected to make his fifth appearance in the Hadleigh 10K in Essex, where “decent conditions, though with a gusty wind over the first half” saw him take second place in his category with 88:33, 166th out of 260 finishers.

Closest to home, almost a dozen club members took part in West Acre Striders’ inaugural West Acre Wild 10K Challenge. A mix of everything: hills, farm trails, forest tracks, and with hay bales as obstacles, one stacked three bales high, and a run through a river (ford crossing) at the end, it was declared an excellent event. Numbers were limited to 150 but there are hopes it will be extended in future.

Ryston’s Ben Keeley was ahead for a lot of the time but then a navigational error lost him his healthy lead and he ended up finishing sixth. Chris Chaplin and Justin Walker placed 22nd and 23rd, before some impressive club packing saw Lynne Howlett come in 53rd, Matty Parker 55th, Debbie James 58th and Mark Fountain 59th. Also running together, Pauline Sparrow and Maureen Wolfe finished 91st and 92nd, before Liz Blakie in 107th and Joanna Taylor, 119th, completed the Ryston contingent, who all enjoyed the post-race hospitality at The Stag after their morning’s efforts.

Jane Ashby was at the Sportlink gala event for the presentation of awards for the road race series sponsored by the Norwich business. Jane picked up the trophy as winner of the F70 category, and also a medal for winning the County Postal Marathon competition. She also brought home a Gold medal for Eamonn McCusker (M70), a Silver for Lesley Robins (F50) and a Bronze for Gill Hart (F70).