Among the 1800 competitors who took to the streets of Lynn at the weekend for the annual GEAR event were almost 90 Ryston Runners.
Matt Thrower’s 10k PB of 34.02 saw him take first place in the M40 category, while at the other extreme Mick Ennis took the M80 age group honours with 79:27.
Will Chapman was the first Ryston finisher, placing an impressive third overall and second SM in the race with 33:02, leading home a list of 20 club members who clocked sub 40 minutes.
Dawn Robinson recorded 38:57, a significant PB and good enough for second place in the SW category.
A second category place was also bagged by Chris Balmer, who took this spot in the M40 age group with 34:33.
Pauline Sparrow categorically took the W70 age group by more than 10 minutes, with 53:03, while Lesley Robins was second W50 in 42:38.
Lynne Howlett was second in the W60 category with 52:47, although actually 65+, the age categories in this race being in 10 year steps from 40+.
Returning to those who ran sub 40, special mention must go to Cody Pearman, aged just 15 and running the 10k distance for the first time, nailing it with 38:21, and Adam Matthews, returning to competition after a seven-year injury lay-off setting a PB of 34:25.
Breaking 40 for the first time were also Chris Chaplin (39:44) and Matthew Austin (39:53).
PBs were also achieved by Owen Hopgood (15th/ 34:58) and Rob Skillings (7th/35:57). Rob was fifth M40, in a Ryston age group landslide begun by Matt Thrower, “Kip” Balmer second, John Hopgood fourth (25th/35:48), and Dan Guppy sixth (28th/36:00).
Also in the top 20 overall, Callum Stanforth was fifth overall and fourth SM in 33:50, Joel Espley ran 34:00 for ninth and Ben Keeley 35:08 for 16th.
Aaran Reeve was 29th with 36:14 before Nic Bensley, who has completed all 17 GEAR races since the event’s inception ran clocked 36:44 for fifth spot in the M50 category.
Helen Sewell (W70) ran 81:33, Luke Garrigan clocked 37 minutes dead for 38th place, and Martin Sheldrick finished ninth M50 in 38:20.
Completing the Sub 40 list was James Ord, 58th with 38:30. James’ daughter, Olivia, was first past the post in the girls’ Mini GEAR while Dylan Whitehouse achieved the same accolade in the boys’ race.
Dylan’s father, Jake Whitehouse was one of a multitude of “Hares” who achieved a PB on Sunday, his being 43:39.
Keeping it in the family, mum, Claire, ran 60:24.
PBs were also reported by Lucy McDowie (47:43), Sarah Counsell (48:49), Bec Nally (54:13), Helen Driver 57:13, ecstatic to have broken the hour and a PB by some six minutes, Elaine Knight (64:43), and Laura Brown (F40 66:26).
Other Ryston members’ chip times included: Stewart Robins 40:44, Ian Milburn 40:41, Oliver Foxwell 41:20, Emma Wood 41:24, Will Honeybone, 42:42, Matt Hitchcock 43:17, Caine Burton 43:34, Hayley Hawes 44:00, Tony Savage 44:13, Graeme, Leeson 44:14, Jon Pentelow 44:24, Julie Williamson 44:29, Les Scott 44:35, Sam Doughty 44:35, Andy Wicklen 44:43, Graeme Reynolds 44:38, Jason Hawes 45:09, Alan Colby 45:25, Richard Grant 45:25, Jit Patel 45:32, Mark Doughty 45:33, Ben Foxwell 45:57, Nigel Kenny 46:06, Kevin Took 46:47, Barry Smith 46:49, Tiegan Moore 46:53, Anna Smith 47:03, Isabella McKenzie 47:17, Elaine Lumley 48:12, Owen Jary 48:12, Linda Marshall 48:33, Pauline Drewery 48:48, Gina Hurrell 49:16, Dan Yallop 50:12, Callie Sharpin 50:20, Carl Manning 51:21, Judith Berry 51:52, Tristan Langley 51:34, Victoria Seeley, 52:16, Martin Blackburn 53:12, Irina Marcinek 53:28, Rebecca Wilson 53:29, Darren Price 54:05, Charlotte Price 54:06, Christopher Milnes 56:55, Wendy Fisher 57:16, Laura Eke 57:23, Julie Barrow 61:37,Lindsay Dymond 65:23, Salina Cumbridge 65:41, Jon Benstead 68:38, Martin Elsegood 71:16, Jade Cooper 72:05, Gill Hart 74:34, Keith Morris 78:13, David Lane 89:19.
As if coming second in the F60 category at GEAR wasn’t enough for one weekend, Lynne Howlett went off to Croxton the following day to race in the Breckland 10K and won the F65 age group, with a time 20 seconds faster than over the Lynn course.
Julie Williamson finished fifth F40 with a time a couple of minutes slower than at GEAR, 46:58.
Justin Walker ran 40:53 for fourth place in the M50 category.
George Pettit’s 45:30 gave him 11th place in the same age group, while Kevin Howlett was sixth M65 with 50:18.
