Ten club juniors represent county in televised event

It was all about cross country this weekend for the club’s endurance runners. A really impressive ten of the club’s juniors were selected to represent Norfolk in the UK inter-county race at Wollaton Park, Notts – a televised, big name race so a wonderful experience for them to line up with the best including multiple GB athletes.It was a gruelling course, to say the least with all races starting with 400 metres up a hill towards the top of the course and then undulating around for the remainder of the run. Norfolk fielded up to eight runners for each age event, with around 300-plus running in most of the age categories.The U13 girls team had four West Norfolk runners – Trixie Brun, Faith Turner, Jess Lawrence and Casey Ward. The girls ran fantastically well over the 3k, Trixie retiring with an injury but hopefully back out there on the circuit soon. Faith was 256th in 14.04, Casey 274th in 14.33 and Jess 288th in 15.22 – fourth, sixth and seventh for Norfolk.The U13 boys had two athletes, Thomas Murray and Aidan Howard, again over a 3k distance. Thomas had the highest placing of all the WN athletes and was one of the highest Norfolk placings across every age group on the day with an amazing 73rd place in 11.26. He also had the honour of leading the Norfolk athletes from the pen and finished first for Norfolk. Aidan ran well for 12.40 in 260th and sixth for Norfolk.U15 girl Evie Clayton ran 4k on the day. Unfortunately with illness striking she had to take it easier than usual but still completed it very strongly in 18.22 for 268th place, seventh for Norfolk. Ethan Ward, in his first year in the U15 boys, also 4k, ran strongly picking up a lot of places in the second half of the race and finished 228th in 14.35, sixth for Norfolk.The U17 boys also had two first year runners – Ed Murray and Charlie Frammingham. Both seasoned XC runners, they took on a 6k course and ran strongly – Ed finishing in 206th place in 20.27 and Charlie closely behind in 222nd and 20.36, fifth and sixth for Norfolk. A truly proud day for the juniors and the club and an amazing experience. Many of the athletes move onto the Norfolk schools final next weekend.Back closer to home, the final of the popular Shouldham series took place on Sunday. The six race series has both individual placings on the day then a series award for the best aggregate time over the runner’s three best races.Senior Ben Collison had another great run over the 6.5k course in 28.03, coming back strong from recent injury, and seventh place in M40. Rob Gosnell was ninth M40 in 28.39. In the U9s, Lauren Lawrence and Jess Watts had great runs for fourth and fifth in 3.25 and 3.35. James Watts smashed his PB in the U11 2k with 8.03, which was enough to push him into third in the overall series – James has another year to go in the age group which makes an even more special achievement.In the U13 girls, Casey and Jess Lawrence did well to take on more hills after their run the day before – Casey finishing just off the podium in fourth with 13.28 and Jess fifth in 13.42. Taking a well deserved break, there were no U15 runners, but Evie Clayton clinched the overall series first prize, after a blinding season a very well deserved award. Ethan claimed silver for the U15 boys overall across the series, again very well deserved with another year at U15 to go.A massive thanks to Ryston for the event which is always a great feature on the XC diaries and we look forward to it again next year.- Following last week’s Cambridge half marathon, it has now been confirmed that Dominic Marray Woods broke the club record for his age category over the distance with his impressive time of 1.21.18 in his first time running the 13.1 miles distance at just 17 years old.- Digby Frammingham won the Mike Groves 25th anniversary 10k on Sunday which doubled up as the Norfolk County Championship 10k. He was victorious in his age group M60-64 and this was his first county champion title out of a very competitive field, with 39.39 and another sub 40 under his belt.