The weekend really began on Friday evening, with the Bury Friday 5 at Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds, which attracted 14 Newmarket Joggers among a field of 370 runners overall. This was the 4th race in the Friday 5 Series of 6 x 5-mile races, with Stowmarket and Great Bentley still to come. The weather was warm but not unbearably so, with hazy cloud shielding much of the evening sunshine. The course was tough at the beginning, winding its way along trails through Nowton Park, followed by a long uphill road section to about the 3-mile point. After that, it was pretty much plain sailing, back downhill along roads to the finish.
Above, Newmarket Joggers at Bury Friday 5, from left: Richard Defries, Chris Aylmer, Sarah Kinston, Helen Hilario, Jo Bouttell, Carol Cienna Carter, Brian Munns, Jackie Henley, Jan Holmes, Caroline Mcintosh & Jim Withers. Not in photo: Oliver Daykin, Neville Clarke & Charles Jones.
NJ Oliver Daykin (30:32 SB, 17th of 370 overall, 10th of 72 in MS) put in a top effort to finish first Jogger home, followed by the redoubtable Carol Cienna Carter (35:15, 4th F of 120, 1st of 16 in F55), with a great run overall and a well-deserved win in her age group. Close behind came Richard Defries (35:21, 72nd M of 250, 10th of 38 in M50), Charles Jones (36:45, 93rd M, 2nd of 16 in M65), Neville Clarke (38:58, 121st M, 1st of 12 in M70+) and Helen Hilario (40:17, 27th F, 3rd of 12 in F50), all with very good age group results. Then came Jan Holmes (50:49, 7th in F60), Jim Withers (53:48, 9th in M70+), Brian Munns (54:24, 18th in M60), Sarah Kinston (55:17 SB, 11th in F50), Joanne Bouttell (55:41, 9th in F60), Jackie Henley (56:23 SB, 14th in F55), Chris Aylmer (56:45, 10th in M70+) and Caroline Mcintosh (1:01:55 SB, 4th in F70+).
Above from left: Carol Cienna Carter, with 1st F55 trophy; Neville Clarke with 1st M70+ trophy; Oliver Daykin pictured last year in the Yarmouth Half Marathon.
In the age group competitions of the Friday 5 Series, the best results of up to four races from the six are counted. Jim Withers is still holding onto first place of 24 in M70+ (having already completed 4 races), with Neville Clarke in second place (3 races completed so far; all first place finishes). In the F60 group, Jan Holmes is currently in second place of 30, with Jo Bouttell in third place, both having completed 4 races to date. Carol Cienna Carter is currently 12th of 35 in F55, but has won both her races so far. If she comes top in the final two races, she will definitely win her group.
Fast forward to the Newmarket 10K, held at The Ellesmere Centre, Stetchworth on Sunday, June 21st. This annual race, organised by Newmarket Joggers (NJ), attracted 132 participants, including 16 NJs.
Just two days after a top run in the Bury Friday 5, Oliver Daykin (36:01, 2nd of 132 overall, 2nd M of 78, 2nd of 20 in MS) put in another huge effort, to finish in second place overall. In first place was the almost unbeatable Owen Rees of Ipswich Phoenix, some 3 minutes ahead of the field. Also with a great run for NJ was new member Thomas Hemsley (36:53 SB, 5th M, 5th in MS), followed by Barley Woodcock (42:31 SB, 10th M, 1st of 23 in M45), who did very well to win his age group. First female Jogger home was Carol Cienna Carter (43:11, 2nd F of 54, 1st of 5 in F55) who came first in F55 and enjoyed another great race. The overall female race winner was Laura Blazey F40 of Saint Edmund Pacers, in a time of 42:55, just 16 seconds ahead of Carol Cienna.
Next came Richard Defries (43:14, 14th M, 1st of 6 in M50), who did well to win his age group, followed by young Harvey Thomas (44:51 SB, 20th M, 1st of 1 in MU21), with a good effort in his first known attempt at a 10K since reaching the minimum age of 15. He was followed by Michael McGarvey (45:59 SB, 3rd in M50), Paul Roberts (46:09, 5th in M45), Jonathan Ollington (47:56 SB, 4th in M55), Tristram Hilborn (48:43, 7th in M45) and Andy McKeague (48:57 SB, 7th in M40), all with good efforts. Second female Jogger to finish was young Lilian Corbett (50:57 SB, 11th F, 2nd of 2 in FU21), in her best time this year. She was followed by Alex McCaffrey (52:47 SB, 13th in MS), Liam Elvidge (53:34, 14th in MS), James Hilton (54:14 SB, 5th in M50), Catherine Bragg (59:04, 27th F, 5th in F50) and Sarah Last (1:08:14, 8th in F50), all putting in their best efforts.
Above, from left: Sarah Last turning off Kirtling Road into the stud during the race; Tristram Hilborn approaching the finish line; Barley Woodcock on the podium, 1st in M45; Paul Roberts & Michael McGarvey with medals.
Above, from left: Scenery through the stud in 10K race; Sarah Last at finish with volunteer Jo Bouttell; Sarah’s bib & medal.
Newmarket Junior 3K: The junior race took place at 09:15, before the 10K at 10:00. There were 23 entrants, including 5 girls and 18 boys. The overall first female winner was in-form NJ Sophie Blundell (13:22, 1st G of 5, 1st of 1 GU15). Other NJ female finishers doing well were: Imogen Stephens (18:07, 3rd G, 1st of 1 GU13) and Merida Hilborn-Fox (20:27, 5th G, 3rd of 3 GU11). The overall first male finisher was Jasper Hallam BU13 of Ely Runners in 11:27. NJ boys putting in good efforts were Rio Mcandrew (13:04, 7th B of 18, 3rd of 4 BU15), Reuben Hilborn-Fox (13:17, 8th B, 4th of 11 BU13), Oliver Hilton (15:05, 14th B, 10th BU13) and Toby Stephens (15:50, 16th B, 4th BU15).
Above from left: James Hilton with son Oliver before the junior race; Oliver with medal; Tristram Hilborn, with son Reuben & daughter Merida at home after the race; special volunteer.
After the Newmarket 10K, there was a much-enjoyed barbecue lunch and social gathering at The Ellesmere Centre for all the NJ club runners and volunteers. Many thanks to all the many helpers, with special thanks to Jim Withers (Race Director), Stuart Sowerby (Chief Marshal) and Neil Williamson (Car Park co-ordinator). Jenny Osbourn and Caroline Mcintosh did a great job in the kitchen, providing tea, coffee and cakes to the participants, while Sandy of the Ellesmere Centre kindly opened and tended the bar during the social gathering.
ROUND UP OF OTHER RACES
North Yorkshire Ultra Challenge, Scarborough, Saturday June 20th: Only one week after completing 50 miles (10 x 5-mile solo laps within 24 hours) at the Sandringham 24 event in Norfolk, NJ Anna Mayhew invited her LRG (Let’s Run Girls) group members (who had also participated at Sandringham) to take part in the North Yorkshire Ultra Challenge at Scarborough. She chose the 25km trail route, which was offered as a good introduction to ultra running. The longer distances were 50km and 100km routes for the seasoned ultra runners. Anna’s chip time for the 25km was 3:47:09, which was probably run as a group, alongside her LRG members, who were inexperienced in long distance trail running. They all had a great time and a lot of fun along the course.
Above: Anna Mayhew & LRG group at start; Anna during the race; Anna with medal at the finish.
On the same day, Ian McClements took on the Minotaur 50M Ultra Challenge in Dorking, Surrey, organised by Phoenix Running. It all took part within the Denbies Wine Estate, consisting of 50 repeated one-mile laps around the estate. Ian’s official time was 16:52:45, counting all non-moving time, though his moving time was around 11h 55m. It must have taken enormous discipline to keep going from dawn to dark around the same one-mile route.
Dan Bainbridge (1:00:27, 160th of 268 overall, 39th of 47 in MS) competed in the Brainstrust Bass Belle 10K in Bassingbourn, Cambridgeshire on Sunday, Dan has been a supporter of Brainstrust since his father died of a brain condition some years ago. This was Dan’s way of honouring his father on Father’s Day.
Above from left: Ian McClements with medal after 50M Minotaur Ultra; Dan Bainbridge with Brainstrust Bass Belle 10K medal.
Norwich Standard Triathlon, Whitlingham Country Park, Sunday: NJ Martin Smith entered the Standard Triathlon, representing Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club. The event consisted of a swim of about 1.5km in Whitlingham Broad, 40km bike ride on country roads and 10km run around Whitlingham Country Park. His total time, including transitions, was a very decent 2:36:15, putting him 66th of 215 overall, 59th M of 156, 9th of 16 in M45. His time for the 10km run was 52:39, compared with his 10km PB time of 46:49, recorded earlier this year in the Breckland 10K. Of course, that was on road, not grass, and was not immediately following a 40km bike ride, so hardly comparable. His overall positions on swim, bike & run were 144th, 20th and 105th , showing that his best discipline is definitely on the bike.
APOLOGIES, MISSED LAST WEEK: As well as NJ Anna Mayhew at the Sandringham 24 last weekend, NJ Jon Brooker also completed 10 x 5-mile laps, competing in the men’s pairs with family friend Josh Talbot. They finished 3rd of 6 in the male pairs, completing 23 laps in all. Jon’s best 5-mile time was 44:11.
Many thanks for all the photos and race information.
NB: The Haverhill Summer 5K race has now been cancelled, due to the forecast of extreme heat. The same could happen to the Stowmarket Friday 5, so check before travelling.
Happy running,
Chris Aylmer