The annual Dalham Boxing Day 10K trail run attracted around 15 Newmarket Joggers (NJ) and a number of Newmarket Let’s Run Girls (LRG), as well as other local runners. Newmarket LRG is coordinated by NJ Anna Mayhew. The run followed the well-known, scenic ‘Three Churches’ circular trail route from Dalham, via Gazeley and Moulton, passing the churches of these three villages on the way. Photos taken by Anna Mayhew are attached. The event was more of a social occasion than a race.
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Above left: Joggers and LRG members at Boxing Day 10k; right: During the run, on a short road section near Gazeley.
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Official results for the Boxing Day 10k are not currently at hand but we do have the times of most of the Newmarket Joggers, posted on Strava. Their approximate order of finishing was Chris Underwood 46:07, James Thomson, 50:55, Jack Imrie 54:03, Adrian Whittle 55:28, Helen Hilario 58:13, Bridget Wallwin 60:00, Rob Hawkins 61:00, Anna Mayhew 63:00, Martin Smith 69:00, Stephen Cousins 69:00, Jackie Henley 72:00, Pearl Fay 86:00, and Caroline McIntosh 87:00. Brian Munns, Helen Wass and Sianie Painter also took part. Many of the runners stayed for a social gathering at the Affleck Arms in Dalham after the run.
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Above from left: Moulton Church; Dalham Church; Gazeley Church, with thanks to Anna Mayhew.
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Another popular, seasonal, running event was the Boxing Day Groggy Doggy, organised by Bungay Black Dog RC in Bungay, East Suffolk. This cross-country event attracted around 350 participants and was over one or two x 2.6-mile laps of Outney Park, with a shorter route for junior runners. Adult runners could be accompanied by dogs. NJ Aaron Self took part in the 2-lap run, completing the 5.2-mile course in 39:40, according to his watch. Official results are not yet at hand.
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Over Christmas, NJ Paul Holley was in his homeland of Jersey, in the Channel Islands. He entered the Bouley Bay Hill Climb on Saturday, 27th December, which took place in Trinity county. The route followed a steep climb of one mile from the beach to the cliffs above, gaining 417 feet in elevation and averaging a tough incline gradient of about 8%. Paul finished 13th of 50 runners in an excellent time of 07:49.
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Above left: Paul Holley in black; right: A view of the Bouley Bay hill climb. Thanks to the organisers.
Above: Scenes looking down to Bouley Bay, by Paul Holley.
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NJ Sarah Kinston in currently in Hermanus, South Africa, staying with family over Christmas and the New Year. She has been getting some runs in, despite the very warm weather, including the Robertson parkrun on 27th December. Some of her idyllic, scenic photos are shown below, as a relaxing conclusion to this report. Thanks to Sarah.
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HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!