Results have just come through for the second fixture of the Suffolk Winter XC League, held at Sutton Heath, Woodbridge on Sunday, November 30th over a course distance of approximately 8km. They show that Newmarket & Sudbury (N&S), the joint team of Newmarket Joggers and Sudbury Joggers, have been edged into 2nd position of 22 participating clubs by Saint Edmund Pacers (SEP) of Bury St Edmunds.
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Suffolk Winter XC League standings: Combined women’s & men’s A Team Table.
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After the first fixture at Framlingham on 26th October, N&S had led the divisions for the men’s A teams and for the combined women’s and men’s A teams, with the women’s A team in 2nd place. Now they are all in second position in their respective divisions. However, the BSE A team lead is quite narrow and there is room for hope that it can be reduced or overturned at the next fixture in Stowmarket on Sunday, January 11th. The N&S B and C teams are all 3rd or 4th in their respective divisions, providing strength and depth for the team.
Looking at the N&S top individual age group performances in the League, Isabelle Talbot-Price and Kirsty McDermott are in great form and joint first of 56 in the F20-39 age bracket. For the men, Paul Holley is 1st of 49 in the M55-59 age group. Also in the top three are Carol Cienna Carter 2nd of 34 in F50-54, Elke Hausler 2nd of 14 in F60-64, Lilian Corbett 2nd of 9 in F17-19, James Smith 2nd of 52 in M45-49, Mark Hayward 2nd of 39 in M40-44, Neville Clarke 2nd of 19 in M70+, Ruth Cowlin 3rd of 14 in F60-64, Charles Jones 3rd of 32 in M65-69, plus many more excellent efforts by the N&S team members.
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Above left: Newmarket & Sudbury XC Team at Woodbridge; right: Angela Drury enjoying one of many natural water features on Sutton Heath.
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Milton Keynes Winter Half Marathon, Sunday December 7th: Five Joggers took part in this popular pre-Christmas race, which attracted over 2,400 participants. First home was Phil Blundell (1:37:05, 239th of 2,409 overall, 27th of 173 in M45-49), who was only 8 seconds outside his PB earned at Cambridge in 2023 and has been improving steadily all year. First female Jogger home was Helen Hilario (1:47:20, 80th F of 1,068, 6th of 112 in F50+), doing very well in her age group. Not far behind came Ellie Bithell (1:49:53, 107th F, 17th of 195 in F45-49), also with an impressive age group result. Then came Hanneli Stevenson (1:53:31, 161st F, 30th in F45-49 and Angela Drury (1:57:57, 237th F, 43rd in F45-49), both with very good efforts, not far from their best.
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Above left: Ellie Bithell, Hanneli Stevenson, Helen Hilario, Angela Drury; right: Ellie and Helen with medals.
Above left: Angela Drury with medal; right: Close up medal by Hanneli Stevenson.
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Beccles Turkey Trot 10M, Sunday: Mark Hayward took on this annual, festive race, which usually gives out Christmas puddings to all finishers. He was in great form, clocking 56:40 and finishing 2nd of 259 overall, 1st of 22 in his M40-44 age group. His PB remains 55:37 at Tiptree in 2023, according to Power of 10.
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Above: Mark Hayward finishing Beccles Turkey Trot in 2nd place.
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ATW Grafham Water Trail 10M, Huntingdonshire, Sunday: New member Ian McClements entered this running event, which also had a separate Canicross option for dogs on a lead. He finished in 1:43:38, 122nd of 157 overall and 9th in his M45-49 age group. It appears to be his first attempt at this distance.
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Many thanks for all the photos.