Results are now out for the third fixture of the Suffolk Winter XC League 2025-26, which took place on Sunday, January 11th at Haughley Park, Stowmarket: Newmarket & Sudbury (N&S), the joint team of Newmarket Joggers (NJ) and Sudbury Joggers (SJ), are well poised in second position of 22 competing clubs in the women’s, men’s and combined competitions, not far behind league leaders Saint Edmund Pacers (SEP).
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Above: Newmarket & Sudbury XC team at Haughley Park, Stowmarket on 11th January.
After three fixtures, the N&S women’s ‘A’ team of 4 (first four N&S women to finish each fixture) is a mere 23 points behind SEP at 4,695 to 4,718, so well within catching distance. NJ Isabelle Talbot Price did exceptionally well to finish first of 128 female runners on the day, with excellent support from her teammates Sarah Osborne, Carol Cienna Carter and Helen Hilario.
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The N&S men’s ‘A’ team of 7 is also in second place but 132 points adrift of SEP, so a somewhat harder target to pursue. Our men’s 1-2-3 of Oliver Daykin, Jimmy Smith and Mark Hayward did a grand job, well supported by the rest of the team, which included Jason Bevan, Jack Imrie, Gordon Irvine and Barley Woodcock. Unfortunately, our leading runner in the previous 2024-25 season (Rob Dobson), has a long-term injury and has been unable to compete since early last year.
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Looking at the Suffolk Winter XC League individual age group competitions, we have lots of Newmarket Joggers in the top three of their tables. Starting with the oldest first, Neville Clarke is 2nd of 21 in the M70+ category, with Charles Jones 2nd of 34 in M65-69 and Paul Holley 2nd of 53 in M55-59. For the women, Elke Hausler stands 1st of 16 in F60-64, with Ruth Cowlin of Sudbury Joggers in 3rd, while Carol Cienna Carter is 2nd of 35 in F50-54. Then we have Jimmy Smith 1st of 57 in M45-49, Mark Hayward 3rd of 44 in M40-44 and Isabelle Talbot Price 1st of 62 in F20-39. Though not in the top three, Oliver Daykin is doing very well at 5th of 110 in M20-39, so plenty to keep our interest alive. Lilian Corbett is currently 2nd of 10 in FU20, though has, so far, completed only one fixture of the four required to qualify for a trophy.
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The next fixture will be the Bungay Black Dog XC at Corton, near the East Suffolk coast, on Sunday, January 25th.
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ROUND UP OF OTHER RACES
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The Reedham 10M race attracted five Newmarket Joggers to the village on the River Yare, southeast of Norwich. Mark Hayward (58:04) was in top gear, finishing 8th of 660 overall and 2nd of 54 in M40-44. He was actually not feeling 100% fit, though it didn’t show. Then came NJ Jason Beeton (1:10:50, 141st, 21st in M40-44) representing first claim Thetford AC, followed by ace veteran Neville Clarke (1:20:25, 292nd, 1st of 6 in M70-74). Jo Bouttell (1:41:57, 205th F, 10th in F60-64) and Sarah Kinston (1:52:04, 245th F, 35th in F50-54) were taking it a little easier due to illness and lack of training over the past week or two.
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Above from left: Mark Hayward, Jason Beeton, Neville Clarke, Jo Bouttell & Sarah Kinston, finishing Reedham 10M. Thanks to
Total Race Timing for finish photos.
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Three Joggers opted for the popular, annual, Folksworth 15M road race, near Peterborough, which is a favourite training race for spring marathons and attracted 450 runners overall. Ellie Bithell (2:09:45, 49th F of 159, 8th of 30 in F45-49) really enjoyed her race, allowing herself a steady warm up before pushing the pace later on. She was followed by Angela Drury (2:27:13, 108th F, 21st in F45-49) and Jan Holmes (2:39:29, 137th F, 5th in F60-64), who both enjoyed the challenge, the latter taking it easier to keep her heart rate low.
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Ellie Bithell, Angela Drury & Jan Holmes at Folksworth 15M. Thanks to Ellie for photos.
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RACE WALK NEWS
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The first fixture of the new 2026 season took place in the Enfield Race Walking League, at the QEII stadium in Enfield, north London. Newmarket Joggers have been competing in this league for the past two years. Results are not yet available for the scheduled 5km race; however, we can report on the presentations of the 2025 awards. Newmarket Joggers came top of the league table for the 2025 season; the first time a team from outside London has won the league competition. The Newmarket Joggers regularly taking part in the monthly races throughout the year were: Edson Wilkinson SM (also team coach), Suzanne Bailey W60, Lily-Ann Cooper U15G, Sophie Blundell U15G and Rio McAndrew U13B. They were presented with the winning trophy, while Suzanne Bailey also received 3rd place trophy in the senior female category. It was certainly a dedicated effort by all in the team, with a considerable amount of travel involved in taking part each month.
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Above left: The Newmarket Joggers race walk team of Rio McAndrew, Sophie Blundell, Lily-Ann Cooper, Suzanne Bailey
& Edson Wilkinson, with League trophy; right: Suzanne Bailey’s 3rd place ladies’ trophy. Thanks to Phil Blundell for team photo.
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TRACK NEWS
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The London Indoor Games for U20 & Seniors took place at the Lee Valley athletics track from 17th to 18th January. NJ Shane McAndrew M35 took part in the senior men’s 200m event. He did well to clock 26.12 seconds in his heat, though it was slightly slower than the 25.95s PB he gained at the Lee Valley Open earlier in January. He was trying out starting blocks for the first time and thinks he needs more practice before using these again.
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Many thanks for all the great photos posted on Strava.