Cambridge Half Marathon: Forty-five Newmarket Joggers were among over 13,000 participants who turned out for the 2025 Cambridge Half Marathon on Sunday March 9th. Another band of volunteer Joggers were manning the second of four water stations along the way, much needed in the unexpectedly mild and sunny weather.
Blazing the trail for the Joggers in the race was Neil Pollard, in a time of 1:13:09 SB; 61st of 13,575 overall and 3rd of 860 in his M45 age group. This earned him an enviable 86.08% age grade. He was followed by Oliver Daykin (1:20:36 PB, 303rd, 58th of 1,073 in M25), Ross Birkett (1:21:51 SB, 378th, 59th of 1,022 in M35), David Percy (1:27:13 SB, 762nd, 37th of 781 in M50) and Marc Drury (1:29:47 SB, 1,016th, 55th of 781 in M50), who all put in top runs.
For the female Joggers, Carol Cienna Carter did extremely well to finish in 1:28:21 SB; 83rd F of 5,863 and 1st of 502 in her F50 age group. This was worth a most impressive 88.13% age grade. She was followed by Hannah Pollard (1:37:17, 256th F, 26th of 676 in F40), Cerys Bithell 1:37:31 PB, 263rd F, 5th of 119 in F17), Hayley Blunt (1:43:56 SB, 465th F, 55th of 621 in F35) and Olivia Carter (1:44:36 SB, 493rd F, 94th of 809 in F30), all putting in big efforts.
Other female NJ finishers, putting in big efforts, were: Helen Hilario 1:46:30; Helina Salo 1:47:06; Eleanor Bithell 1:47:15; Lilian Corbett 1:49:33; Meera Mahadevan 1:56:16; Eleanor Margetts 1:58:54; Rachael Maltpress 2:02:01; Angela Drury 2:03:16; Jasmine Cook 2:13:53; Suzanne Bailey 2:17:24; Sarah Last 2:34:44; Lynda McCormack 2:44:03; Caroline Mcintosh 2:45:28; Gillian Green 3:04:11.
Other male NJ finishers, giving it their all, were: Sam Sadler 1:31:24; Barley Woodcock 1:32:58; Adam Maltpress 1:34:37; Shane Mcandrew 1:39:37; John Bramhill 1:39:40; Matthew Wisbey 1:41:05; Darren Gore 1:41:35; Andrew Sandeman 1:41:45; Jonathan Ollington 1:44:46; Jonathan Pye 1:46:09; Phil Blundell 1:48:28; Richard Eddershaw 1:48:40; Rob Pollard 1:55:12; Steve Oglesby 1:58:56; Reuben Smith 1:59:56; Jeremy Reader 2:00:27; Andy McKeague 2:01:57; Mike Sales 2:10:33, Ian Butcher 2:11:09; Craig Ladley 2:23:05.
Above left: The Cambridge Half medal; on right, the NJ Water Station on Barton Road, with the first runners coming through.
On the same day was the Steyning Stinger Half Marathon, near Horsham in West Sussex. Congratulations to new member Kirsty McDermott, who put in an astonishing performance in this very tough, hilly race. She finished 1st of 137 overall in a time of 1:41:34, 1st F of 57 and 1st of 17 in her F35-44 age group. This was just one week after running the Richmond Park Half Marathon in a time of 1:26:03, where she finished 8th of 343 overall, 1st F of 134 and 1st of 21 in her F35-39 age group. This gave her the fastest half marathon by any female Jogger this year. Apologies for not finding or reporting the Richmond race last week, and thanks to Mark Hayward for the tip-off.
Above: Kirsty McDermott finishing the Richmond Park HM on March 2nd. Thanks for the great photo taken by the organisers.
Meanwhile, Neville Clarke was in great form in the Stowmarket Half Marathon. He clocked 1:46:28, finishing 64th of 206 overall and 1st of 2 in his M70+ age group.
Inter Counties XC Championships, Wollaton Park, Nottingham, Saturday 8th March: Five Newmarket Joggers were honoured to be chosen to represent Suffolk County at this event, on the strength of their performances in the Suffolk County Championships in January. Among the Suffolk senior men’s team of 8 (first 6 to score) were Joggers Robert Dobson, Joey Bendall and Hugh Tawell. Cerys Bithell was in the FU17 team of 7 (first 4 to score) and Harvey Thomas in the MU15 team of 7 (first 4 to score). The men’s senior event was over ~10km, with the FU17 race ~5km and the MU15 distance ~4km. NJ Jimmy Smith was the Suffolk County team manager for men and boys in all 5 age groups and spent a long, tiring, but rewarding, day at the event. The standard of competition was extremely high in all the races.
Times and positions in the senior men’s race: Robert Dobson (34:55, 2nd Suffolk, 141st of 277 overall); Joey Bendall (36:11, 5th Suffolk, 196th); Hugh Tawell (37:00, 7th Suffolk, 218th). Out of interest. John Millar (30:55), was 1st for Suffolk in 30:55 and 15th overall. Suffolk finished 24th of 30 counties in this event, with Northern Ireland winning from Surrey and Yorkshire.
Above, the Suffolk men’s team: NJ Rob Dobson centre; third from right NJ Joey Bendall; far right NJ Hugh Tawell. John Millar (1st for Suffolk, not NJ) is 2nd from the left. Thanks for the team photo.
In the FU17 5km race, Cerys did well to finish 2nd for Suffolk in a time of 21:21 and 91st of 273 overall. Suffolk finished 25th of 31 counties, with Surrey the winners. Harvey Thomas put in a good time of 16:33 in the MU15 4km race, to finish 6th for Suffolk and 260th of 311 overall. Suffolk finished 35th of 42 counties, with Surrey winning this one too.
Above: The FU17 team, with Cerys Bithell (2nd) in centre. First for Suffolk was Isabelle Moore (not NJ), second from left. Thanks for team photo.
Above: Hugh Tawell, Joey Bendall, Harvey Thomas and Cerys Bithell, with team manager Jimmy Smith behind. Thanks for photo.
Suffolk Winter XC League 2024-2025 Awards, Friday evening, 7th March, Framlingham: This was held at the Framlingham Sports Club in Badingham Road. Newmarket Joggers were richly rewarded with trophies for their best season in the league for many years. Our senior men’s A team finished first of 22 clubs, while our women’s A team were runners-up of 22 in their separate division after a brilliant late season surge of form. As a combined men’s and women’s A team, we also finished in 2nd place. Showing that we have depth in ability and numbers, our performances in the B & C team divisions were notable too; in every category (men’s, women’s and combined) we were in the top three, achieving either 2nd or 3rd place. The support of B and C team members is vital to ensure a strong A team, when some of our fastest runners are not available.
INDIVIDUAL AGE GROUP TROPHIES
The following were in the top three of their age group competitions in the Suffolk XC Winter League and received trophies at the awards night:
Cerys Bithell, 2nd of 4 in FU17
Harvey Thomas, 3rd of 9 in MU15
Olivia Carter, 1st of 9 in FS
Helen Hilario, 3rd of 18 in F50
Belinda Schofield, 3rd of 8 in F65
Rob Dobson, 1st of 19 in M40
Jimmy Smith, 2nd of 21 in M45
Paul Holley, 3rd of 17 in M55
Neville Clarke, 1st of 10 in M70+
Congratulations to them all.