On Sunday, January 4th, Newmarket Joggers had five members competing in the Suffolk XC Championships at Hadleigh; smaller than the usual number but all achieving a very high standard.
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In the senior women’s competition, Isabelle Talbot-Price finished 2nd of 68 runners overall in the 8km race, posting a time of 32:29 and taking the trophy for 2nd of 16 in the F20-39 age group. In the same race, NJ Sarah Osborne (35:07, 7th in F20-39) also recorded a very good time.
In the senior men’s competition over 10km, Oliver Daykin (36:24, 8th of 84 overall, 8th of 24 in M20-39) was in great form, as was Jimmy Smith (38:49, 16th overall, 2nd of 17 in M45-49), the latter taking the 2nd place age group trophy. Stephen Edwards (48:28, 3rd of 7 in M60-64) was also in trophy-winning form.
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Above left: Isabelle Talbot-Price with 2nd place medal; right: Jimmy Smith on left, with Oliver Daykin.
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The Cambridgeshire XC Championships took place on the same day at St Neots, where Newmarket Joggers had three senior men and two junior girls competing. In the senior men’s 10km, John Beardsworth (38:28, 37th of 120 overall, 6th of 28 in M35-44) was first home, followed by Gordon Irvine (41:46, 67th, 13th of 32 in M45-54) and Tristram Hilborn (111th, 30th in M45-54).
In the U15G 4.3km race, NJ Sophie Blundell (21:06, 11th of 19) represented Ely Runners as her 2nd claim club, while NJ Esther Eaton came =16th of 45 in the U11G 1.7km race, representing her 2nd claim Cambridge Tri Club. It was nice to see these juniors competing at a high standard.
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‘Ringing the Old Year Out’ on Wednesday, December 31st, were three local New Year’s Eve 10K races, with the Ely New Year’s Eve 10K at Little Downham by far the most popular with club members.
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Above: members of the NJ team at Little Downham for the Ely NYE 10K.
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Charles Jones (43:03 SB, 95th of 566, 2nd of 12 in M65-69) put in a remarkable effort to finish first of twenty for the club and earning himself 80.64% age grade in the process, his highest of the 2025 calendar year. A large number of Season’s Best (SB) performances were achieved. The next three NJs to finish were all female: Hayley Tatam (44:00 SB, 17th F of 227, 3rd of 29 in F35-39), Olivia Carter (44:24 SB, 20th F, 9th of 58 in SF) and Helen Hilario (44:41 SB, 25th F, 3rd of 32 in F50-54). Others to finish were; Jeremy Reader M50 45:36 SB; Jonathan Ollington M55 47:22 SB; Tristram Hilborn M45 47:29; Sean Rollinson M55 49:15 SB; Marc Drury M50 51:37; Jon Brooker M60 51:57 (ran with daughter Tianna); Brian Munns M60 52:59 SB; Angela Drury F45 54:43 SB; Anna Mayhew F55 54:58 SB; Jan Holmes F60 56:30 SB; Jo Bouttell F60 56:59 PB; Lucy Hartley F40 1:00:18 SB; Lynda McCormack F65 1:05:03 SB; Jim Withers M70 1:06:26; Caroline McIntosh F70 1:12:36; Pearl Fay F65 1:13:16 SB. NJ Phil Blundell was kindly officiating in this race.
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Above: Jeremy Reader, centre, who found his true form, aided by the Scottish Piper.
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Three Joggers opted for the RAF Marham NYE 10K in Norfolk and all did exceptionally well. Neil Pollard (34:03) finished 1st of 615 overall and 1st of 47 in his M45-49 age group. He was closely followed by Mark Hayward (34:58, 2nd overall and 1st of 43 in M40-44). Hannah Pollard (42:23 PB, 7th F of 277, 1st of 45 in F45-49) was in masterly form, with a new all-time PB, and has been advancing steadily over the past year.
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Above: Hannah & Neil Pollard with Marham Flyers 10K medals; right Hannah, Mark Hayward & Neil after the race.
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At Girton, near Cambridge, three Joggers were involved in the Cogwheel Canter NYE 10K/5K, which helped to support and raise awareness of the Cogwheel Counselling mental health charity. Alex McCaffrey (48:25 SB, 101st of 302 overall, 35th of 67 in M18-39) was first home, followed by Martin Smith (51:34, 57th of 87 in M40-59), who commented that everything ‘felt right’ about his form. In the 5K race, junior Jogger Esther Eaton did well to finish in 24:31 SB, 1st of 4 in U11G.
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‘Ringing the New Year In’ was the Wymondham NYD 10K in Norfolk, on Thursday, January 1st. Marc Drury (49:49, 207th of 689 overall, 21st of 36 in M50-54 ) was first Jogger home from Brian Munns (53:44, 303rd, 17th in M60-64) and Angela Drury (55:03, 81st F of 319, 16th of 46 in F45-49). Also putting in good efforts were: Alan Thornhill (59:03, 453rd, 2nd of 6 in M75+) and Jim Withers (1:07:25, 619th, 7th in M70-74). All but Alan Thornhill had done the Ely NYE 10K the day before, which was a real test of endurance.
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Above left: Marc & Angela Drury at Wymondham NYD 10K; right: Brian Munns, Alan Thornhill & Jim Withers.
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TRACK NEWS
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Some news from the Lee Valley T&F Open on Saturday 3rd January 2026: NJ Shane McAndrew M35 set two new PBs in the 200m (25.95s, 79.04% age grade) and 800m (2:12.51, 78.73%) track events, starting the New Year in earnest. Also competing at a high standard were Harvey Thomas U17 in the 800m (2:19:11, 78.27%), Rio McAndrew U15 in the 300m (53.65, 62.61%) and Phil Blundell M45 in the 200m (29.30s, 75.94%). Phil was also kindly helping to officiate at this event.