tarpley 10 and 20 miles

TARPLEY! Several Road Runners travelled over the border to Suffolk this morning, despite predictions of 45mph winds and heavy rain at the Tarpley 10 mile and 20 mile races. 20 milers had it particularly tough with the rain (and headwinds for the final 7 miles!) while those of us who sensibly chose a 10 mile distance had a sunny and dry sky to start under. Both courses were undulating - so ‘undulating’ that this word is written 10 times on the souvenir t-shirt...

10 MILE REPORT

5 NRRs competing: myself, Trevor Kuhrt, Kierstan Foreman, Deborah English, Anna Wright and we’re hoping to adopt Jasmin Honour (2nd claim) who finished first U21 lady today! Congrats also to Debs who finished 2nd lady overall and 1st in her age category

20 MILE REPORT

A brilliant 9 NRRs in a very competitive field (it was a Suffolk Champs race): Simon English, Jon Shorten, Jessica B Running, Kevin James Rowe, Gary Grand, Andrew Leggett, Dios Fernandez, Bryn Mainwaring, Kelly Simmonds. Also Darren Honour (2nd claim). Simon English finished 2nd in age category. Jess also 2nd in age category!

The race was run in wet and soddy conditions but perhaps better than the forecast predicted. After the event it  really  poured down making getting out of the parking area a bit tricky. Well done to Bure Valley Harriers for putting on the race despite the conditions and changing parking areas at the last minute. 

John Hudson was fifth with a time of 00:58:49.1 while Jessica Behan, with a time of 01:08:04.0 was the second female home and also won the FO age category prize. Anne Flanagan took the first position in the F40-44 category, while Penny Edwards also achieved first in the F60-64 age group

In the team category prizes Norwich Road Runners took first place in the MU40 group (John Hudson, Ian Bray  and David Asker)as fellas the MO40 category,( Marc Coles  Chris Bullock  and Neil Walpole) not to be outdone  Jessica Behan Kerry Lymbery and Charlotte Lucy Hodgson took the Female U40 team prize

This was the 31st Running of this race, as ever well organised  by North Norfolk Beach Runners. Its the first event of the Worstead Festival weekend so there are lots of food tents and people getting organised for the main event on Saturday and Sunday . A  hot evening for running but thankfully not as hot as the previous couple of days and, I am assured, not as hot as last year.s race. The race starts in the picturesque village square and local residents gave the runners support along the route, with some sitting out on deckchairs enjoying an evening drink .Special thanks to the man who was pouring water over the runners!.

The frist Norwich Road Runner home was Trevor Gannon in  7th  with a time of 00:28:51.8 He was also second in the MV40 category. Nest was John Hudson in 9th (00:28;57.4) and Simon Wright 12 in 00:29:35.1. Amy Beck, with a time of 00:31:16. was the overall female winner. Jessica Behan took 3rd female place with a time of 0:32:00.5.Marianne Armstrong was 3rd female Norwich Road Runner across the line in 0:38:38.7

Other category positions were Judy Crooks 1st in FV55,Mark Garrett 1st in MV55 and Harvey Hurrell 1st in MJ.

Personal Bests 

there were personal bests for Neil Walpole, Keith Walpole, Ian Bray( 00:32:37/00:31:27) Judy Crooks (00:44:26 00:40:46 Neil Walpole and Keith Walpole