Ryston members set many personal best times
The New Year period was a hive of activity for members of Ryston Runners AC with members in action all over the eastern region and beyond.
By far the biggest number took part in the Marham Flyers New Year’s Eve 10k, where competitors flooded the finish line with huge swathes of green and white on a near-perfect day.
The race saw many personal bests achieved, and demonstrated most clearly how much club members support and enjoy competing with each other at every level.
At the sharp end of the race a great battle between Dan Guppy and Nic Bensley resulted in a win for Guppy (35.18, PB) which pushed Bensley to produce his third best time ever (35.25).
This is an amazing achievement considering Bensley is now in his 50th year.
Ben Keeley, running 36.06, made it a Ryston hat-trick in the men’s race.
Amy Chapman (25th/42.14) and Lesley Robins (44th/43.37) kept Ryston on the podium for the women too, taking first and second places respectively in that part of the race.
With so many taking part it is difficult to highlight the breadth and depth of individuals’ achievements on the day.
The following list of other club results can merely indicate how close some of the finishes were and highlight personal bests achieved, where informed.
Other Ryston Runners’ times: 7 Warren Armstrong 37.42, 9 Oliver Foxwell 38.32 (PB), 10 Gavin Reynolds 38.37, 11 Dominic Hughes 38.52, 17 Jonathan Lambert 39.55, 18 Ben Foxwell 40.00 (PB), 19 Stewart Robins 40.16, 20 Neil Stapleton 40.46, 24 Martin Ive 41.20, 29 Kevin Farquhar 42.16 (PB), 31 Bailey Took 42.22, 33 Pete Johnson 42.30, 35 Pete Reed 42.43, 36 Martin Heeley 42.45 (PB), 39 Shaun Hamer 43.14, 41 Tony Savage 43.28, 48 Matt Hitchcock 43.55 (PB), 49 Kevin Howlett 43.58, 53 Graeme Leeson 44.18, 55 Les Scott 44.36, 58 Barry Smith 44.50, 79 Kevin Took 46.19, 80 Oakley Took 46.20, 89 Mark Doughty 46.52, 92 Linda Marshall 47.05, 112 Anna Seaman 49.23, 115 Kevin Taylor 49.35, 118 Julie Barrow 49.38, 170 Wendy Fisher 54.37, 172 Ellen Taylor 54.40, 174 Sarah Partridge 54.46, 176 Jeremy Navrady 55.01, 177 Karen Smith 55.04, 181 Janet Moyle 55.28, 196 Sam Doughty 56.49, 199 Sophie Caudwell 57.12, 200 Georgina Allen 57.13, 212 Katie Moyle 57.59, 279 Wendy Farquhar 72.35 (PB).
A handful of West Norfolk Athletic Club members completed 2018 by taking part in the same race.
First home was Ben Collison in eighth place with a time of 38.11 – his best in 2018.
Collison was followed across the finishing line by Richard Dickson in a time of 44.47 and John Greenhalgh who recorded 45.17.
Debbie Schwarz, still on her recovery from injury, was next to finish in 45.32 and the fourth place lady.
Hannah Marsters was the last West Norfolk athlete to finish in 81.16.
n More athletics news and pictures on page 62.
