Ryston youngsters prosper at Keith Ward Indoor Meeting featuring the Norfolk County Championships at King’s Lynn
Two hearty road races tested the mettle of a couple of dozen Ryston Runners at the weekend.
The majority were over in Wymondham for the 20-miler, always a favourite event for those preparing for spring marathons despite being a notoriously tough course.
This did not prevent a couple of members from recording significant PBs (Lucy MCDowie by 10 minutes, 3:06:03/302nd/6F45, and Chris Chaplin by 7.5 mins, 2:19:31/76th/37SM), nor a club age group record being set.
This latter achievement was that of Dawn Robinson (F35), whose 2:20:44 saw her finish 80th/5thF overall, and first SF, as the Masters categories in this race began at 40.
A category win also fell to Nic Bensley M55 (60th/2:15:05), who was the second club finisher behind Dickie Ebbs, himself thirdM50/51st/2:13:01.
Among the 462 finishers, these were the other Ryston results: Julie Williamson 138th/8F40/2:34:44, Justin Walker 139th/13M50/2:34:44, Christopher Cann 159th/64th SM/2:39:50, James Trim 192nd/77SM/ 2:45:46, George Pettit 223rd/21M50 /2:51:07, Anna Kahn 231st/19SF /2:52:14, Anna Smith 239th /4F45/2:53:22, Kevin Howlett 258th/5M65/2:58:02, John Crowley 320th/33M50/ 3:08:22, Kevin Richardson 337th/13M60 /3:13:07, Lisa Harris 349th/7F55/3:15:58, Eamonn McCusker 375th /4M70/ 3:23:56, Matthew Parker 375th/36M50/3:26:38, Daniel Timms 384th/112SM/3:28:58, Molly Hopgood 390th/ 44SF /3:30:46, Debbie Crowley 446th/15F50/4:07:52.
The course for the Keith Hall Memorial Thorney 10k may have been significantly flatter than that at Wymondham, but, as ever, the wind played its part in making it still a challenging run.
First home in a field of almost 350 finishers was Dylan Whitehouse, 54th and 19thSM with 38:46.
Next home, with a 38-second PB of 41:01 was his father, Jake Whitehouse, 81st and 9thM45. Ian Wiggins was 15thM45 in 148th in 45:12.
In 235th place, Jane Ashby ran 53:10 for fifth place in the F65 category, which was the highest age group covered by this event. Martin Elsegood ran 66:14 for 313th overall and 20th in the M55 age group.
The race winner, Danny Rock, now with Felixstowe Runners, and Marie Duhig, who both achieved qualifying displays for selection for the race in June, are both ex-Ryston Runners.
They trained together as part of the “Death Squad”, headed up by Peter Duhig in Downham in the mid-2000s, several of who have gone on to be high achievers, proving that training in a fast company bears good fruit.
There were some excellent results for the younger members of Ryston Runners at the Keith Ward Indoor Meeting at Alive Lynnsport on Sunday, featuring the Norfolk County Championships over the limited number of events available.
The distance of 60 metres yielded some excellent results with the club producing six county champions in Riley Price U13B (8.76), Ella Goldring U20W (8.43), Gavin Reynolds M40 (8.95), Richard Van Baaren M60 (8.93) and Chris Palmer M70 (10.10).
There was also an impressive return by Liam Clare, in his first competitive outing over the frankly daunting height of the senior men’s hurdles.
Additionally there were 60m bronzes for Liam (7.61) and Isaac Western U13B (9.65). Freddie Hubbard was fourth U13B (10.04), Courtney Price fourth in her U13G Heat (9.13), and Freya Reynolds fifth in her U11G time trial (10.45).
The Price family continued to have a successful day with some great results in the field events.
Riley added a gold medal from the shot putt and a silver from the long jump to his stash, while Courtney bagged a long jump bronze and a silver in the high jump.
Not to be outdone, their dad, Darren, took home a long jump silver.
Out in Gainesville, Florida, Liam Dawson (M50) marked his debut in the World Masters Championships by ranking 18th in the world over 800m in his age group.
