West Norfolk athletes out in force at 10k

West Norfolk athletes were well represented at the Sublime Long Sutton 10k with a large contingent from both Ryston and Renegade Runners taking part.

The women’s team prize went to Ryston (Lesley Robins, Anna Smith, Linda Marshall), who were also responsible for the second men’s team (Callum Stanforth, Nic Bensley, Shaun Mann).

Callum Stanforth (SM), who seems to be regaining his racing edge, was third overall in the race, chipping about 15 more seconds off his PB with 33.41.

Nic Bensley finished just outside the top 10, adding this race to his recent catalogue of M45 category wins, despite recently having embarked on his last year in this age group.

Shaun Mann, one of the club’s new road race representatives, took third in the same category.

His partner in this administrative role, Jane Ashby, won the W70 age group.

Pauline Sparrow won the W65s, and Pete Johnson and Kevin Howlett made it a Ryston one-two in the M60s, with the latter just having the edge by 20 seconds.

Second places in their categories went to Malcolm Tuff (M50) and Anna Smith (W35) while Linda Marshall was third W50.

There was some notable packing in the M45 age group with Warren Armstrong, Martin Sheldrick, and Neil Stapleton finishing fifth, sixth and seventh, within 40 seconds of each other, Armstrong and Sheldrick separated by a mere four seconds.

There were close races to the finish between Stewart Robins and Michael Howlett and, a few minutes later, Kevin Farquhar and Barry Smith, and then Jacob Whitehouse and Frances Rayner.

Full Ryston results: 3 Callum Stanforth SM 33.41, 11 Nic Bensley M45 36.30, 13 Shaun Mann M45 36.58, 16 Robert Simmonds SM 37.38, 19 Warren Armstrong M45 38.01, 20 Martin Sheldrick M45 38.04, 24 Neil Stapleton M45 38.40, 25 Gavin Reynolds SM 38.45, 34 Malcolm Tuff M50 40.11, 50 Stewart Robins M50 42.09, 51 Michael Howlett SM 42.14, 57 Pete Reed M35 42.47, 68 Darren Smith SM 43.20, 78 Pete Johnson M60 43.43, 82 Kevin Howlett M60 44.08, 88 Kevin Farquhar M35 44.21, 89 Barry Smith M50 44.34, 98 Lesley Robins W45 45.03, 115 Anna Smith W35 46.20, 140 Linda Marshall W50 47.60, 157 Jacob Whitehouse M35 48.31, 159 Frances Rayner W50 48.43, 178 Julie Barrow W35 50.10, 208 Jane Ashby W70 52.18, 223 Pauline Sparrow W65 53.22, 268 Jacqui Scott W45 57.02.

A large contingent of Renegade Runners travelled to Long Sutton and a few members featured at the top end of their age groups.

Matt Pyatt enjoyed his best 10k for 18 months to finish fifth overall and first in the M40 category in a time of 34.22.

Sally Hurst was the first Renegade lady to finish in 52nd in a very impressive time of 42.16.

Gary Walker won the M65 category in an excellent 44.08 for 81st overall.

Charlie Pyatt was overwhelmed to win his first category prize ever with a PB time of 75.33 and 441st place to take the M70 crown at the sprightly age of 72.

Other results: 17th Darren Easter 37.40, 32nd Matthew Thrower 39.57, 39th Paul Terreros 40.43, 46th Steve Franklin 41.51, 86th Martyn Benstead 44.20, 107th Carl Manning 45.39, 108th Liz Sennitt-Clough 45.41, 123rd Ian Wiggins 46.33, 124th Lisa Pyatt 46.37, 128th Andy Doyle 47.13 (PB), 137th Nick Mackay 47.36, 215th Cheryl Brown 52.56, 252nd Alan Dix 55.25, 302nd Darren Elsdon 59.08, 308th Kerrie Page 59.31, 324th Peter Brown 60.27, 327th Ash Brown 60.38, 355th Rob Amis 63.04 (debut), 364th Claire Gayton 64.25.

Renegades thank all club members who supported and acted as marshals.