With the summer road race season now in full swing, North Norfolk Beach Runners have tasted success at races around the county.

A dozen members of the Cromer club competed at the second race of Great Yarmouth's five-mile series with Jamie Seamark following up his excellent London Marathon performance by finishing first O40 in a tremendous time of 29:33.

Hugh Brown crossed the line 29th in 32:12. Eddie Carman, John Leach and Jim Hayes finished close together in 60th, 61st and 65th places respectively, all recording just over 34 minutes for the two lap course of the Yarmouth seafront.

Rob Osborne broke into the top 100 with a time of 36:55 and Caroline Dickens continued her succesful return to competitive running with an excellent 108th place. Further back Alex Fraser got round in a highly creditable 41:22 to take first prize in the O70.

The Beach Runner contingent was completed by Andi Osborne who easily ran under 40 minutes, Emma and Paul Muffett and regular visitor to the Great Yarmouth five-mile Series Jonathon Folkard.

Sunday's Dereham 10 Mile race was also the County Chamionship so with medals at stake some of the Beach Runners' quickest racers took on the tough and windy lanes to the east of the town.

Chris Merrylees finished a remarkable second to capture the senior men silver medal with a personal best time of 57:09 despite, or perhaps because of a quiet period of training since London.

Paul Muffett's amazing form continued with a another first place in the 50-54 age group to take the county gold medal. Suffering from a painful heel injury, Paul finished in ninth place overall in a remarkably quick 1-00:33.

Richard Blake picked up a silver medal in the 60-64 category whileJim Hayes ran his best ever age graded performance to take home the gold in the 65+ age group with a finish time of 1-10:01.

Splitting the two veteran prizewinners was the ever-improving John Leach who battled to the line with Richard Blake to record the same time of 1-09:26.

Husband and wife team Rob and Andi Osborne both had good runs despite fighting a strong headwind over the closing miles and Tom Rivett and Tony Heath completed a strong showing from the Cromer club.

Much further north in the Lake District the family team of Ian, Chris and Jamie Wade joined the evergreen super vet, 80-year-old Malcolm Ball, at the Hawkshead 17k trail race.

Despite dreadful weather early in the week, the race went ahead in fine and dry conditions which allowed Chris Wade to romp round the scenic and hilly trails in a superb time of 1-24 to take seventh place in a field of 440. Brother Jamie overcame illness and injury to finish a creditable 55th while father Ian was delighted with his time of 1-44 for 148th place. Meanwhile Malcolm once again showed that age is no barrier to success as he comfortably won not only his own age group but the one below as well.