Thirteen members of Dereham Runners AC took part in the Wissey Half Marathon on Sunday morning.

The race, hosted by Ryston Runners, is known as a fast, flat 13 miler through idyllic Norfolk countryside, starting and finishing in the historic village of Oxborough.

Once again, the first Dereham runner home was club chairman Todd Lake, whose rapid time of 1.27.22 saw him placed 10th overall, and first finisher in the VM 50-55 age category.

Chris Hosier also impressed, crossing the line in 1.38.02.

Other Dereham runners and their times were: Andrew Hood (1.41.42), Brian Titchener (1.46.07), Michael Barrett (1.52.12), Ryan Middleton (2.03.57), Gill Woodhouse (2.07.01), Jacquie Wood (2.12.44), Helen Harrison (2.14.23), Jan Totterdale (2.16.02), Phillip Websdale (2.17.55), Paul Olley (2.17.55) and Hazel Cason (2.36.56).

Ryston Runner Matthew Allen was first home in just 1.15.22.

Five North Norfolk Beach Runners were among the 220 finishers. First Beach Runner home was Chris Parker in fifth place in 1.25.26, followed by Lynton Battrick (40-44) in 14th with a time of 1.29.13. Lisa Ward (40-44) finished in 2.39.55 for 212th place.

The other two Beach Runners, both SuperSeventies squad members, were competing in the 60+ age category group. Jim Hayes (71) was first home among 14 runners with a time of 1.46.26 while Mike Marshall (76) finished in 2.26.11.

Meanwhile Ben Jones completed the Ultra Mont Blanc, a 167km race over two days through alpine country with spectacular, and often precipitate, rises and falls. It involved climbs totalling 10,000m tackled through day and night. His time of 45.28.36 gained him 1,638th place out of 2,537 starters.

Friday evening saw a friendly inter-club relay race held in Bintree, hotly contested by 15 teams of four drawn from Dereham, Reepham Runners and North Norfolk Beach Runners. The 1.5 mile sprint distance course allows junior athletes to compete alongside seniors — and frequently outpace them. Dereham Runners took the honours with the first team home, comprising Ed Turner, Matt Freezer, Jan Moore and Howard Bailey, though runners-up Reepham were just a second behind.