TWELVE North Norfolk Beach Runners enjoyed perfect running conditions for Wymondham AC's rescheduled New Year's Day 10k. The original race had been cancelled due to the Christmas snow and ice.

TWELVE North Norfolk Beach Runners enjoyed perfect running conditions for Wymondham AC's rescheduled New Year's Day 10k.

The original race had been cancelled due to the Christmas snow and ice.

Once again Clare Donovan was the club's star performer, finishing as first lady in a personal best time of 38:31, just two places ahead of John Christopher whose excellent 38:48 was good enough for 21st place.

However, both were well beaten by the speedy Chris Merrylees who finished 10th in the field of 260 with a very quick time of 36:49, and he will certainly get amongst the prizes before the year is out.

Richard Blake just missed out on breaking the 40-minute barrier but still picked up the men's 60-plus first prize and with Brenda Kinch winning the corresponding ladies' prize, it was a notable double for the Cromer club.

Tony Heath dipped under the

50-minute mark for 128th place and Alec Fraser, Michel O'Connor, Mike Marshall and Andi and Rob Osborne all comfortably finished inside the hour.

A little further back octogenarian Maurice Copeland could lay claim to being the oldest finisher by several years.

After the race the Runners Centre 2009 awards were handed out and Richard Blake collected an armful of trophies.

He won first prize in the Runners Centre Series for men over 60, the same award in the Norfolk Postal Marathon for his remarkable run in the Leicester Marathon and a third award as Norfolk Age Graded Marathon Runner of the Year.

Brenda Kinch picked up the series prize for ladies 60-plus and the same in the Norfolk Postal Marathon championships.

Christine Thorne was first lady at the 50-59 age group for her superb marathon efforts in 2009 at London and Loch Ness.

Second prize awards went to John Christopher and Jim Hayes for their respective age groups in the Runners Centre 2009 Series and in the Norfolk Postal Marathon, Phil Quantrill was the second fastest finisher in the county with Maurice Copeland being the third fastest over 60 for his last-ever London Marathon run.