Record field for 10k race

A glorious late summer Sunday morning attracted a record field of 340 to Reepham Runners' 10k race.

With a friendly atmosphere and an attractive course blending road and trail together, the event is becoming ever more popular.

Twenty members of the North Norfolk Beach Runners were on the start line but once again it

was Richard Blake who put in the star performance.

Unbeaten in his age group this year, Richard took the Over 60

prize by almost three minutes, finishing in a superb 25th place with a very quick 40:30, a course record for his category.

The Cromer Club's other prizewinners were Brenda Kinch, who made light work of the challenge from her old rival Gill Woodhouse with a comfortably paced 51:40, and Malcolm Ball, shrugging off his recent injury problems to record an excellent 52:12 to take the Over 70 prize.

With the last section of the race run on the slightly muddy rail trail, all the runners were a little off their best times, but John Christopher still got round in 41:49 for 38th place, with Jim Hayes second in the Over 60s.

Other Beach Runners inside the top 100 were Lucy Collyer in 85th place with a very respectable 46:02 and the club's new treasurer, Rob Emery, showing that committee duties have not taken the edge off his speed.

Christina Walker's excellent form continued as she kept comfortably ahead of Ian Jarvis for 123rd place in 48:50, with Rob Osborne and Alec Fraser amongst those just outside the 50-minute mark.

Andi Osborne clocked a highly commendable 58:12 and Shelley Burton pipping Noel Spruce to the line by just a second for

258th place.

Mike Marshall was tantalisingly just one second outside the hour mark, with Trinny Middleton, Andrew Toogood and recent club handicap winner, Emma Culley, crossing the line five minutes later.

The unrelated Maria Culley and Karen Emery made up the excellent contingent of Beach Runners who all enjoyed a well-organised race.