With the road race season in full swing, North Norfolk Beach Runners' flying 50-year-old, Paul Muffett, is showing no signs of slowing down.At the first race of the Wroxham 5k Series, he broke the tough 18-minute barrier with a determined surge for the line in which he beat Norwich runner, Robert Cheverton by just two seconds to take first Over 50 and 17th place overall.

With the road race season in full swing, North Norfolk Beach Runners' flying 50-year-old, Paul Muffett, is showing no signs of slowing down.

At the first race of the Wroxham 5k Series, he broke the tough 18-minute barrier with a determined surge for the line in which he beat Norwich runner, Robert Cheverton by just two seconds to take first Over 50 and 17th place overall.

Just three places back was Darren Neale who clocked 18:08 with the rejuvenated Clive Hedges putting in one of his best runs for some time with an excellent 18:40. John Christopher was next in for 31st place, just six seconds ahead of the fast-improving Chris Parker.

Quinton Brown returned from illness and injury with a sound 48th place but Jim Hayes failed to take away his usual first prize in the Over 60s as he was bested by Norfolk Gazelles new sexagenarian, Kevin Youngs.

Ian Jarvis ran a promising time of 22:15 for a good mid-pack finish whilst Nikki Kavanagh, Geoff Hayward and Brenda Kinch all comfortably broke 25 minutes. Brenda made up for Jim Hayes' disappointment by claiming first prize in her age group by a comfortable margin.

Other members of the Cromer club successfully trying out their winter speed training on a warm Broads evening were Alison Swanson, Shelly Burton and Virginia Borrman.

Just a few days later Paul Muffett was lacing up his running shoes again for the eccentrically named Guy Fawkes 10k at Easton College. This time he had to give way as first Beach Runner to an appropriately explosive performance from Chris Merrylees who finished a brilliant third overall in 36:31.

Nevertheless Muffett's fifth place in 37:12 was another exceptional run and gave him his umpteenth first Over 50 prize.

With two other Beach Runners making the top 20, John Christopher and Richard Blake, it was a terrific night for the Cromer club.

Dena Parfitt raced for the first time since her London Marathon injury and although not yet back to her best, she still put in a gutsy performance to take first place in her age group with a creditable 40:20. Ian Jarvis made up the contingent of six runners wearing the blue and yellow vest with an excellent 46:44 to finish just inside the top 100.