WITH the cross-country season now in full swing and the cold winter finally relenting, North Norfolk Beach Runners have been active at races in Lincolnshire and on the Suffolk borders.

None more so than the Cromer club's remarkable 77-year-old, Malcolm Ball who joined Dave Spooner and Christina Walker at a very muddy Ropsley Raid, a 13.7-mile trail run near Grantham.

Despite almost losing his shoes in the deep Lincolnshire mud, Malcolm got round in a highly creditable 2-43:40.

He followed it up a week later by taking his age group prize at the Reedham 10-mile road race. Also amongst the prizes at Reedham was another of the Beach Runners' veteran stars, Richard Blake, who romped round the rural course in a fantastic time of 1-07:25 to secure 51st place in a field of 400 and coming first Over-60 in the process.

In fact, such was Richard's dominance that the next Beach Runner across the line was Paul O'Malley, almost six minutes behind.

Others joining Malcolm Ball in breaking the 90-minute barrier were Tony Heath with a superb run of 1-17:48 and the rejuvenated Noel Spruce and the fast-improving Rob Osborne.

Rob's wife Andi was the first lady Beach Runner home whilst Emma Culley, Trine Middleton and Margaret Ison all found the calm and dry conditions very much to their liking. Completing a good turn-out for the club were Andrew Toogood, Jonathan Folkard and super-veteran Maurice Copeland.