The 356 senior competitors set off on the slightly lengthened two-lap course and headed off into the trees around the park.

The winner was David Miller (Woodbridge Shufflers), who blasted round the course in 26.43mins to take his fourth consecutive win in the series.

Behind him, was Striders' Roger Aldis in a time of 27.28mins before Robert Chenery (Ipswich Jaffa) finished in 27.42mins for third place.

Also running very well were Julian Long (SEP) 11th in 29.58 mins, Nick Stephens (SS) 13th in 30.21 mins, Tim Fox (SEP) 14th in 30.27mins and Michael Cobbold (SEP) 21st in 31.18mins. Michael also won 1st V45 place.


In the ladies' race, Jemma Clarry (St Edmund Pacers) continued her excellent form to win her first Friday Five race in the senior ranks.

Taking 45th place overall, she completed the course in 32.45mins. Club-mate Christine Anthony also ran superbly to take third place in the ladies event (53rd overall) in a time of 33.46mins.

Maureen McCarthy (SEP) finished sixth lady in 34.44mins, giving her 1st v45 place and ensuring another team win for the Pacers in the ladies' race.

Also running well were Sarah Colson (West Suffolk Athletics Club) 4th lady in 34.05 mins, Mary Narey (SS) (5th lady ) and 1st v40 in 34.14 mins and Pat Partridge (sep) 1st V55 in 37.02 mins.


Once again, a group of ladies from the Joggers and Jaunters donned their bright pink running vests and completed the off- road five miles.

First to cross the line was Ros Maulkerson in 40.59 mins. Next was Rebecca Whittindale in 43.08 mins ahead of Louise Morrisey in at 46.09 mins, Teresa Cross in 46.12 mins, Bernice Trodd in 50.29 mins, Sue George in 50.36 mins and Breige Convery in 50.44 mins.

For a full list of results see Stowmarket Striders' website.

As promised, I have a full list of results from both the junior and senior sections of the challenge held last week at the Bury Leisure Centre athletics track.

The boys' 1500m race was won by the Pacers' Sam Harrison (U-15) in a fantastic time of 5.15mins. He narrowly beat team-mate Archie Emm-Palmer (U-15), who ran 5.16mins.

Three seconds behind was another Pacer, this time Sebastian Anthony, who stopped the clock in 5.19mins to be the clear U-13 winner.

Nick Goldsmith (SEP) was next home and first in the U-17 age group in 5.20mins, with Jack Anthony finishing in 5.22mins.

Other St Edmund Pacers's results: Liam Brophy (U-15) 5.23mins, Michael Brand (U-15) 5.25mins, Josh Codd (U-15) 5.32mins, Ewan Evens (U-13) 5.34mins, Matthew Le-Poideven (U-13) 5.39mins, Jake McCarthy (U-13) 5.45mins, Billy Spillane (U-13) 5.46mins, George Robinson (U-13) 6.09 mins, Liam Wigglesworth (U-13) 6.15 mins, Daniel Whiting (U-13) 6.23mins, George Holdgate (U-13) 6.39mins, Leuan Alldis (U-13) 6.35mins and Alfie Pardon (U-13) 6.55mins.

Justine Anthony upheld the good running name of her family and comfortably won the girls' race in just 5.23mins.

She was followed in by another U-15 girl from the Pacers as Lauren Clipstone ran strongly to come second in 5.46mins.

Third place, and again another U-15 competitor from the Pacers, was Rebecca Laidlaw, who just one second adrift in 5.46 mins.

Alice Magurie was the first U-13 girl home in 6.01mins. with Jessica Gooderham (U-13) next in 6.05 mins.

The following results are all Pacers: Caitlyn Evans (U-15) 6.16 mins, Emma Hatten (U-15) 6.17 mins, Emily Strickland (U-13) 6.17, Gaia Johnstone (U-13) 6.30, Emma Watts (U-13) 6.33, Emily Gooderham (U-13) 6.42.

In the men's B race, unattached runner Michael Cross ran strongly to come second in 19.00mins dead.

St Edmund Pacers' Ian Gooderham was seventh in 19.54 mins, with veteran Robert Price running fantastically for 12th place in 20.49 mins.

Pacers: 13th Andrew Evans 20.54mins, 15th Stephen Williams 21.26mins, 17th Nigel Gosset 21.52mins, 21st Steven Rue 23.19, 24th Martin Brophy 23.38mins and 25th Robert Tillyard 25.41mins.

Next to go were the ladies and, as reported last week, Pacers' Jemma Clary led the field to take first place in a new county record of 19.00mins. As Jemma is an U-20 competitor, the first senior place went to Ipswich Jaffa's Natasha Belsoum, who ran strongly for a time of 19.08mins.

Fourth to cross the line in the senior race was Christine Anthony (SEP) in 19.49mins, with Maureen McCarthy next in 20.22mins. In seventh place overall was Pacers' Wendy Jones in 20.53minsm with Sarah Golding in ninth place 21.13mins.

Heading home the U-17s was Emily Baker, from West Suffolk AC, in 21.57mins for seventh place.

St Edmund Pacers' results; 11th senior Kathy Lambert 22.52mins, 12th senior Eloise Calver 23.07mins, 2nd in the U17's Sherilyn Rigby in 23.14mins, 13th senior Linda Holmes 24.09mins, 14th senior Amanda Martin 24.16mins, 15th senior Hayley Brewis 24.44mins, 3rd U-17 Rebecca Guy 25.15mins and 17th senior was Rita Rue in 25.36mins.

The men's A race was the last event of the night and Ipswich Jaffa's James Calver won a competitive battle, three seconds ahead of Pacers' Peter Barker. They recorded times of 15.23mins and 15.26 mins respectively.

In third place was Jaffa's Robert Chenery stopping the clock in 15.55mins, with Pacers' Steve Robinson fourth in 16.07 mins.

Pacers' results: 7th David Reed 16.29mins, 10th Julian Long 17.29 mins, 11th Alan Dawson 17.31 mins, 13th Carl Marston 17.44 mins, 15th Tim Fox 18.25mins, 21st Al McPherson 19.06 mins and 23rd but also taking 1st in the U-20 age group was Ryan Bartlett running strongly to record 19.42 mins.

Congratulations to everyone for taking part. It takes a lot of hard work to race round a track and be competitive.


The last race in the Friday Five series takes place at Gt Bentley in Essex. After the race the positions for the series should be announced and, as the course is flat, lots of runners should be there trying to achieve a pb.

The race starts at 7.30pm, with an accompanying children's race starting at 7pm.

DIARY DATES. Sunday, July 13: RAF Marham 10 and Mutford relays.
Friday, July 18: World Property Centre Forest Challenge.
Sunday, July 27: Culford Triathlon.