Great Yarmouth & District Athletic Club

3 members of Great Yarmouth & District Athletic Club ran the Great Bentley Half Marathon. In blustery conditions they tackled this 13.1 mile relatively flat course along with 728 other runners mainly from Essex. All 3 are in training for the forthcoming Virgin London Marathon on 17^th April and it seems that their training has been paying off. First home was Chris Gay, who hasn’t completed a half marathon in under 1:40 for over 2 years, so he was pleased with his time of 1:39:39. Next home was Sue Ryles who rarely competes in organised races but with London in mind was persuaded to enter – so she was exceptionally thrilled to finish in 2:20:48, well ahead of her expectation of a 2:30 finish. Pat Brightman has learned how to run again and is now ahead of her times before her skiing accident in 2004 – with a finish of 2:41:11.

On Sunday 6 members of the Great Yarmouth & District Athletic Club competed in the annual East Coast 10K. The weather was good, although slightly windy on the seafront but the atmosphere of the event was good with a total of 529 finishers. Andrew McNamara was the first club runner home in a time of 51:06, closely followed by David Drewitt who recorded 51:10. John England is now injury free and finished in 53:14. It was nice to see Richard Verschoyle join the team for an excellent effort in 59:32. It was then the turn of Maureen England to bring the ladies home in 1:05:23 with Elaine Haggarty finishing in 499 position with a time of 1:07:11

Once again, Chris Gay, was the sole representative at this race, many members were still recovering from the previous weekend, whilst Elaine and Cindy went for a training run.  This sister race to the 15 Miler attracted 79 runners, Chris was pleased with his performance - finished 16th in a time of 57:25 - 3rd in his M45 age category.

The 14^th Scores Races at Lowestoft  – Britain’s Most Easterly Hill Race – 4.75K including 409 steps. 

The Junior Ladies race over a distance of 2K was won by CATHERINE LEE in a time of 10:47 - Catherine finished 3rd overall.

The Senior Race was contested by 128 runners, CHRIS GAY was our only competitor and finished 52nd in a time of 36:36:00 - a good preparation for the forthcoming Round Norfolk Relay.

With a total of 271 runners finishing the course. Great Yarmouth & District Athletic Club had 2 of their younger runners taking part. The 1^st to finish was Frankie Turner, in a PB time of 21:36 – and for her efforts she was awarded with the prize of 2^nd Junior Lady. Not far behind and now becoming a regular on the roads was Andrew McNamara – again running in a PB time of 22:29. The last race in this series will be on Wednesday 26^th August, which will also incorporate the Runners Centre Grand Prix and County Championships.

Whilst in Berlin, watching the World Athletics Championships and supporting the British athletes, 3 members of Great Yarmouth & District Athletics Club, took the opportunity to participate in the Champions 10K Road Race. With some 8000 runners on the streets of Berlin, the race started and finished at the Brandenburg Gate, whilst taking in all the sights along the way. On this hot sunny afternoon, there were plenty of marshals and water stations along the route and when the race was finished, everyone received a superb medal along with welcoming refreshments and energy bars. John England in training for his leg of the forthcoming Round Norfolk Relay finished in a time of 58:51. Maureen England suffering with a knee injury was pleased with her time of 1:08:24, whilst Pat Brightman found it a little too warm and came home in 1:20:11. 

A very popular race in the calendar is the Wibbly Wobbly Log Jog organised by Brandon Fern Hoppers, a 4.8 mile undulating course through Thetford Forest on a Friday evening.  It was a lovely night, although a little humid for this sold-out race with 292 finishers.  8 members of Great Yarmouth & District Athletic Club took part.  Results:  Chris Gay 37:49, John England 40:58, Sue Fraser 44:25, Diane Clark 53:33, Dawn Clegg 54:01, Maureen England 54:05, Elaine Haggarty 56:29, and Pat Brightman, with a PB of some 3½ minutes finished in 62:58 with a further 8 runners behind her !!

As well as participating in road races, several members of Great Yarmouth & District Athletic Club enjoy cycling events whilst raising money for charity. On Sunday, 3 members – Elaine Haggarty, Chris Gay and Pat Brightman, took part in the 2009 London Bikeathon – Challenge Route. Organised by and in aid of Leukaemia Research. A course of 52 miles, with a Chelsea Pensioner as a starting marshal, commenced at the Royal Chelsea Hospital, along the Thames Path to Richmond Park, before turning back through the streets of London, taking in all the historic sights like St. Pauls Cathedral, The Old Bailey and The O2 Arena prior to reaching the Thames Barrier. From there a return journey of 13 miles alongside the Thames, passing the London Eye and over the Chelsea Bridge, before finishing at the Hospital. Around 6,500 cyclists filled the city in various coloured t-shirts, depending on the mileage being cycled. As this was not a race, all 3 members cycled together and completed the course in around 6¼ hrs.