A highlight of the past weekend for Ryston Runners AC was that 6 of the club’s athletes took part in the prestigious South of England AA XC Championships at Parliament Hill, a unique event and experience and one that all fully enjoyed, despite tackling some of the most severe cross country conditions: mud, hills, more mud and more hills - a total of nearly 1000ft of climbing over a gruelling 15km for the men. Chris Balmer was first of t 4 representing the club to finish, in 417th place, with Rob Simmonds not far behind in 455th. Andy Simmonds was 534th, and Dan Guppy completed the club quartet in 748th. It was pleasing to have two Under 17 Women racing too, Rosie Booth 104th and Katie Moyle 151st both showing why they were among the winners at the club’s recent awards dinner. Afterwards, a mud-besmeared club chairman commented: “There aren't too many events where you represent your club in quite the same way, all starting from a 'pen' on the start line and regrouping afterwards to discuss the various trials and tribulations on course. It really felt like the ultimate benefit of being part of an affiliated club and we will certainly be back.”
Hills were a feature too of the Bam Nuttall Freethorpe 10 mile race hosted by Gt Yarmouth and District AC on Sunday. First Ryston finisher there as Malcolm Tuff, who placed 64th overall in 66:29 and left the event bearing the prize for 3rd place in the M55 category. Anna Smith (12th W40) ran 1:18:10 for 196th place overall, a couple of minutes ahead of Eamonn McCusker, 7th M65 in 1:20:30 and 277th overall. Jane Ashby swept all before her in the W70 category, running 1:28:04, 428th finisher. Keith Morris had to walk most of the course to avoid aggravating a foot injury, covering the distance in 2:03:09 to finish 724th out of a total of 735.
Two club members “doing their own thing” at the weekend were Dickie Ebbs and Sarah Partridge, who completed the Positive Steps Peddars Way Trail Ultra Marathon. Dickie, beset by some stomach troubles, finished 3rd in 6:48:49, while Sarah completed the field of 150 competitors in 12:19:12.
Many of Ryston’s junior athletes, and a few older ones, were taking part in the Keith Ward Indoor Meeting at Lynnsport on Sunday (results to follow). The previous weekend some of the same youngsters were part of the Norfolk Sportshall squads who competed at the regional finals in Essex. For the U11G Charley Wheatley and Abigail Bransgrove were part of a strong team who finished in first overall on the day. Marcus Wood helped the U11B to a third place finish, whilst Riley Bell leaped to PBs in standing long jump and standing triple jump to help the U13B finish in second place, only a whisker away from first. Liam Clare, Kieran Bell, Miles Hovell and Ryan Wood were 4 of the 6 athletes needed to make up the U15B squad. They all put in strong performances contributing to the first place overall for the team. They also compete in an individual competition and finished as follows: Kieran Bell, 2nd. Liam Clare, 5th. Ryan Wood, 7th and Miles Hovell, 13th. Demi Adegoke was the sole U15G. She finished 2nd overall on the day and the Norfolk team finished first. The U15 girls and boys will now travel to Sheffield for the National finals on April 18th.