Thetford Athletics Club took a team of 34 participants, both from the junior and senior ranks, to tackle the latest round of competition through the forest at Shouldham Thorpe near Downham Market.

The monthly races throughout the winter cross-country season form the Ryston Grand Prix Series and see athletes aged from under-9s to veterans competing over the forest tracks. Charlie Garrod gave another strong performance in the youngest age category, finishing fourth in the U9s race in a time of 3.07 minutes. Isabelle Smythe crossed the line in fifth place in the equivalent girls race in a time of 3.21.

A trio of U11 boys came within 17 seconds of one another with Josh McGuire, James Peck and Cameron Try finish in 13th, 15th and 16th positions respectively with Peck clocking a personal best time of 9.50. Abigail Clouston was the sole U11 girl finishing in 11th place with a time of 10.22.

All three U13 boys ran personal best times with Joe Smythe finishing in second place with a time of 10.59. Ben Garrod clocked 12.18 for ninth place followed by Tyler Howard in 12th position with a time of 13.43. Emma Coppin and Maddie Rolph also ran PBs in the girls U13s race with times of 12.42 and 12.52 respectively.

Harley Swan won the U15 boys race with a time of 10.40 followed by Aiden Try in second place with 10.45. Charlie Stone was just five seconds further back in third followed by Kieran Moody running a PB to take fourth in 10.53. Kian Statham ran a PB of 11.03 to finish sixth followed closely in seventh by Sam Rolph with a personal best time of 11.07. Tom Mead also smashed his previous personal best to run 11.12 for eighth spot.

The highlights of the senior athletes performances was Kevin Vaughan’s second place in the V50 category with a time of 31.26, a position matched by Charlotte Smith in the V35 ladies race with a time of 40.27. There were several other personal best runs amongst the senior athletes.

A large party of senior Thetford AC members travelled to St Neots on a damp, foggy Sunday morning to take part in the St Neot’s Half Marathon. The first man home for Thetford AC was Karl Wright in an impressive 1:40:53 closely followed by Sean West in 1:42:53 and Tony Tyler in 1 :44:53.

The first Thetford lady home was Louise White in 1:44:53 with Tina Plumley home next with a PB of 1:48:05. Cliff Lear crossed the finish line with a time of 1:53:17 with Paul Bingham in 1:55:38. Amy Spearpoint ran an excellent first half marathon with an impressive time of 1:57:02 with Gill Paremain hot on her heels in 1:57:07. Allison West came in next with a time of 2:13:56 closely followed by her son-in-law Russell Slattery in 2:23:20 and daughter Clare Slattery in 2:40:25.

Sharon Try