Thetford Athletic Club competed in the 193-mile Round Norfolk Relay. This continuous relay, run in 17 separate unequal multi-terrain stages, is the ultimate club challenge and certainly an unforgettable experience.

Thetford Athletic Club competed in the 193-mile Round Norfolk Relay.

This continuous relay, run in 17 separate unequal multi-terrain stages, is the ultimate club challenge and certainly an unforgettable experience.

Unique in concept and character, the race presents a tough, yet enjoyable challenge.

Run over the two-day period, the event is much more than just a normal relay for it requires special preparation, planning and support.

The course starts and finishes in King's Lynn; the route mirrors the county boundary over an exact distance of 193.94 miles, divided into 17 stages, which range in distance from just over five miles to just shy of 20 miles.

The route follows the ruggedly beautiful Norfolk coastline, alternating between road and coastal path, to Great Yarmouth. It then winds west along the roads through Scole, Thetford and Feltwell, before heading off to Downham Market and then back to the finish line at the LynnSport athletics track in King's Lynn.

Thetford AC athletes competing and detailed in stage order were: Phillip Bower, Richard Dolman, Lucy Tyler, Tony Tyler, Tony Cantle, Paul Taverner, Rosemary Matlock, Audrey Norbury, Corrina Smith, Cliff Lear, Dean Kirton, Stuart Faust, Caroline Wakefield, James McCarthy, Gillian Paremain, Wendy Paremain and Louise Norris.

The Thetford athletes all ran excellent performances, giving a superb 100 per cent effort on behalf of the team. Probably the toughest legs are the night stages, but the Thetford night-stage runners all put in outstanding performances, coming in under their predicted times by several minutes each.

The Thetford team came home in 26 hours 58 minutes and 35 seconds, finishing 10th club and 41st overall out of a total entry of 55 teams.

A big thank you must go to all the support crew who helped the TAC team by cycling with the runners, marshalling the Thetford changeover point, recording the runners' times for each stage, driving the night support vehicles and doing everything to make the event such a successful and enjoyable event for the team.

A special thank you to Rosemary Matlock, the team captain, who achieved a masterpiece of co-ordination for the second year in succession, ensuring that everyone was in the right place at the right time.

Thetford AC team runners assembling for a photo call at Wells before Tony Tyler sets off for Salthouse. Back row (from left to right): Tony Tyler, Mick Johnson (club chairman and coach), Audrey Norbury, Tony Cantle, Jimmy McCarthy. Front row (left to right): Rosemary Matlock (team co-ordinator), Corrina Smith, Nick Searle, Cliff Lear and Paul Taverner.