A day of mixed emotions at Hunny Bell Cross Country

It was a day of mixed emotions for runners at one of the biggest fundraising races in north Norfolk at the weekend.

Eastern Daily Press: Hundreds of runners took part in the 11th annual Hunnybell Cross Country race on the Stody Estate, near Holt, in aid of children's charity Break. Picture: Sonya Duncan Hundreds of runners took part in the 11th annual Hunnybell Cross Country race on the Stody Estate, near Holt, in aid of children's charity Break. Picture: Sonya Duncan (Image: ARCHANT EASTERN DAILY PRESS (01603) 772434)

More than 400 fundraisers, young and old alike, entered the 11th annual Hunny Bell Cross Country at a mud-splattered Stody Estate, near Holt, on Sunday.

And together they are thought to have raised more than £5000 for East Anglian children's charity Break.

A minute's silence was observed before the senior race set off in tribute to North Norfolk Beach Runner Wayne Challinor, who was appointed First Responder for the event before his death on Thursday.

Thanking the MacNicol family for hosting the race, Martin Green, fundraising manager at Break, said: 'We've had over 70 children turn up, and nearly 400 adults, so we've seen an absolutely amazing turnout on a day when the weather turned out to be pretty dreadful.

Eastern Daily Press: The first three over the line in the senior race - Mark Cursons, 3rd, Tom Bamford, 2nd, Iain Robertson, 1st. Presenting is Martin Green, fundraising manager at Break. Picture: Sonya Duncan The first three over the line in the senior race - Mark Cursons, 3rd, Tom Bamford, 2nd, Iain Robertson, 1st. Presenting is Martin Green, fundraising manager at Break. Picture: Sonya Duncan (Image: ARCHANT EASTERN DAILY PRESS (01603) 772434)

'We do lots of events throughout the year and all the money that we raise goes to pay for vulnerable families, children and young people across north Norfolk and East Anglia.'

Course director Ross Haddow added: 'Wayne Challinor unfortunately died on Thursday evening. He was due to be here to help us today as a First Responder but he's also a tri-athlete and a Beach Runner member, so it's a really sad day for us in many ways.'

The senior race followed a five mile route round the normally private estate, while the junior race was half the distance.

First home in the seniors was Iain Robertson, of Tri-Anglia, who finished in a time of 28 minutes and six seconds.

Eastern Daily Press: The first three ladies home in the senior race - Susan Matthews, 3rd, Becky Schofield, 2nd, Nicky Alford, 1st. Making the presentation is Break fundraising manager Martin Green. Picture: Sonya Duncan The first three ladies home in the senior race - Susan Matthews, 3rd, Becky Schofield, 2nd, Nicky Alford, 1st. Making the presentation is Break fundraising manager Martin Green. Picture: Sonya Duncan (Image: ARCHANT EASTERN DAILY PRESS (01603) 772434)

Iain said: 'It was a very good course - challenging, quite rolling for Norfolk.' But he added: 'It's a great race.'

First lady home, in 18th place, was Nicky Alford, who runs for City of Norwich Athletics Club, in a time of 31 minutes and 42 seconds. She finished just a second ahead of Becky Schofield, of Tri-Anglia, and revealed it was her first time on the course.

Nicky, from Briston, said: 'I really enjoyed it, it was a proper cross country course because some of the bigger races can be quite flat - and it was all for a good charity as well so it's brilliant.'

Meanwhile, in the junior race, Danny Adams was the first home in a time of 12 minutes and 47 seconds. He was followed by Innes O'Malley and Joshua Knights in second and third place.

Eastern Daily Press: Hundreds of runners took part in the 11th annual Hunnybell Cross Country race on the Stody Estate, near Holt, in aid of children's charity Break. Picture: Ally McGilvray Hundreds of runners took part in the 11th annual Hunnybell Cross Country race on the Stody Estate, near Holt, in aid of children's charity Break. Picture: Ally McGilvray (Image: Archant)

And the first girl to finish was Abigail Durand, in fifth place, with a time of 13 minutes and 31 seconds.

For more photographs, find the North Norfolk News on Facebook. For the full results visit: http://www.totalracetiming.co.uk/raceresults/22

Eastern Daily Press: The Hunny Bell Cross Country Race on the Stody Estate in aid of the Break charity. Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 The Hunny Bell Cross Country Race on the Stody Estate in aid of the Break charity. Byline: Sonya Duncan Copyright: Archant 2017 (Image: Archant 2017)