City of Norwich AC reclaim Round Norfolk Relay title after seeing off Cambridge

A runner on the second stage of the Round Norfolk Relay. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

A record 61 teams entered the event but it was the Norwich club that came home first, completing the 198-mile route, broken up into 17 stages, in an impressive time of 20:23:20.

Last year's winners Cambridge & Coleridge AC claimed second overall, winning the open category in the process, in a time of 21:12:52. Ryston Runners took third spot on the podium in 21:36:30.

The start area was a mixture of smiles and apprehensive faces but a great atmosphere prevailed. The teams had 17 legs to negotiate of varying distances and toughness and for much of it they were accompanied by a cyclist or a vehicle.

Teams departed in staggered starts on Saturday from 5.30am, complete with head torches, and for the next seven hours the rest of the entry headed off on stage one, which involved 16.32 miles from King's Lynn to Hunstanton.

A runner on the second stage of the Round Norfolk Relay. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

The route, some off road on sand and shingle, followed the coast around to Great Yarmouth, and then roughly followed the county boundary to Downham Market and back to King's Lynn.

The runners are assisted with a back-up crew comprising of cyclists, time keepers, drivers, and chauffeurs and many of the teams also provide marshals on the course.

And it was the City of Norwich AC - Team A that prevailed overall whilst there were five ladies only teams competing this year with the Norwich Road Runners coming first in that category in 26:25:35. Ryston Runners - Ladies took the runners up spot (26:42:33)) with Fenland Running Club (28:46:37) third.

There were also some find individual performances with Nigel Arnold (Norfolk Gazelles Dorcas) taking the overall age graded award for his performance in stage 7 (Mundlesley to Lessingham, 9.24 miles)

Ryston Runner Jeremy Navrady on the first stage of the Round Norfolk Relay. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

In the senior men category Michael Eccles (Norfolk Gazelles Dorcas) took first spot for his performance in stage 13 (Thetford to Feltwell, 13.25 miles) with his time of 1:11:52 and Iona Lake (City of Norwich AC) won the senior ladies age graded award for her run in stage eight (Lessingham to Horsey, 7.52 miles) in a time of 43:44.

Results

A runner on the first stage of the Round Norfolk Relay. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

Overall

1 City of Norwich - Team A (20:23:40)

2 Cambridge & Coleridge AC - Team A (21:12:52)

3 Ryston Runners - Open (21:36:30)

A runner on the first stage of the Round Norfolk Relay. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

Open

1 Cambridge & Coleridge AC - Team A (21:12:52)

2 Ryston Runners - Open (21:36:30)

A runner on the second stage of the Round Norfolk Relay. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

3 Wymondham AC - Open (21:52:31)

Club

1 City of Norwich - Team A (20:23:40)

A runner on the first stage of the Round Norfolk Relay. Picture: Ian Burt (Image: Archant 2017)

2 North Norfolk Beach Runners - Team A (22:05:34)

3 Paddock Wood AC (23:02:35)

Ladies

1 Norwich Road Runners - Ladies (26:25:35)

2 Ryston Runners - Ladies 26:42:33

3 Fenland Running Club - Ladies (28:46:37)

Masters

1 Norwich Road Runners - Masters (22:48:37)

2 Ryston Runners - Masters (26:13:43)

3 Reepham Runners - Masters (28:20:36)

Mixed

1 City of Norwich AC - Team B (24:23:34)

2 Coltishall Jaguars - Mixed (24:37:54)

3 Norfolk Gazelles Dorcas 24:39:53)

Age graded awards

Overall

Nigel Arnold - Norfolk Gazelles Dorcas (stage 7)

Senior Men

1 Michael Eccles - Norfolk Gazelles Dorcas (stage 13)

2 Dominic Blake - Reepham Runners - Mixed (stage 10)

Senior Ladies

1 Iona Lake - City of Norwich AC - Team A (stage 8)

2 Sophie Kelly - Cambridge & Coleridge AC (stage 10)

Masters Men

1 Stephen Mead - Stowmarket Striders Running Club (stage 7)

2 Nigel Rackham - Metros RC (stage 12)

Masters Ladies

1 Jane Ashby - Ryston Runners - Masters (stage 10)

2 Jane Clarke - City of Norwich AC - Team B (stage 3)

Junior Men

1 Jake Stearman - Dereham - Open (stage 8)

2 Tom Greenacre - City of Norwich AC - Team B (stage 8)

Junior Ladies

1 Maisie Pritchard - Riverside Runners (stage 8)

2 Jess Gooderham - Saint Edmund Pacers - Team B (stage 9)

Long Distance Relay

1 North Norfolk Beach Runners (22:05:34)

2 Ely Runners - Team A (23:01:44)

3 Garden City Runners (23:45:36)

Other awards

Norfolk club

1 City of Norwich AC - Team A (20:23:40)

2 Ryston Runners - Open (21:36:30)

Visitor

1 Cambridge & Coleridge AC - Team A (21:12:52)

2 Ely Runners - Team A (23:01:44)

Small club

1 Bure Valley Harriers (24:11:37)

2 Reepham Runners - Mixed (26:52:28)