Lowestoft runner Carl Prewer won the 2007 Bungay Black Dog Marathon on Sunday in one of the most exciting finishes for some years. It was a great victory for the 37-year-old, who six years ago led the event for much of the way only to be pipped over the last few miles.

Lowestoft runner Carl Prewer won the 2007 Bungay Black Dog Marathon on Sunday in one of the most exciting finishes for some years.

It was a great victory for the 37-year-old, who six years ago led the event for much of the way only to be pipped over the last few miles.

This time the Lowestoft Road Runner turned the tables however. He was in a pack of about five who changed positions for much of the time behind Richard Jordan, of Stowmarket Striders.

It seemed Jordan had done enough to win as he established a lead of nearly four minutes over the second lap of the course along both side of the Waveney Valley between Bungay and Beccles.

But Prewer kept his rhythm, established himself in second place with seven miles to go, and as Jordan's race faltered as he hit a crisis the Lowestoft man reeled him in to finally win by 51 seconds in 2 hours 46 minutes 59s seconds.

Paul Hart, from Dumfries Running Club in Scotland, who was in second place for much of the first half of the course, was third, 24 seconds behind Jordan in 2-48:14.

Prewer, who has also been placed in the Bungay half marathon in past years, was delighted.

“There were three of us who ran together for second place - there was a four minute gap between us and Richard at one time,” he said. “I managed to drop the other two at 18-19 miles. I was assuming I was running for second place, but in the last mile and a half I saw myself catching him up by the minute. He was slowing down and I managed to get by.”

Prewer said he was well pleased to have won the marathon - the only distance until yesterday he had not won at - and rated it the peak of his season.

“I have come third in this event before and at my first attempt six years ago I was second. That time the same thing happened to me as happened to Richard today - I was caught in the last two miles after leading,” he said.

As a bonus he takes the course record over the new course - for the second year the race began and finished at the Maltings Meadow Sports Ground at Ditchingham, and was won last year by James Hartop in 2-49:48.

A keen east-northeast breeze confronted runners over the hills to Beccles on a bright sunny say, but Prewer said he was surprised it was not more difficult.

“There were a couple of points where it was fairly stiff, but nothing to worry about,” he said.

Sudbury runner Amanda Henry won the women's marathon in 3-19:38, leading virtually all the way to finish nearly eight minutes ahead of runner-up Lisa Jane Berry, of Royston Road Runners, who clocked 3-22:26. Third was Ann Morrison, an unaffiliated runner, in 3-35:31.

There were 220 entrants in the marathon, the biggest field for several years, and in the half-marathon, which started two hours later, over 500 lined up - a near record in the 25 years of the event.

The men's half-marathon was won by Harwich runner Jason Meachen in 1-17:33, who finally got the better of Benvenuto Baldelli to win by 21 seconds. Baldelli, of the Cambridge and Coleridge Athletics Club, clocked 1-17:54.

Tim Topper, of Norfolk Gazelles, was a further 10 second behind in third in 1-18:04.

Sandra Bower, a non-affiliated runner, won the women's half-marathon, leading most of the way to finish in 1-35:35, 46 seconds ahead of Julie Brown, of Ipswich Jaffa (1-36:21). Third was Lorna Greenacre (unaffiliated) in 1-37:32.

The races were started by the Town Reeve of Bungay, Maureen Davies, and prizes presented at the end by the Mayor, Martin Evans.

Results:

Full marathon:

Men - 1 Carl Prewer (Lowestoft Road Runners) 2-46:59, 2 Richard Jordan (Stowmarket Striders) 2-47:50, 3 Paul Hart (Dumfries Running Club) 2-48:14.

Veterans over 40 Paul McClelland (Harwich Runners) 2-58:19; over 50 Terry Back (Ipswich Jaffa) 2-56:42; over 60 - Verne Barltrop (100 Marathon Club) 3-27:13.

Team - Ipswich Jaffa - Terry Back, John Thorpe, Scott Macsephney). First Bungay Balck Dog runner - Chris Chorley 3-34:50.

Women - 1 Amanda Henry (Sudbury) 3-19:38, 2 Lisa Jane Berry (Royston Road Runners) 3-26:26, 3 Ann Morrison (unaffiliated) 3-35:31. Veterans over 35 - Mandy Foyster (unaffiliated) 3-37:09; over 45 - Mel Roberts (Woodbridge Shufflers) 3-39:49; over 55 - Irene Wilson (Strathaven Striders) 4-35:17. Team - Bishop Stortford Ladies. First Black Dog runner - Bobby Sauerzapf 4-06:57.

Half-marathon:

Men - 1 Jason Meachen (Harwich) 1-17:33, 2 Benvenuto Baldelli (Cambridge and Coleridge AC) 1-17:54, 3 Tim Topper (Norfolk Gazelles) 1-18:04. Veterans over 40 - Kevin Vaughan 1-20:57. Over 50 - Terry Epps (Wymondham AC) 1-26:22. Over 60 - Chris Ford (unaffiliated) 1-48:00. First Bungay Black Dog runner - Steve Barrett 1-26:00. Team - Bungay Black Dog - Steve Barrett, Jim Cooper, Ian Taylor.

Women - 1 Sandra Bower (unaffiliated) 1-35:35, 2 Julie Brown (Ipswich Jaffa) 1-36:21, 3 Laura Greenacre (unaffiliated) 1-37:32. Veterans over 35 - Sarah Vick (The Saxons AC) 1-41:50. Over 45 - Jenny Sheehan (Tiptree Road Runners) 1-41:44. Over 55 - Julie Middleton (Newmarket Joggers) 1-40:31. First Bungay Black Dog runner - Kate Lee 1-53:04. Team -Norwich Road Runners - Anne Millett, Caroline Taylor, Sarah Boardley.