Runners came from far and wide to compete to compete in the 198-mile Timberwolf Round Norfolk Relay race at the weekend.

Eastern Daily Press: Running for the finish line at the Round Norfolk Relay. Picture: Simon BrierleyRunning for the finish line at the Round Norfolk Relay. Picture: Simon Brierley (Image: Archant)

This year saw 60 teams with 17 runners take on the challenge with half the field starting by 6.30am with the first team in complete darkness as they set off towards Hunstanton, sporting headtorches and accompanied by their cyclists. The remaining field were less bunched as they set off in staggered starts over a five-hour period according to their anticipated finish time.

The start area was a mixture of smiles and apprehensive faces as they eyed each other up but a great atmosphere prevailed. For the following team runners it was a case of holding onto or improving on the hard earned position obtained by your team mate.

Whilst the first runner set off to the applause of a small band of supporters, with the race intention of finishing together there was a swell of supporters who had followed the race all night to bring a great buzz to the finish area as the last man of each team finished his/her leg on the athletics track at Lynn Sport.

Norfolk clubs dominated the 17 stages with 14 male and 14 female victories with City of Norwich AC being the dominant club with 13 victories amongst their three teams.

Eastern Daily Press: A picture of elation as a runner completes her Round Norfolk Relay leg. Picture: Simon BrierleyA picture of elation as a runner completes her Round Norfolk Relay leg. Picture: Simon Brierley (Image: Archant)

Kevin Holland had the highest age grading of those victorious and fellow Wymondham AC runner, Eva Osbourne, had the actual highest age grading.

In addition to the individual stage awards there are awards based upon an age grading under juniors, seniors and masters categories.

Stage winners from outside the county came from Saint Edmund Pacers, Paddock Wood, Ely and Ealing Eagles (the team also won the newcomers award).

The event benefitted from a great race this year as CONAC and Ely set off together as the last teams to leave the start area. They were the first to arrive back and after 198 miles they were separated by 10 minutes 35 seconds as CONAC were the victors in a time of 20-43:22. CONAC took the club category (and Fastest Norfolk Award) and Ely took the Open category (and visitors cup) which was dependent on their team mix. North Norfolk Beach Runners were third (22.06.49).

Eastern Daily Press: Action from the Round Norfolk Relay last weekend. Picture: Simon BrierleyAction from the Round Norfolk Relay last weekend. Picture: Simon Brierley (Image: Archant)

Wymondham Runners had a successful weekend taking fourth and sixth positions and picking up the Mixed Trophy and the Masters Trophy. They were separated by Ryston Runners.

The ladies trophy was won by CONAC in 25-44:15 followed by Norwich Road Runners and Saint Edmund Pacers.

Round Norfolk Relay

Stage Winners

Stage 1: 1 (M) Sam Coyne (Bure Valley Harriers) 1-44:25, 71.9pc; 1 (L) Kathryn Mathias (City of Norwich AC Team B) 1-53:27, 76.9.

Stage 2: 1 (M) George Gay City of Norwich AC Team A 1-25:04, 73.3; 1 (L) Amy Chapman (Ryston Runners Ladies) 1-44:09, 66.5.

Stage 3: 1 (M) Chris Cooke (Saint Edmund Pacers Team B) 36:33, 82.1; 1 (L) Ellie Grubb (City of Norwich AC Team A) 38:34, 73.0.

Stage 4: 1 (M) Tim Lawrence (City of Norwich AC Team A) 1-07:09, 75.7; 1 (L) Cat Cumming (Wymondham AC Mixed) 1-21:19, 70.5.

Stage 5: 1 (M) Scott Walford (Bure Valley Harriers) 1-07:38, 79.6;

1 (L) Charlotte Neale (North Norfolk Beach Runners Team A) 1-19:28, 68.0.

Stage 6: 1 (M) Lawrence Wade (City of Norwich AC Team A) 48:08, 77.9; 1 (L) Sarah Shepheard (Paddock Wood AC) 52:59, 73.6.

Stage 7: 1 (M) Finlay Swanson (North Norfolk Beach Runners Team A) 54:44, 77.1; 1 (L) Sarah Stradling (City of Norwich AC Team A) 58:32, 82.4.

Stage 8: 1 (M) Dave Roy (Wymondham AC Mixed) 46:06, 71.2; 1 (L) Donna Guy (City of Norwich AC Team B) 49:43, 76.0.

Stage 9 1 (M) Alan Darby (Ely Runners) 1-32:32, 82.9; 1 (L) Louise Juby (Dereham Runners AC) 1-59:05, 72.7.

Stage 10: 1 (M) James Senior (City of Norwich AC Team A) 1-49:04, 75.6; 1 (L) Kate Murril (Norwich Road Runners Ladies) 2-09:29, 72.6.

Stage 11: 1 (M) Logan Smith (City of Norwich AC Team A) 1-08:56, 82.2; 1 (L) Ella Sharrock (City of Norwich AC Team B) 1-24:50, 74.7.

Stage 12: 1 (M) Robbie Britton (North Norfolk Beach Runners Team A) 1-57:52, 77.6; 1 (L) Theresa Dooley (Norfolk Gazelles These Girls Can) 2-28:33, 76.4.

Stage 13: 1 (M) Kevin Holland (Wymondham AC Masters) 1-15:06, 85.0; 1 (L) Emma Riseby (City of Norwich AC Team B) 1-28:16, 76.6.

Stage 14: 1 (M) Gary Crush (City of Norwich AC Team A) 40:40, 82.0; 1 (L) Emma Blake (Coltishall Jaguars Masters) 48:36, 76.5.

Stage 15: 1 (M) Joshua Marsh (Ely Runners) 1-04:08, 73.5; 1 (L) Rebecca Morrish (Paddock Wood AC) 1-08:35, 77.0.

Stage 16: 1 (M) Charlie Wakefield (Ryston Runners Open) 31:27, 80.7; 1 (L) Amy Beck (Norwich Road Runners Ladies) 36:25, 73.8.

Stage 17: 1 (M) Piers Arnold (City of Norwich AC Team A) 1-07:22, 78.1; 1 (L) Rebecca Jackson (Ealing Eagles Running Club) 1-19:09, 74.1.

Trophy Winners

Eastern Daily Press Trophy, fastest time stage 1 Sam Coyne (Bure Valley Harriers) 1-44:25.

Dave Wootton Cup, fastest time stage 2 George Gay (City of Norwich AC Team A) 1-25:04.

Darryl Davis Memorial Trophy, best men's age graded performance stage 4 Stephen Rolfe (Norfolk Gazelles Men) 82.2%.

Fat Birds Don't Fly Cup, fastest time stage 5 Scott Walford (Bure Valley Harriers) 1-08:38.

Peter Andrews Cup, best age graded performance stage 11 John Moore (Norfolk Gazelles Men) 83.7%.

Winning Ways Trophy, best age graded performance stage 16 Eva Osbourne (Wymondham AC Open) 88.6%.

Age Graded Awards

Overall 1 Eva Osbourne (Wymondham AC Open) stage 16 Kelly Holmes Trophy 88.6%. Senior Men 1 Alan Darby (Ely Runners) stage 9 John Barrow Trophy 82.9%, 2 Paul Waggitt (Ely Runners) stage 17, 28.7%. Senior Ladies 1 Rebecca Morrish (Paddock Wood AC) stage 15, 77.0%, 2 Bethan Everson (Fenland Running Club Team A) stage 15, 76.1%. Masters Men 1 Kevin Holland (Wymondham AC Masters) stage 13 Paul Evans Trophy 85.0%, 2 Bob Wells (Bedford Harriers) stage 14, 84.1%. Masters Ladies 1 Elspeth Knott (Harwich Runners) stage 16 84.2%, 2 Sarah Stradling (City of Norwich AC Team A) stage 7 82.4%. Junior Men 1 Logan Smith (City of Norwich AC Team A) stage 11 Richard Nerurkar Trophy, 82.2%, 2 Charlie Wakefield (Ryston Runners Open) stage 16, 80.7%. Junior Ladies 1 Ella Sharrock (City of Norwich AC Team B) stage 11, 74.7%, 2 Ella Walker (City of Norwich AC Team B) stage 16, 71.8%. Family Ron Hill Trophy 1 Tom Bamford, Adam Bamford, Phil Bamford (City of Norwich AC Team C) 69.0%, 2 Andrew Simmons, Rob Simmonds, Penny Seeger (Rystone Runners Ladies) 67.2%.

Team Awards

Open Orchard Caravans Cup: 1 Ely Runners, time 20-53:57, pace 6:21, overall position 2; 2 Ryston Runners Open, 22-30:19, 6:50, 5; 3 March AC Team A, 23-26:33, 7:07, 11.

Club Vaughan-Arbuckle Cup: 1 City of Norwich AC Team A, 20-43:22, 6:18, 1; 2 North Norfolk Beach Runners Team A, 22-06:49, 6:43, 3; 3 Paddock Wood AC, 22-40:19, 6:53, 7.

Ladies Geoff Allen Cup: 1 City of Norwich AC Team B, 25-44:15, 7:49, 20; 2 Norwich Road Runners Ladies, 26-20:11, 8:00, 23; 3 Saint Edmund Pacers Team A, 26-24:47, 8:01, 25.

Masters Mounted Baton: 1 Wymondham AC Masters, 22-20:55, 6:47, 4; 2 Norwich Road Runners Masters, 22-57:11, 6:58, 8; 3 Coltishall Jaguars Masters, 24-25:47, 7:25, 13.

Mixed: 1 Wymondham AC Mixed, 22-39:22, 6:53, 6; 2 Ealing Eagles Running Club, 23-17:19, 7:04, 10; 3 Fenland Running Club Team A, 23-38:52, 7:11, 12.

Association of Running Clubs (ARC)

Long Distance Relay: 1 Ely Runners 20-53:57, 2 North Norfolk Beach Runners Team A 22-06:49, 3 Garden City Runners 24-32:50.

Other Awards

Norfolk Club: 1 City of Norwich AC Team A 20-43:22, 2 North Norfolk Beach Runners Team A 22-06:49.

Visitor: 1 Ely Runners 20-53:57, 2 Paddock Wood AC 22-40:19.

Small Club: 1 Bure Valley Harriers 22-59:32, 2 Ramsey Road Runners 25-52:13.

Best Newcomer: Ealing Eagles Running Club 23-17:19.

Carrott Award

Best Time Estimate: Framlingham Flyers 0-00:01.

Worst Time Estimate: Old Greshamians 3-30:52.