Author: Clare Hicks

As usual ‘Ipswich Jaffa’ turned on the good weather for ‘The Ekiden Relays’ which was welcomed by the 115 teams competing. The event is run over the marathon distance of  26.2 miles with 6 members in each team running varying distances.  Our first team home, in 50th position, were ‘The Misfits’ in an overall time of 3.14.38.  The ‘Foxes’ were 73rd in 3.28.30 and ‘The Dreamteam’ 114th in 4.25.53. New members Steve Wragg, Vanessa Clements and Jenny Welsh ran in their orange vests for the first time and hopefully enjoyed the experience.
Team results

Steve Bates and Colin Robilliard  travelled to The Marham RAF base to compete in their 10 mile road race. The weather was much improved from previous days and this made for good running conditions. Colin won his age category in 1.05.13 and Steve was second in his age group in 1.02.58.    Full Results

Ben Letzer and Alan Bushell travelled to Stevenage for the Fairlands Valley Spartans 50k (31 miles) challenge and both came away with excellent results. The day was dry but previous rainfall made this mostly off-road race very muddy. Competitors had to navigate the course themselves making the challenge even more difficult. Out of a large field of 124 Ben finished in 6th place overall in a time of 5.05 whilst Alan came in 32nd in 5.43.
Full Results

Lawrence Wade and Steve Bates turned out for the Lord Mayor’s 5k ,which can be a bit daunting to see all the elite athletes lined up on the start line, but this didn’t stop the pair having great runs. Lawrence, who was running this race for the first time, ran a really strong race with an excellent sprint finish which gave him a well deserved placing of 39th and a time of 17.52.  Steve having run this race before knew what to expect and ran the first lap conservatively picking it up on the second lap to finish in 52nd position in 18.33. Well done lads you did the club proud.      results    photos     photos

Only a scattering of Jaguars turned out for the Humpty Dumpty 10k maybe because this is a challenging course, but although warm this year, the scorching temperatures of the last two years stayed away, making quite a nice day for running. Colin Robilliard was first Jaguar home in the process taking first prize in his age category. There was a pb for Ben Dennington and a first run at this distance for Gemma Francis.
Full Results      Prizes

For the second week running Lawrence Wade won the Gorleston Park Run but this time in a new personal best time of 17.48.  David Brailey also ran a personal best at Norwich on the 23rd June taking almost 20 seconds off his previous time in 21.17.

The warm weather brought 25 Jaguars out for the second 5k in this years series. Andrew Mulligan, has clearly recovered from injury well and was first to finish for the club in 18.10. There were pb’s for Emily Hannant, Ellie Bye, Dee Neal, Ana Ohde and Denver Slowther and an equal pb for Scott Chadwick. Ken Bowman and Stewart Marden came in together having both been injured during the run.
Full Results

No pbs or 1sts but some good runs nonetheless considering the undulating course. Steve Bates came in as first Jaguar with a time of 37.44 (Diamond), followed by the Bye Family Running Club, Rod 43.56 (Gold), Ellie 47.08 (Silver) and Jackie 50.39 (Gold). Becky Durant was the only other Jaguar in the race with a time of 58.19 (Gold).
Full Results

By contrast to the days before and after, the weather for this race was surprisingly hot, but 12 Jaguars were undaunted by the heat and finished with some excellent results. Steve Bates with a great run came third overall, at the same time taking a silver medal in the county championship. Colin Robilliard with his run took a silver medal in his county championship age category. Denver Slowther, Mark Harmer and Scott Chadwick in battling with each other managed first prize in the senior mens team category. Whilst Steve Bates, Colin Robilliard and  Stewart Marden took the second place in the mens vet team category. Grant Randall, Gemma Francis and Dee Neal all ran the distance for the first time in club colours.
Full Results

Despite the unseasonal cold and wet, ten Jaguars turned out for the first running of this race with some excellent results on the undulating course. Lawrence Wade in his first 5 miler as a Jag and Steve Bates both ran the race in under 30 minutes whilst Andy Mulligan still making a comeback from injury came in with an excellent time of 30.51. Also running the distance for the first time in orange were Wayne Gibbs, Grant Randell and Rosemary Jackson.
Full Results