Coltishall Jaguars Running Club

Name	Time	PB	Standard
Paul Taylor	1:52:47		Silver
Stephen Brown	1:52:52	Yes	Silver
Helen Ganson	2:03:34	Yes	Gold

This was the third running of the Blickling Half Marathon and the first time that the organisers had been able to operate a mass start. Having run the previous two events in waves it was definitely good to get back to proper racing, all starting at the same time and knowing your position in the race. The race was very well organised, starting on Aylsham recreation ground and passing through the local villages such as Calthorpe, Wolterton and Itteringham before passing round the edge of the Blickling estate and back into Aylsham with the finish line in Aylsham Market Place. The course is very undulating and for most of the route you tend to be running either up a hill or downhill. Especially tough is the last section as you reach the 13 mile mark and have one last big uphill to climb back into the finish at the market place – not what you want to see in the final stages of the race! The course was well marshalled throughout and there was good support at certain points on the route. The cloudy weather with cool temperatures was good for running although there was a strong breeze to run into on parts of the course.

Overall it was a very enjoyable experience. This race is run twice each year with both a Spring and Autumn version and hopefully is here to stay on the road race calendar. Sixteen Jags took part, with PBs for Andrew Wicks, Theresa Dean and Angela Pleasants and seven of our runners: Andy Foreman, Barry Halkyard, Amy Fulcher, Blake Payne, Sarah Circuit, Josh Brighty and Emily Beavis all completing their first half marathons for Jags.

Daniel Smith

Name	Time	PB	Standard
Daniel Smith	1:20:57		Diamond
Andy Foreman	1:39:38	First Timer	Silver
Andrew Wicks	1:43:11	Yes	Silver
Barry Halkyard	1:46:18	First Timer	Silver
Amy Fulcher	1:47:50	First Timer	Silver
Sonja White	1:51:04		Silver
Keith Brighty	1:51:21		Silver
Ruth Steele	1:52:27		Gold
Blake Payne	1:54:08	First Timer
Sarah Circuit	1:54:09	First Timer	Silver
Josh Brighty	1:54:13	First Timer
Emily Beavis	1:55:43	First Timer	Bronze
Emma Jordan	1:56:44		Silver
Richard Peters	2:02:26
Theresa Dean	2:16:29	Yes
Angela Pleasants	2:48:40	Yes

Name	Time	PB	Standard
Julian Smith	1:03:22
Keith Brighty	1:07:32
Angela Pleasants	1:51:51

Name	Time	PB	Standard
Dave Buck	1:48:10		Silver
Chris Barnett	2.27.19	First Timer	Bronze

This year’s Wissey Half Marathon took place in warm temperatures at the start of September. The warmer temperatures compared to the previous couple of weeks ensured that it was tough going but the course itself provided an enjoyable route starting in Oxborough and passing through several local villages. The first half of the course is progressively uphill with a few little climbs before a big incline around the 8-9 mile point. After setting off a bit too fast I was starting to struggle at this point and very much appreciated the downhill part of the course from 9-10 miles before a final push towards the finish. Although I did not manage to secure the PB I was aiming for, I did manage to hold on for a new age category record. Five other Jags ran this race with Rod Bye and Ellie Gaskins both achieving PBs and an age category record for Ellie. Jackie Bye completed the family success by claiming first place in her age category and Iwona Litwiniec and Stephen Brown also produced excellent runs on this nice but challenging course! The race is very well organised by Ryston runners with good marshalling along the route.

Daniel Smith

Name	Time	PB	Standard
Daniel Smith	1:20:55	New Age Category Record	Diamond
Rod Bye	1:31:40	Yes	Diamond
Ellie Gaskins	1:31:55	Yes and New Age Category Record	Gold
Iwona Litwiniec	1:54:20		Silver
Stephen Brown	1:54:22		Silver
Jackie Bye	1:56:16		Diamond

Name	Time	PB	Standard
Iwona Litwiniec	4:28:23	First Timer	Bronze
Emma Penfold	4:55:21	First Timer	Bronze
Noel Meeks	7:14:33	First Timer

Name	Time	PB	Standard
Doug Barber	49:47		Silver
Clare Hicks	51:34	Yes	Silver
Paul Taylor	51:34		Silver
Stewart Marden	51:34		Silver

Name	Time	PB	Standard
Darren Tubby	40:44
Andy Foreman	42:36	3rd in Age Category
Jason Corner	43:36	3rd in Age Category
Sonja White	50:03	3rd in Age Category
Steve Smith	1:03:33
Noel Meeks	1:19:50

After more than a 2 year absence it was great to have the London Marathon taking place again for mass runners around its usual course. Although crowds around the course were not at their usual levels, there was still tremendous support all along the route and this support, with crowds shouting your name and cheering you along every step of the way, makes such a difference. The London Marathon really is such a unique and special event and I highly recommend it if you are lucky enough to earn a ballot place or prepared to raise money for a charity place!

Covid restrictions meant that all runners had to show proof of a negative lateral flow test on entry to the holding pens at each of the three different start areas. After that it was a nervous wait in the start area waiting for the race to begin! The weather was almost perfect with cloudy conditions and cool temperatures ideal for running. Once the race began it was difficult not to set off too fast with the cheers of the crowd and the downhill section in the first 3 miles. At around the 6 mile point we encountered the first Jags supporters in the crowd with Hattie and Hayley cheering all of the Jags on! Shortly after you reach Cutty Sark, one of the best sections of the course where the cheers and support from the crowd provided a great boost. Similarly, just before halfway crossing Tower Bridge is another very special moment with amazing crowd support and is undoubtedly my favourite part of the course. After feeling fairly comfortable beyond halfway, around the 16-18 mile mark was where things started to get tough and as I passed 20 miles on track for my target time my pace started to drop. It was at this point that we turned back into the wind, which had started to pick up. The stretch along the River Thames back towards Big Ben seemed to go on forever! But eventually we reached the turn near Big Ben and the end was near, with just over a mile to go. Despite feeling the pain of over 25 miles of running, this last stretch was enjoyable as the cheers of the crowd spurred me on again to push towards the finish line. The site of Buckingham Palace and taking the final turn towards the finish line was such a tremendous feeling and as I crossed the finish line I was delighted to have held on to achieve a new PB time!

Nine Coltishall Jaguars took part in this race with Ellie Gaskins and myself both achieving new club records. Rod Bye achieved a new age category record and Stephen Pointer and Jackie Bye achieved PBs. Jack Stuttle produced an amazing run to go sub 3 hours in his first ever marathon, Stephen Brown completed his first marathon as a Jag in a great time and Ruth Steele also achieved an excellent time. Neil Button ran a tremendous race and was on track for a sub 3:10 and good for age time until he took a very unfortunate fall in the last few miles. I know that Neil will be back and will achieve this time very soon! All in all an excellent day with brilliant performances from all Jags involved!

Daniel Smith

Name	Time	PB	Standard
Daniel Smith	2:48:58	Yes and new club record	Diamond
Jack Stuttle	2:58:47	First Timer	Gold
Ellie Gaskins	3:20:24	Yes and new club record	Gold
Stephen Pointer	3:20:44	Yes	Silver
Rod Bye	3:22:00	New age group record	Diamond
Ruth Steele	3:55:32		Gold
Stephen Brown	4:11:12	First Timer	Silver
Jackie Bye	4:15:55	Yes	Gold

Name	Time	PB	Standard
Julian Smith	1:14:19		Silver
Blake Payne	1:27:17	First Timer
Sarah Circuit	1:27:23	First Timer	Bronze
Emma Jordan	1:28:09		Silver
Sonja White	1:28:09		Silver
Helen Ganson	1:34:14		Gold
Eden Rudling	1:36:26