Guy Amos (right) leads from the gun at the Great East 20k - 17 February 2008
Ashley Harrell and Dani Nimmock ran the fastest stages at the 2007 Boxing Day Road Relay
Road Running News
Jones & Dagne scoop the loot at Lord Mayor's 5k City Centre Classic
5 July 2008
Seven men battled at the head of the Lord Mayor's 5k City Centre Classic road race on Saturday evening before Belgrave Harriers' Simon Jones finally edged home ahead of Darren Deed (Bedford & County AC) to grab the £500 first prize.
Jones (pictured here afterwards with UK road running legend Paul Evans) has an enviable record at this event - second in 2005 and third in each of the last two years - and this time he was always in contention as a leading group of seven men broke away from the rest of the field. As Adrian Mussett (Colchester Harriers), Matt Gunby (Woodford Green) and Rob Joy (Notts AC) forced the pace on the first of two laps, Jones sat in patiently with Deed alongside Andrew Hennessy (Wells City Harriers) and Craig Hopkins from Swansea Harriers. And as the group moved past half-way it was Deed who pressed on, taking Jones and Hennessy with him.
At the 4k mark, Deed strode out further with Jones in his shadow but it was Hennessy who now looked most comfortable. Then, with 400m to go, Jones moved alongside Deed and quickened to open a slight advantage which he held to the line to win in 15.02. Deed was timed at 15.03 as Hennessy faded to third on 15.07
The ladies race was more clear cut, with previous three time winner Birhan Dagne (Belgrave Harriers) scoring a comfortable victory on 17.02 to claim the winner's £500 prize. Ipswich Jaffa’s Helen Decker was well-pleased with her first appearance at this event with second place in 17.33 and Sarah Stradling (Colchester Harriers) followed up her victory at last year's City of Norwich Half Marathon with third place on 17.52.
Super success at GEAR for CoNAC’s women ...
4 May 2008
CoNAC’s women’s team dominated the Great East Anglia Run staged over a traffic-free 10k course through King’s Lynn’s town centre on Sunday. Currently based in Cheshire, the race gave GB International Olivia Walwyn an opportunity to race on home soil. In the sultry conditions Olivia was soon into her stride and was never headed throughout the race cruising to a comfortable victory in 36min 08secs. Nicky Alford finished strongly in 5th place when posting a time of 39min 04secs. Amy Dungar was 6th lady to cross the line in 40min 36secs while veteran Louise Wilkinson made up the scoring four with a time of 41min 46secs that placed her 9th lady. With just 21 points on the board the announcement of a team victory was a mere formality. Please click here for the full results
Ashley Harrell was the first junior athlete to cross the line when finishing in 4th position overall. Ashley had expected and hoped to produce better time than 32min 57secs but put his below par performance down to a troublesome back. Veteran Andy Bunn posted a solid performance when recording 37min 02secs to finish in 32nd place. Mark Gotts was placed 100th in a time of 41min 51secs and Peter Warren timed at 51min 30secs finished in 468th position. Nearly 1700 competitors completed the race.
Best-ever CoNAC at National Road Relays
26 April 2008
CoNAC’s senior teams excelled themselves at the National Road Relays in Sutton Park with two best-ever performances. The men’s team competed over 12 stages - 6 long stages of 5.38 miles and 6 short stages of 2.995 miles - while the women tackled 6 short stages.
In the men’s race some determined running and hard chasing was evident across the team. After Adam Thomas had placed the team handily at the first changeover in 27th position with 28.04, the direction of travel was upwards until we found our level in the mid teens. Mitch Goose 14.30 (18), Ashley Harrell 27.34 (12), Rick Ward 15.14 (14), Stu Huntington 28.08 (14) and Carl Goose 15.34 took the team to 15th place at halfway. Then James O’Neill 30.39 (16), Martyn Bath 16.32 (18), Neil Davison 29.38 (18), Tommy Salmon 15.32 (18), Wayne Lincoln 28.53 (15) and Adam Lewis 16.54 took care of the second half to finish in 16th position in a combined time of 4.27.12, the club’s fastest time for this classic event. Leeds City AC took the gold with Notts AC shading Belgrave Harriers for the runner’s up berth.
The CoNAC women also had much to be proud of. Olivia Walwyn 17.00 (9) & Ruth Senior 17.05 (2) combined to take the red & gold into the lead briefly during the second stage, before Emma Coombs 18.17 (5), Rose Waterman 19.56 (14), Claire Forbes 17.59 (10) and Dani Nimmock 17.14 (8) brought the baton home in 1.47.31 to match the men’s performance with a best-ever showing. Aldershot, Farnham & District AC were comfortable winners with Chester Le Street AC second and Winchester & District AC third. Please click here to view the full results listings from both races.
Lines scales new heights at Ironman South Africa
13 April 2008
While mere mortals were tackling the London Marathon on Sunday, Rob Lines was in Port Elizabeth for Ironman South Africa. Most runners find that a marathon on its own is quite a challenge, but Lines decided that a 2.4m swim followed by 112 miles on the bike would be the perfect warm-up for a full marathon to complete the classic Ironman distance.
And all went very well - Rob set personal best performances at all three disciplines with 1.00.15 for the swim, 5.40.25 for the bike and 4.15.16 for the marathon to give an overall personal best return of 11.12.25 (phew!). Please click here to read a full account of Rob’s adventure in his own words.
Neil Davison & Rose Waterman lead CoNAC home at Flora London Marathon
13 April 2008
After last year’s sweltering conditions, the weather was much kinder today for the 28th London Marathon. With Guy Amos being forced to withdraw around the 20 mile mark with a recurrence of a foot injury, it was Neil Davison who led seventeen CoNAC-ers to the finish in the Mall.
39 year old Davison (pictured at 17 miles) ran a controlled race to record a personal best time of 2.35.37, closely followed by Andy Jones with a first time 2.38.14. And Rose Waterman was rewarded with a 3.16.43 that paid testament to the benefits of cross training. Other CoNAC times to hand include Kevin Revell 3.00.19; Joe Geitner 3.00.55; Vince Ellis 3.12.00; John Burton 3.29.30; Paul Britt 3.31.14; Jade Johnstone 3.39.23; Denis Freeman 3.47.49, Graham Collins 3.54.42; Wayne Crowe 4.00.03; Julia Brooks 4.02.56; Sandra Lubbock 4.31.55; Kate Quentin-Hicks 4.46.11; Roger Bilsby 5.20.16 & Anton Wimmer 5.25.01. If your time has been omitted, please click here and we will update this page accordingly.
The ballot for places in next year’s FLM has now opened and all CoNAC-ers interested in taking part on 26 April 2009 should enter on-line without delay. Please click here to visit the official London Marathon website; and please make sure that you enter your club name as “City of Norwich AC”- not CoNAC or City of Norwich or Norwich AC or anything like that.
Comfortable CoNAC qualify for National 12 Stage Road Relay Championship
6 April 2008
On a day that started with three inches of snow, City of Norwich AC performed well at the Southern 12 Stage Road Relay Championship on Sunday to secure a comfortable qualification to the National 12 Stage in three weeks time.
At the sharp end, Belgrave Harriers battled with hosts Aldershot, Farnham & District AC before Belgrave prevailed for their sixth SEAA 12 Stage title in seven years, with Woodford Green taking the bronze medals. The CoNAC colours rose to third place on three occasions before settling to a more realistic tenth place at the final reckoning.
Fastest CoNAC-er on the short leg was Mitch Goose who returned a sprightly 12.49 for 4.2k on stage 2 (4th fastest overall). Ashley Harrell was timed at 13.06 (9th fastest overall) on stage 6 and Rick Ward posted 13.21 (14th fastest overall) on stage 4. Adam Thomas was the pick of the CoNAC bunch with 27.00 over 8.4k on the opening stage, with good back-up from Stu Huntington (27.49) and Carl Goose (28.19). Please click here for full results.
CoNAC now goes forward to the National 12 Stage at Sutton Park on 26 April when they will be joined by the CoNAC women’s team who will race over 6 stages.
Dani Nimmock makes further strides ahead
30 March 2008
On Sunday 17-year-old Dani Nimmock took a step nearer to breaking 36 minutes for 10k. With almost 3,500 competitors turning out for the Lincoln Jackson Building Centre 10k this race started and finished adjacent to the impressive Lincoln Cathedral and ensured that it concluded with an uphill finish.
Dani’s sterling effort over the tough course was rewarded with an overall finishing position of 39th and 3rd Lady to cross the finishing line. It was a determined Dani who battled all the way with a sub 36minute time looking to be within her grasp but sadly, on this occasion it was not to be. However, missing out by the narrowest of margins she recorded 36min 01secs, which for Dani despite her disappointment was a new personal best time for the distance.
Thomas & Roberts share the spoils at Trowse 10k
23 March 2008
Despite a heavy snowfall which started just 25 minutes before the gun, the fourth edition of the Norwich Union Trowse 10k was a great success this morning. Adam Thomas & Jennie Roberts both earned £75 as race winners - please click here to visit the race page and read all about it.
Amos leads home solid CoNAC showing at Great East 20k
17 February 2008
Guy Amos took time out from his London Marathon preparations to record an impressive win at the Great East 20k at Bungay. Settling quickly into his stride from the gun, 44 year old Amos drew on the strength he has developed since turning his attention to the marathon to stop the clock at 1.06 18. Amos was followed home by Neil Davison in third place (1.09.02) with Andy Jones a close fourth on 1.09.56. Stefan Glaysher took the M45 runner-up prize with 1.15.19 and Debbie Green was second in the F35 category on 1.37.44.
Many other good CoNAC performances were also recorded on a perfect day for distance running - please click here for the full results listing.
Paul Woodyatt goes ultra
17 February 2008
Veteran athlete Paul Woodyatt nipped over to Kenilworth, Warwickshire last Sunday to compete in the Draycote Water 35 - that’s 35 miles not 35 kilometres! This race was first held in 2004 and is staged within the Draycote Water Country Park on an almost traffic free multi-lap course. On a super day for racing, the weather being crisp and sunny, Paul produced a great run that reduced his personal best for the event by eight minutes when recording 4hrs 35mins 27secs. As an added bonus Paul went through the 50km mark in 4hrs 02mins 22secs; an improvement of 7mins 30secs on his previous best for the distance.
Paul states that he hopes to be back in training on Tuesday evening albeit a little bit leg weary!
Nimmock & Harrell fastest at Boxing Day Road Relay
26 December 2007
Seventeen teams enjoyed beautiful conditions on Wednesday morning at City of Norwich AC’s traditional Boxing Day Road Relay.
Teams of four were drawn from the hat before the event, with each runner completing a stage of 3,334m over two laps of Eaton Park. Leading the way early on were Hazza’s Harriers (Ashley Harrell, Louise Appleby, Harry Knowles & Kevin Hardingham) with Team Awesome (James Senior, Ruth Proctor, Danny Rogers & Mikey Beamish) in close attendance. Meanwhile, The Spice Girls (Dale Hurren, Carley Rose, Steve Balfe & Jon Quint) were rising fast and by the end of the third stage they sat handily placed in third position. And when the fury of the final stage had unfolded, it was The Spice Girls who prevailed on 47mins 17secs thanks to Quint’s final effort of 10.54. Team Awesome took the runner’s-up berth on 47.47 and Hazza’s Harriers had placed third with 48.42.
On an individual basis, there were several very promising performances. Third best was Carl Goose with 10.16 on stage 3 while Rick Ward clocked 10.12 on the final stage. But fastest man on the day was Ashley Harrell with a particularly encouraging 10.07 that places him fifth on the all-time list for this event. In the ladies’ standings, Ruth Senior equalled her own course record on the first stage with 11.13 but had to concede her individual crown to Dani Nimmock who set a splendid new mark with 11.10, also on the first stage.
When all the sums had been done, £270 was raised to support the work of The Clare School. Please click here for full results.
Annual Road Running Dinner & Awards Evening
8 December 2007
It was a sell-out at the Unthank Arms on Saturday evening when 60 CoNAC-ers gathered for our Annual Road Running Dinner & Awards Evening. After an excellent meal we enjoyed a light-hearted quiz and then a prize draw before the annual Awards were handed out. And this year's winners were:
Road Runner of the Year - senior male, Tommy Salmon; senior female, Rose Waterman; veteran male, Wayne Lincoln; veteran female, Lynn Emmet.
Most Improved - senior male, Mark Collinson; senior female, Sophie Croft; veteran male, Stefan Glaysher; veteran female, Sally Withey.
RNR Endeavour Awards - open team, Brian Warden; masters' team, Les Bowgen; women's team, Tessa Jones; club class team, Richard Polley.
Many, many thanks go to Marie Money for making all the arrangements - it was just a super evening, some said the best one we've done to date..... see a couple of photos of the evening.
City of Norwich Half Marathon – what a scorcher!!
2 December 2007
Following the decision to move our largest road race from its traditional June date to the first Sunday in December, we’d hoped to match last year’s entry of 971. So we were absolutely swept away when we processed 2,291 entries for this year’s event, but the weather was less than kind to us. Clear skies early on gave way to dark storm clouds and then the heavens opened as start time beckoned. A road traffic accident on the approach roads prompted a 10 minute delay in the race start but everyone got away together before the hail & sleet set in.
That said, the feedback from (almost) everyone was very positive and those who did have a gripe seemed to forget that we can’t control either the weather or the traffic on the nearby A47.
And it was a delight to welcome back previous two-time race winner Adrian Mussett (Colchester Harriers) who just shaded Andrew Hennessy from Wells City Harriers for the first prize of £250. In the women’s race, Sarah Stradling from Colchester & Tendring AC picked up the same amount - please click here for the full results.
No medals this time around but some praiseworthy performances
24 October 2007
The National Road Relay Championships staged in Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield were on the weekend’s agenda for the City of Norwich A.C. athletes. The senior athletes took centre stage on Saturday putting themselves up against the best in the land.
Eighty teams toed the line in the ladies race with the City club quartet mixing it from the start. Dani Nimmock, Olivia Walwyn, Ruth Proctor and 800m-track specialist Rachel Stringer made up the squad that produced the club’s fastest ever combined time over the testing course to finish in a very creditable 17th place overall, an improvement of six places over their 2006 performance.
Belgrave Harriers, Leeds City, Newham & Essex Beagles, to name but three of the UK’s top clubs contested the men’s six-stage race in which near to 100 teams started. Placed 29th last year the City club’s squad, which included four junior athletes, were in determined mood to emulate that performance. Tommy Salmon was lead off man followed by Mitch Goose, Stuart Huntington, Ashley Harrell and Rick Ward. It was left to veteran athlete Wayne Lincoln to bring the team home in a pleasing 25th place.
Sunday saw the Under 17 Ladies team produce the best result of the weekend for the City club when they finished in 6th place, one better than achieved in 2006. Rosie Betts, who is yet to hit her best form, ran the opening leg followed by Samantha Jacks with Claire Pring bringing the team home. Claire’s time of 13min 42sec for the 3.9km leg was the overall sixth fastest recorded by an Under 17 Lady.
Connor Darby ran the first leg for the Under 17 Boys team followed by Tom Crawshaw with the closing leg run by James Jackson who brought the team home in 11th place. All team members are first year Under 17 Boys so next year they will still be competing in the same race. It would be more than pleasing if they were able to knock off a figure “1” from this year’s result!
Iona Lake, Esme Salmon and Juliette Brewster formed the Under 15 Girls team who were placed 27th overall while Tom Kelly, Matthew Ramsey and Mark Gotts teamed up to finish 47th in the Under 15 Boys race.
Early November will see the City club continue their quest for top-flight honours when they travel to Mansfield to compete in the National Cross-Country Relays.
Chichester 10km road race has a silver lining
9 October 2007
For many City of Norwich athletes it was a home and away weekend. Hampshire was the destination for the senior members who were on a duel mission representing both club and county in the Chichester Priory 10km. The prestigious road race included within its’ remit the UK, AAA’s and Southern Counties championship plus the Inter County match.
Tommy Salmon (30min 28secs), Mitch Goose (31min 10secs), Ashley Harrell (32min 30secs) and veteran athlete Wayne Lincoln (32min 36secs) produced a fine team effort to take silver in the Southern Counties championship behind the mighty Belgrave Harriers. The trio of Tommy Salmon, Mitch Goose and Craig Hopkins (32min 11secs) were placed highly in the UK championship section finishing in a very respectable 6th position while in the AAA’s championship that position was replicated with Ashley Harrell included in the squad.
In the Inter County match Tommy Salmon, Mitch Goose and Ashley Harrell in their duel role helped Norfolk to a pleasing sixth place. For the Ladies Jess Brooks (39min 05secs) and Jo Gapp (41min 39secs) were part of the county team that finish in ninth place overall.
Olivia confirms her class on the trails
9 October 2007
Back up in the north, primary school teacher Olivia Walwyn was again confirming that she is a force to be reckoned with when taking the spoils in the Coniston Trail Race. The 15km race, described by the organisers as taking place in the most dramatic scenery in the Lake District, proved to be a happy hunting ground for Olivia when she crossed the line in 12th place but most importantly she was the first lady to finish. Her reward apart from a splendid time of 61min 47secs was a monetary prize of £300.00. While she is still very much a City of Norwich athlete on this occasion she was competing for Altrincham A.C. her adopted club while in the north.
Olivia stars in Half Marathon success
3 October 2007
Since moving to the North West, City of Norwich athlete Olivia Walwyn has certainly made her mark on the Fell and Mountain running scene and has already gained international status for both England and Great Britain in those disciplines. Quite an achievement for a girl from the flat terrain of Norfolk!
Now holding down a teaching post in Macclesfield, Olivia continues to put her best foot when running on the road. At the weekend she competed in the Macclesfield ½ Marathon in which she created a new ladies course record when crossing the line in a fast 78min 45secs. With only six men ahead of her she finished in a high seventh place in a race that 668 competitors finished.
For her it was a personal best performance and the best time ever recorded by a City of Norwich lady athlete.
Club’s Under 13 Boys Southern Road Relay team hit the medal trail
2 October 2007
City of Norwich endurance athletes were out in force over the weekend supporting their club at the Southern Road Relays at the Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot. Pride of place over the two-days of racing must go to the “novice” Under 13 Boys quartet who against all the odds managed to fill the bronze medal position.
Lead off leg for the squad was Tom Hook who produced a super run to hand over in first place to Alex Lubbock who stuck to his guns to pass the baton on to Darryl Broughton in sixth spot. Digging deep Darryl almost maintained position for Scott Grieves to take over for the final leg. A wonderful run from Scott brought the team through from seventh position into a bronze medal winning third place. It was a great team effort from the boys and comforting to know that the future of endurance running in the club appears to be in safe hands.
The Under 17 Girls team felt the pressure to match the boys’ achievement and duly delivered. Leading off Samantha Jacks produced a solid performance when handing over to Rosie Betts in twelve spot who pulled back three places for Claire Pring to go to work over the final leg. Never one to shirk a challenge Claire proceeded to claw back the field and to the delight of her team mates crossed the line in third place for the club’s second set of medals.
In the latter stages of the Under 17 Boys 4 stage relay it looked as if the club would make it a third set of bronze medals. Sadly, despite the best efforts of Connor Darby, James Jackson, Joel Taylor and Tom Crawshaw at the end of a very competitive race they had to settle for fourth place. It was pleasing to note however, that all four young men are at the lower end of the age group and will be able to compete again as a quartet next year when they must look to strike gold.
The Senior Men and senior Women almost mirrored performances. The senior men’s team made up of Tommy Salmon, Mitch Goose, Carl Goose, Rick Ward, Stuart Huntington and Ashley Harrell against some very serious opposition came home in seventh place, the best finishing position the club as ever achieved in this major championship race. As an added bonus and as a result of their efforts Mitch Goose and older brother Carl plus Tommy Salmon have been selected to compete for the South of England over cross-country in Belgium early in November.
The Senior Ladies managed one place higher than their male counterparts when 800m-track specialist Rachel Stringer crossed the line in seventh place. Dani Nimmock, Jess Brooks and Sarah Knights preceded Rachel with solid performances that gave the team a four-place improvement over their 2006 finishing position.
The Under 15 Girls team of Iona Lake, Juliette Brewster and Juliette Knights all worked hard for their 16th finishing position in a race in which forty-nine competed.
21st Round Norfolk Relay better than ever
16 September 2007
CoNAC’s resources & resolve was pushed to the limit this weekend at the 21st Round Norfolk Relay when our club and masters teams won their respective classes and our women’s and open teams finished as close runners-up in their own divisions.
In what turned out to be a particularly rewarding weekend, this examination of our all-round strength & ability prompted a tremendous response from everyone who represented CoNAC. Many outstanding performances were witnessed and many heartening stories unfolded as we battled with 46 other teams along a 193.06 mile course of 17 stages around the Norfolk county boundary; and the CoNAC approach and application throughout the event prompted many admiring comments and compliments from onlookers of all persuasions.
In a race widely regarded as the best-ever RNR by those who took part, we produced a host of stage winning performances and set marks for others to aspire to across all four categories. Please go to www.roundnorfolkrelay.com for all the results and photographs from this year’s event.
Individual and team successes at final Wroxham 5km road race
28 August 2007
The final race of three in the summer series of Wroxham 5km road races took place last Wednesday evening. The conditions for the race were excellent and a number of club members took advantage of the situation to turn in some good performances.
In the ladies race Dani Nimmock battled with Olivia Walywn, back on home turf for a few days, for the top honour. At the end of an enthralling race it was Dani who came out on top crossing the line in 17min 42secs with Olivia finishing a close order second in 17min 49secs. Amy Dungar made up the trio that took the ladies team prize when finishing in 4th place in a time of 18min 41secs.
Craig Hopkins made a last minute decision to take part, a decision that paid dividends as he produced an excellent run to finish second in a time of 15min 53secs. 15 year-old Tom Crawshaw finished third and was delighted to record a time of 15min 56secs. With Andrew Walpole (16min 33secs) finishing in seventh place and James Preston (17min 03secs) making a welcome return to racing crossing the line in 14th spot the senior men’s team prize was made secure for the quartet.
800m specialist Carl Goose finished in 6th place when recording 16min 30secs but “officialdom” decreed that as he was wearing his recently acquired South of England representative vest her could not count for the team. Petty perhaps and maybe a lesson learnt!
The full list of results is available on the Norwich Road Runners website.
Olivia and Dani fly the flag Up North
21 August 2007
Olivia Walwyn, the club’s fell running international currently living in the North West and the up and coming home based Dani Nimmock both competed in the final race of the series of mile road races sponsored by Mizuno. The first race in the series was staged in Peterborough on a flat fast course; the second in Belfast on a downhill course and the final one, held in Rossendale, Lancashire was seriously UPHILL.
Their efforts proved to be well worthwhile as Olivia came home in second place in time of 6min 06secs while Dani hung on for third place and was timed at 6min 10secs.
Dani, the only club member to complete the three race series was timed for the Belfast staged downhill race at 4min 37secs, her flat time in Peterborough was 5min 06 and her time for the final race confirms that it really was UPHILL.
Well done Ladies, it was good to see the stripes well represented Up North!
Belfast joy for Mitch Goose and Dani Nimmock
9 August 2007
The City of Norwich A.C. has produced its’ first four minute miler. After his below par performance, by his own high standards, in last Friday’s International Grand Prix staged at the Crystal Palace, Mitch Goose was determined to put things right as soon as possible Wednesday saw him travel to Belfast to compete in the Mizuno Elite Mile, albeit a mile with a difference! The event took place in the historic grounds of Stormont Castle and was classified as a downhill race and had attracted some top-flight senior and junior athletes.
With an impressive finishing straight in excess of ½ a mile Mitch was always up with the leading pack well into the last quarter of the race. However, senior athlete superior strength told over the final 150 yards, nevertheless Mitch hung on to finish in a terrific fifth place, the first junior to cross the line and was rewarded with a time of exactly 4 minutes and take home prize of £100.
The Ladies Elite Mile in which Dani Nimmock competed preceded Mitch’s race. Dani like Mitch was another City athlete keen to erase a poor run in the Crystal Palace Grand Prix. This she certainly did with great effect running herself into the ground to finish a close order third in a keenly contested race. Her reward for her all out effort was a super time of 4min 37secs plus she received a cheque for £250. Not a bad evening’s work for the two young athletes who this season took the senior English Schools 3000m track titles.
All smiles for Mark & Gemma
14 July 2007
It was a real family affair on the streets of Norwich on Saturday evening as Mark & Gemma Miles played out the leading roles in the 12th running of the Lord Mayor’s 5k City Centre Classic road race.
In perfect conditions before a packed audience numbering 50,000, it was Telford AC’s Chris Davies who made the early pace from defending champion Mark Miles with Tomas Abyu from Salford Harriers heading the chasing pack in third position. By the time the 2k marker was reached Davies had built up a lead of 30 metres, but this was the signal for Miles to make his move. Relentlessly closing the gap over the next two kilometres, Miles was on level terms at the 4k mark and Davies was powerless to stop the Belgrave Harrier surging past. Maintaining his form well, Miles finished strongly to record 14.34, securing his third victory in four years and the winner’s cheque of £500. Davies held on for second place and £300, and Simon Jones (Belgrave Harriers) came through to take £200 for third as Abyu faded.
In the ladies race, Gemma Miles - wife of race winner Mark - had a good first visit to Norwich with a twenty second victory over three time winner Birhan Dagne. Miles stopped the clock on 16.47 with Dagne returning 17.07. Catherine Bryson, the daughter of world famous author Bill Bryson, was a close third on 17.27.
City of Norwich AC’s Guy Amos showed his class once again to win the veteran men’s category with 15.40 ahead of Richard Powell from Bedford & County AC on 16.26.v
Afterwards, the winners were presented with their prizes by two time Olympian Paul Evans, whose course record of 14.11 set in 2000 has now stood for seven years. “This evening’s race was a real cracker” said Evans “with both Mark Miles and Chris Davies giving their all. With Gemma Miles adding the ladies title it’s been a good pay day got the Miles household. And don’t those spectators just love this event? It’s got the best atmosphere and support that I’ve experienced at any road race in the country”.
75 athletes completed the race, sponsored for the first time by Norwich Union, organised by City of Norwich AC and supported by the Norwich City Council Events Team. Please click here for results.
Wroxham 5km Road Race incorporating Norfolk County Championship
2 July 2007
Club’s teams come out on top at Wroxham
In the mid-week Wroxham 5km Road Race that incorporated the Norfolk County Championships the club secured the major honours in the Senior Men’s and Ladies races. Dani Nimmock took a break from the track to win the ladies race and was followed home in quick succession by Amy Dungar and Nicky Alford. The trio won the Open team title, the County team title and individually took gold, silver and bronze.
For the men, Adam Lewis (2nd), Luke Allen (3rd) Tom Crawshaw (7th) and Mikey Beamish (8th) keep the club’s momentum going with a comfortable team wins in the Open and County Championship categories. Overall, for the club, it was a very satisfactory day at the races!
In a race that 274 competitors completed our “adopted” athlete Andrew Hennessy representing Wells City Harriers proved to be a runner away winner crossing the line in 15min exactly. Andrew has recently taken up a post at the N&N Hospital.
Olivia gains England and GB honours
19 June 2007
To report on a Norfolk athlete attaining international status at Fell running is not an everyday occurrence. City of Norwich distance runner Olivia Walwyn, currently residing in the North West, has caused the fell running fraternity to sit up and take notice after gaining selection not only for England but also Great Britain.
After her success in the Fairfield Horseshoe race she will now represent England in the International Snowdon race that will take place on the 28th July. However, prior to that event she will don the GB vest to take part in the European Mountain Running Championships. The UPHILL race will take place in Cauterets in the Pyrenees on Sunday 8th July and will surely prove to be a stamina-sapping event.
Olivia qualified for the GB team when finishing the fourth Brit home in the 4.5mile race from Llanberis to the top of Snowdon. After her awesome effort she will now prepare for the tough races ahead and try to steer clear of injuries.
A sweltering time for twenty four CoNAC-ers in the capital
22 April 2007
CoNAC runners endured record breaking temperatures with 35,000 other competitors at the 27th London Marathon today. With the thermometer nudging 25 degrees centigrade it was not a day for fast times with even Kenyan race winner Martin Lel some two minutes off his previous best. Many found the conditions tough but the organisers responded well with extra water stations and showers dotted around the course.
Twenty four CoNAC-ers completed the race with Mark Collinson and Stefan Glaysher both breaking the coveted three hour barrier and Mike Wilkinson maintaining his “ever-present” record of completing each & every London Marathon since the event was first staged in 1981.
Here are the full CoNAC results (chip to chip) - Mark Collinson 2.52.43; Stefan Glaysher 2.55.00; Peter Tuttle 3.00.55; Paul Woodyatt 3.10.04; Darryl Davis 3.19.46; Vince Ellis 3.24.38; John Burton 3.42.51; Rachel Buller 3.40.01; Donna Armstrong 3.45.23; Dennis Freeman 3.46.00; John Gostling 3.59.48; Kate Scotter 4.02.59; Wayne Crowe 4.17.38; John Hardy 4.28.31; Debbie Bowers 4.33.39; David Aldis 4.34.54; Navin Ghosh 4.37.26; Julia Brooks 4.42.05; Hannah Baker 4.59.51; Ruth Baker 5.01.41; Richard Polley 5.04.59; Lucy Fleming 5.25.09; David Mackay 5.28.44 and Mike Wilkinson 6.53.20
Blistering conditions at Sutton Park for National Road Relays
14 April 2007
After last year’s gales & floods it couldn’t have been more different this time around as the temperature rose into the low 20’s for the National Men’s 12 Stage & Women’s 6 Stage Road Relay Championships at Sutton Park today. The CoNAC men improved on last year by three places to record 26th position at the final count while the CoNAC women posted a solid display for 14th place - please click here for the full results.
Hennessy sets new course record at Trowse 10k
8 April 2007
Andrew Hennessy from Wells City Harriers set a new course record as the Norwich Union Trowse 10k attracted a sell-out field. The picturesque two lap course proved a fitting challenge for the 321 finishers as Hennessy recorded 32.17. CoNAC favourite Wayne Lincoln (M40) was second place with an encouraging 32.46 and Chris Jones (also CoNAC) took third on 34.30 - please click here for the full results.
Another improvement for senior men at Southern Road Relays
1 April 2007
CoNAC’s senior men achieved a best-ever ninth place at the Southern Road Relay Championship at the Open University in Milton Keynes today, comfortably qualifying for the National 12 Stage in two weeks time at Sutton Park. In bright but blustery conditions the CoNAC team sported several new faces over alternate long (7,828m) and short (5,356m) stages and all acquitted themselves very well. CoNAC’s senior women contested six short stages and can be well pleased with seventh place - please click here for the full results from both races.
Beginner’s Running Programme to start again
10 March 2007
We've decided to start our popular - and proven - Beginners' Running Programme again as the Norwich Race for Life beckons. Our six week programme for absolute beginners will start on Monday 19 March with the first evening being a gentle "run a minute, walk a minute times ten" session.
So if you know anyone - male or female - who wants to get going but is unsure how to take that first step, please ask them to come along to the Sportspark on Monday 19 March at 6.15pm ready to run at 6.30pm. We've got several of our regular Monday night-ers ready to act as chaperons to the newcomers and everyone who turns up is guaranteed a friendly welcome. The programme works - if you do the homework we give you, you'll run 5k in 30 minutes by the end of the sixth week. There's no charge for taking part, just the normal 50p to get through the turnstiles at the Sportspark. For further information, please email Granville Courtnell at granvillec@btinternet.com on 07799 697970.
Paul Evans' marathon clinic, part two
9 March 2007
Paul will be giving us the benefit of his considerable experience as he turns his attention to the things we should be doing with just under three weeks to go until the big day. Join us in the Sir Roger Bannister Room at the Sportspark starting at 8.15pm.
Club members mop up the honours in the Wymondham 10km
3 January 2007
Club members turned out in their numbers for the annual New Year’s Day Wymondham 10km Road Race and picked up all the major honours. More at home over the country and on the track 17 year old Mitch Goose, despite a bout of on route tummy trouble, proved to be a comfortable winner crossing the line in 32min 48secs Adam Lewis timed at 33min 23secs placed him a close order third behind Oxford City AC runner up Dan Merckel. A time of 34min 13secs placed Craig Hopkins fifth, which gave the trio a comfortable team victory. Wayne Lincoln headed the veteran section with a time of 33min 42secs that placed him in a praiseworthy fourth position overall.
Loughborough student Ruth Senior proved to be a convincing ladies winner when cruising to victory in 37min 30sec. 16-year-old Dani Nimmock testing herself over 10km for the first time was pleased to finish in third place in a creditable time of 39min 03secs. Hot her heels in fourth place 800m-track athlete Sarah Knights was credited with same time. Collectively the ladies proved to be the strongest team on the day by a wide margin.