THE venue for the last marathon to be held in the county, way back in 1998, Wissey continues to fly the flag as a high-quality event attracting a substantial field for its annual half marathon.

THE venue for the last marathon to be held in the county, way back in 1998, Wissey continues to fly the flag as a high-quality event attracting a substantial field for its annual half marathon. Last Sunday there were nearly 300 runners, all facing their own particular challenges and emerging with a considerable degree of achievement and satisfaction. As an added bonus, the event was also the Norfolk Half Marathon Championships. Making their mark with five personal bests and one new club record were eight of the Great Yarmouth Road Runners, all in fine form as the autumn road-racing and cross-country season gets underway.

Leading the way home in quite some style was the in-form Neil Sibley, 17th overall and in a personal best time which saw him break the one hour and twenty five minute barrier for the first time and puts him in good stead and confident mood for this weekend's Lowestoft Scores race, the following weekend's Round Norfolk Relay and the Leicester marathon in a few week's time.

Quite a programme but Sibley is up to it. On this occasion he was also third in his age group for the county bronze. Some way behind but also recording pbs were Sean Jermy and Stephen Etherington, less than half a minute separating them.

Next to finish, with another pb, was newcomer Stephen Dady, while Matthew Sutton continued to make his presence felt in his preparation for the Great North Run.

Leading home the ladies, as she so often does, was Carole Spong, in her first race over this sort of distance for quite some time, with Sylvia Dady and Jim Spong making up a very strong contingent, the later adding to his tally of club records in his age division with an impressive display.

Many of these runners, plus many others, will be in action at Lowestoft on Sunday for the delightful Scores race and, the following weekend, in the team for the Round Norfolk Relay, names for the latter being listed below.

Results Wissey Half Marathon, Sunday, September 6

Great Yarmouth Road Runners finishing order and times: 1 Neil Sibley 1-24:24 pb third in age group 2, 2 Sean Jermy 1-28:32 pb, 3 Stephen Etherington 1-28:54 pb, 4 Stephen Dady 1-30:03 pb, 5 Matthew Sutton 1-31:52, 6 Carole Spong 1-52:54, 7 Sylvia Dady 2-08:00 pb, 8 Jim Spong 2-26:10 new club record.

Round Norfolk Relay Saturday/Sunday 19/20, running order: 1 Jeff Helmore, 2 Stephen Dady, 3 Lorraine Dawson, 4 Shawn Mason, 5 Gary Stanley, 6 Mark Peach, 7 Andrew Manning, 8 Carole Spong, 9 Sean Jermy, 10 Karen Manning, 11 Neil Sibley, 12 Stephen Etherington, 13 John Hartley, 14 Andy Peck, 15 Nick Symeou, 16 Kerry Mutch, 17 John Hills, 18 Mike Spragg.