HOT on the heels of the Great East Run 20km race at Bungay came Sunday's Wymondham Spring 20 Miler, the next distance down, as it were, from the full marathon distance.

HOT on the heels of the Great East Run 20km race at Bungay came Sunday's Wymondham Spring 20 Miler, the next distance down, as it were, from the full marathon distance. Some of the 201 finishers were no doubt using it as a sharpener for London in April, while others were simply treating it as quite a challenge in itself.

Among the 201 were seven of the Great Yarmouth Road Runners, while six of their club-mates took part in the accompanying 10-mile event, itself a quite daunting challenge given the undulating nature of the course and the

windy conditions.

There were fine performances all round, with two age victories and six personal bests.

Leading the way home in the longer race was Richard Blake, an age division winner, with Neil Sibley less than three minutes behind. He was followed by Andy Peck, then Paul Brookshaw, Stephen Etherington and Tony Anderson (all three of them with pbs) and Carole Spong, just two seconds behind the latter and also winning her age division. It completed an excellent team performance, with all the Seasiders in the top third of the field.

There were plaudits galore in the shorter race too, with Antony Croucher highly placed in another field of over 200, Marie Worrall gaining another pb, Rod Shulver showing that his training regime is beginning to pay dividends, Angie Pacey and Denise Etherington also getting pbs and Jim Spong rounding off a fine effort on everybody's part.

Road races are appearing thick and fast with big races at South Walsham (Broadland Half) and Norwich (Trowse 10k) in the next couple of weeks. However, the cross-country season has not quite been seen off completely.

Mike Spragg and Chris Harbord were at Lode Fen near Cambridge for a highly enjoyable cross-country race billed as The Muddy Marvel and very much living up to the hype despite the recent dry conditions. Harbord made this two in a week, as the previous Sunday he was at the Stody Estate in Holt for the Cross Country Run there. As the season winds down, cross-country enthusiasts are desperate for those last few races.

Wymondham 20 Miles - 15 Richard Blake 2-18:25 (1st over 50), 23 Neil Sibley 2-:21:20, 45 Andy Peck 2-31:49, 50 Paul Brookshaw 2-34:05 (pb), 52 Stephen Etherington 2-35:48 (pb), 63 Tony Anderson 2-39:02 (pb), 64 Carole Spong 2-39:06 (1st over 60).

Wymondham 10 Miles - 41 Antony Croucher 1-11:02, 107 Marie Worrall

1-23:27 (pb), 142 Rod Shulver 1-29:50, 158 Angela Pacey 1-32:27 (pb), 203 Denise Etherington 1-47:33 (pb), 206 Jim Spong 1-49:41.

Lode Fen Muddy Marvel - 1 Mike Spragg, 2 Chris Harbord.

Stody Estate Cross Country Run - 1 Chris Harbord.