MOST years the Great Yarmouth Road Runners five-mile series is lucky to have one of the three evenings when the weather is benign, the other two races being run in howling gales as often as not.

MOST years the Great Yarmouth Road Runners five-mile series is lucky to have one of the three evenings when the weather is benign, the other two races being run in howling gales as often as not.

This year, however, there have been two excellent evenings as far as the weather has been concerned and it is to be hoped that there will be similar good weather for the final race next Wednesday.

For the second race, previous winner Luke Allen being absent due to some track commitments, it was left to Robert Chenery, of Ipswich Jaffa, and Carl Prewer, of Lowestoft Road Runners, to battle it out.

The former shaded it by just seven seconds at the end, with Steve Jones of City of Norwich nearly 30 seconds behind in third place.

Fifteen runners under 30 minutes was just one achievement of this race.

In the ladies' section it was Jane Clarke of City of Norwich, who is ranked nationally in her age division over a number of distances, leading the way home from club-mates Emma Coombs and Eleanor Matthews, making it a clean sweep for the Norwich club.

It was a pleasure to see so many local clubs represented in the record field in excess of 200 for this Runners Centre grand prix event.

This event being hosted by the Road Runners, participation by members of the club was naturally limited.

But the seven who did take part all ran well. Shawn Mason and Antony Croucher battling it out to the wire, Paul Brookshaw, Stephen Etherington, John Bone and Paul Evans putting in their usual strong performances and Nicole Anderson finishing seventh overall in the ladies' race.

As the heat of the week intensified, Sunday's 5k 'spring' at Coltishall became less and less attractive.

But Mike Spragg and Paul Brookshaw give it a go and were glad that they did, both emerging with wins in their age division in this friendly, well-organised run in the pleasant environs of Frettenham just north of Norwich.

Certainly one to recommend for the future, incorporating as it does both a single race and a team relay.

If 5k is daunting in hot weather, imagine the 42k facing runners in the Halstead Marathon in Essex on the same day where Richard Blake and Phil Quantrill were due to put in an appearance.

Great Yarmouth Road Runners finishing results.

Great Yarmouth Road Runners five-mile series - Race Two: 36 Shawn Mason 31:43, 37 Antony Croucher 31:51, 53 Paul Brookshaw 33:11, 66 Stephen Etherington 34:00, 72 John Bone 34:28, 80 Paul Evans 34:49, 90 Nicole Anderson 35:24.

Coltishall Jaguars Spring 5k

Results: 7 Mike Spragg (1st O60) 20:10, 9 Paul Brookshaw (1st O40) 20:29.