2002 was the year when the race got a new look.  For the first time, the event was classified multi-terrain by BARR, which granted the race full membership.  Four of the stages, including three on the north Norfolk coast, now contained off-road elements. The  concept of staggered starts, based on club estimates, had the effect of ensuring a tight finish which, in turn, created a marvellous atmosphere during the latter stages of the race.  Of the record field of 29 teams (4 Club, 21 Open, 3 Veteran and 1 Women), 5 were first-timers.  Of those, Nene Valley Harriers were fastest, although all debutantes acquitted themselves with great credit.  Of the 493 individual runners who took part, it was no surprise to discover that the largest category, by some margin, came from veteran men at 45%, followed by senior men 27%, veteran women 13%, senior women 8%, junior men 5% and junior women under 1%.  It was hardly surprising therefore that the best overall performance came from Pat Carlan (Mansfield) and Tony Woodward (Bromsgrove) was best veteran.  The best female performance was the 83% achieved by Anne Furbank (RIV).  As usual, the team race produced its fair share of excitements and close finishes, the closest of which was the 52 seconds separating Norwich Road Runners, Riverside Runners and Serpentine RC in the Open Class. Headington, for the second year took the Open title and, together with it, the Visitors cup by some margin.  Norwich RR prevailed quite easily in the veteran competition while the Serpentine women ran by themselves but still managed an excellent 8.10 pace over the 190 mile, new distance.  Once again, the undisputed best performance came from the City of Norwich who, in winning no less than 6 individual stages, were 13 seconds a mile faster than anyone else; and this despite having a couple of 'stars' absent!  The general consensus was that the 16th was the best Round Norfolk Relay yet.

The 2003 event got off to a fine start with double Olympian Paul Evans fronting a question and answer session, at Lynnsport, on Friday evening in front of around 60 athletes.  The following morning, in ideal conditions that lasted all weekend, teams set off according to their anticipated running time.  Early leaders Mansfield Harriers (MAN) set the pace until conceding the lead during stage 7 to the City of Norwich (CON) who thereafter remained in front breasting the tape in a magnificent new record of 19:02:13 (6.02 pace per mile).  In taking the title CON athletes set 3 new outright stage records: Paul Evans (Stage 11), Ray Goose (8) and Ruth Proctor (9).  Mansfield Harriers, in finishing 2nd overall, set a new mark in the Open class while Mansfield Ladies just held off a determined challenge from Riverside Chicks to win the Women’s title.  On their way Mansfield collected an impressive 7 individual records.  Making a welcome return to team racing after a long absence and in their RNR debut, Norfolk Gazelles were overtaken by the experienced Norwich Road Runners during stage 12 to finish in 4th place overall and 2nd Club class.  Norwich RR maintained their fine record in the race in finishing 3rd overall and 2nd Open class team.  The record field of 32 teams included 4 debutantes: Milton Keynes AC, Cambridge and Coleridge AC, Woodbridge Shufflers and Norfolk Gazelles. The breakdown of teams by class was 19 Open, 9 Club and 4 Women.  It was disappointing to have no Veteran entry.

The individual field comprised 397 men and 147 women, making it no surprise that 17 ladies records fell this year.  A number of nationally recognised athletes ran this year: Paul Evans, Guy Amos, Ruth Proctor and Olivia Walwyn all from CON, Debbie Robinson (4th Commonwealth Games marathon), Liz Lilley and Lee Garrett from Mansfield and Steve Neill a regular RAF representative who ran for RAF Marham.  But they all had to concede in the age graded list to 64 year old Peter Andrews (CON) who produced another outstanding run at night on stage 12 to record 89.58% to win the Kelly Holmes Trophy for the best individual performance.  Debbie Robinson was best master and Ruth Proctor best junior.  The family trophy went to the Ross family of Mansfield.

There could hardly have been better conditions for the 17th race.  This was running at it’s finest: intense team rivalry and high-class individual endeavour played out in a spirit of true sportsmanship.  The event was a credit to competitors and officials alike.  As Richard Allen, managing director of Geoff Allan Timber Merchants, main sponsors, said at prize giving, the Round Norfolk Relay truly reflected Baron Pierre de Coubertin’s Olympic ideal of taking part being uppermost in any athletic challenge. This year’s event was a real 'cracker'!

  The following clubs have made ten or more appearances in the event: Ryston Runners AC, Norwich Road Runners, Great Yarmouth Road Runners, The Stragglers, Metros, March Braza AC, Cambridge University Press Running Club, Riverside Runners, Fenland R & AC, Wymondham AC, Bishop's Stortford RC, North Norfolk Beach Runners and Headington Road Runners.

In crowning another brilliant performance of sustained long-distance running, City of Norwich AC was simply unstoppable in winning the 18^th Round Norfolk Relay in 2004.  In a record field of 36 teams, they led from ‘gun to tape’ in a record time of 19:00:56 (6:01 mins. per mile).  The Open class cup was taken by Norwich Road Runners, with the ever-improving Riverside Runners in 2^nd place winning the Best Outsider trophy.  Ely Runners, made an impressive debut to take the Best Newcomers cup.  The other two debutantes, Garden City Runners, from Welwyn, and Stamford Striders, both did well.  Headington Road Runners, who were making their 10^th appearance, were just outside the prizes after recovering from a couple of major support problems during the night.  Norfolk Gazelles won the Ladies title after a keenly fought race with Norwich Road Runners.  Unfortunately, Norwich Ladies were badly affected by the sabotaging of Stage 1, which would have made the result even closer.  The Master class was won by North Norfolk Beach Runners, the only entry in that class in the very competitive time of 23:27:09.  Meanwhile, the newly introduced Casual class, for teams unable to meet UKA’s strict criteria for open relays, attracted 7 teams, with Paddock Wood prevailing in 21:54:18.   The Race Director’s Trophy for the best estimate went to the Metros who, quite remarkably, were to the second accurate in their predicated time of 24:30:00.  Wymondham AC (Ladies) collected the Wooden Spoon being 2:45:51 outside their estimated finishing time.

Four stages were altered this year, mostly to take the route off the road onto the north Norfolk coast path.  The new stages seem to have been well received even though they are probably somewhat tougher than before.  The signing of the course by Richard Handoll and his team deserves special mention.  To sign 189 miles is hard enough, but made even harder this year by the new off-road sections.  To have his efforts damaged by mindless morons who attempted to sabotage Stage 1 is nothing short of despicable.  Whoever did it knew exactly what they were doing and certainly had inside knowledge.  In their investigation the referees concluded that what happened was beyond the control of the race authority.  To their great credit those individuals and teams affected by this act, accepted the disadvantage in the spirit of the sport.  The culprit/s could learn a thing or two from those whose race they ruined.

As usual, there were some outstanding individual performances. In view of her two gold medals at the recent Athens Olympic Games, the Kelly Holmes trophy assumed a greater importance this year: in the end Rob Joy (Norfolk Gazelles) prevailed with an age-related score of 85.36%.  In second place and winner of the Paul Evans Trophy for best Master was Nigel Arnold from the same club, with Richard Sales (CONAC), who had an outstanding run over Stage 1, third with 83.64%.  The Richard Nerurkar trophy for best junior went to Ruth Proctor (CONAC).  Alan Williams (Riverside Roosters) was best senior with Olivia Walwyn (CONAC) best senior woman.  The Knotts (Harwich Runners) were the Best Family.

Interestingly, the field comprised 69% males and 31% females.  Of those and without condition to gender, 61% were masters, 35% seniors and only 4% juniors.  The average age of runners was 41!  Finally, particular mention must be made of the new results package designed and implemented, for the first time, by the Web Controller, Rod Baron.  A brilliant piece of work, where others have failed, which ensured that the results were timely and accurate.

With the agreement of all interested parties, the race became independent of Ryston Runners AC during 2004 with control of the event being vested in the Round Norfolk Relay Committee.

Norfolk clubs to the fore in a record entry  - 2005 Report

   Yet again, the premiere team in Norfolk and probably in East Anglia, City of Norwich AC (CONAC), proved to be unstoppable.  Apart from one early stage, they led from ‘gun to tape’ averaging 6min 09secs throughout the 191 miles. This was CONAC's 7 successive win in the race.   Second in the Club class were Headington Road Runners, making their 11^th appearance, with Norfolk Gazelles in third place. The revised course, which included longer stretches of off-road, proved a tough test so that only 2 team records, based on pace-per-mile, were broken.  The first was in the Casual class which saw Paddock Wood better their own record by no less than 15 seconds per mile, while in the Ladies race, Norwich Road Runners improved on Norfolk Gazelles pace by 5 seconds per mile. In the Ladies race, which proved to be a titanic struggle, Riverside held on to the lead until Stage 8 when Michelle Bull put Norwich in the lead by 5 minutes.  Ann Furbank, making her 5^th appearance in the RNR, re-established a lead of 13 minutes for Riverside over Norwich. Elies Mann then re-took the lead for Norwich after stage 15 which they held until finishing 10 minutes ahead of Riverside; a great piece of racing thoroughly enjoyed by all.  The Norwich Road Runners men’s team won their club’s second title by winning the Open class from Mansfield Harriers with Riverside Runners in third place.  Wymondham took their first major honour by prevailing in the Masters class from Milton Keynes AC.  The inaugural prize for the best small club went to Great Yarmouth Road Runners, while the first debutante team home was Biggleswade AC.

  Individual honours were spread out this year.  For the first time, individual awards went to both men and women winners of the 17 stages.  CONAC won a total of 8 with Norfolk Gazelles one behind with 7 stage winners.  It was good to see teams like March AC and Stamford Striders picking up stage awards.  Martin Pigott, Great Yarmouth Road Runners, returned to win the Kelly Holmes Trophy, after a period out of the sport with an injury, having previously been the best individual in 1992 and 1999.  Olivia Walwyn CONAC produced an outstanding performance of 84.92% over stage 14 to record the best performance by a lady.  Guy Amos CONAC took the Paul Evans trophy for the best performance by a Master while Alan Chetwynd, Headington Road Runners with 80.09% won the Richard Nerurkar statuette for the best Junior.  The Peter Andrews Memorial cup, presented by CONAC for the best run over stage11 (Peter’s favourite stage), appropriately went to Norwich Road Runner Penny Edwards.  Peter Andrews, who died tragically in 2005, ran a total of 11 times in the RNR and on no less than 4 occasions posted individual performances in excess of 90%; his best being 92.3% in 1996 that he achieved over what was then the longest stage

  At the closing date, 41 clubs had entered the race.  Disappointingly, this had reduced to 37 by race day: even so, this bettered the previous largest entry by one.  Five teams made a first appearance: Hunts AC, Old Greshamians, Reepham Runners (with a club strength of only 33), Stowmarket Striders and Biggleswade AC.  The breakdown by class was: Open 14, Club 11, Casual 8 and 2 each in the Ladies and Masters.  As appears to be the norm these days, the field was made up of 70% men and 30% women with the overall average age being around 41.  The oldest competitor was 72 and the youngest 25. Composition of the field comprised 61% Masters, 35% Ladies and 3% Juniors, as might be expected not hugely different from previous years.  A special medal was presented to Lynnsport to mark the 10^th year they have helped stage the race.  This year the event adopted St. John Ambulance as their charity in recognition of the work they do in support of sport.  Apart from a few minor problems the race went well thanks to a years hard work by the race committee and an increasing number of volunteers who helped in various ways over the weekend.  There are too many to name in person, but our grateful thanks is due to them all for without them there would be no Round Norfolk Relay.

Race Director’s Report -  2006.

The RNR Committee were determined to make the 20^th anniversary event one to remember and I think all who took part would agree that it was memorable.  A record 45 teams (11 Club, 20 Open, 9 Casual, 4 Women and 1 Master) competed for honours over the weekend, an increase of 8 over the previous highest number of teams.  Quite what caused this breakthrough I’m not sure although the terrific event website, run by Rod Baron, must have played a significant part as has a steady stream of positive publicity for the event. Within the field there were 7 ‘first timers’ including: Dereham Runners, St Edmund Pacers, Tri Anglia, British Airways, Team Fetcheveryone.com, Pinks and Blacks and Yes, we ate all the Pies, who each stamped their influence on the race.  Feedback from the debutantes seems to suggest they will be back next year, probably wiser and certainly with greater knowledge of what is required; we all hope so.

Any event which covers a total of 8712 miles within 24 hours is likely to encounter problems and this year’s race was no exception.  In particular the road traffic accident which blocked the route into the Stage 4 changeover caused some disruption.  A number of the stages, particularly along the North coast, were changed mostly onto the Norfolk Coast Path to make the course more interesting and safer.  The last stage into King’s Lynn was also re-routed off the road and on to the Fen Rivers Way.  Well deserved positive comment was made about the standard of signage throughout the 193 miles; credit for this goes to Richard Handoll and his team who did a magnificent job.  A particular feature of this year was a painting featuring the course, by Kate Mears, a framed copy of which was given to each competitor (see below).

Once again, City of Norwich AC (who were awarded their 10^th appearance medal) routed the opposition with an organised and highly impressive performance.  Not only did they win the Club Class by a margin of 26 seconds per mile, their second team was third just behind Headington Road Runners.  To confirm their strength in depth they fielded a further two teams in the Club class.  Their individual athletes achieved 10 stage wins (men and women) and they took three of the major individual honours: Ruth Senior, Best Junior; Nicky Alford, Best Senior Woman while Tommy Salmon won the Kelly Holmes Trophy for the Best Individual Performance with 85.33%.  Other individual honours went to Simon Millett (Norwich Road Runners) for Best Male Junior, Dena Parfitt (Norfolk Gazelles) Best Female Master and Paul Hasler (Paddock Wood) Best Male Senior.  The Family Trophy was won by the Simmonds family (Ryston Runners AC) for the second year running and fourth time overall.

Mansfield Harriers prevailed in the Open Class and at the same time took the Best Outside Norfolk Trophy with an impressive 6.26 pace per mile, ahead of Norwich Road Runners with Ely Runners in third place.  Best Small Club (Under 70 in strength) was North Norfolk Beach Runners.  The new clubs/teams equipped themselves well with St Edmund Pacers taking the Newcomers Trophy ahead of British Airways.  With a difference of just 1 minute 27 seconds differential, Headington secured the Carrott Shield for the Best Estimate.  Norwich Road Runners Ladies were much too strong for the opposition in the Women’s Class, while Marshall Milton Keynes were on their own in the Master Class.  The event was considerably enhanced by the emergence of the Casual Class this year in which 4 of the 9 clubs were ‘first timers’.  Fenland Running AC took the Casual Class cup, followed by the Stragglers with debutantes Tri Anglia in third place.

From the feedback there is little doubt that the 20^th anniversary RNR was a huge success and in some minds the best ever.  Whether it was or not the race has, I believe, turned the corner from being a successful local event to one which is now firmly established in the national racing calendar.  Credit for this is due to the enormous amount of work of a few.  The staff at Lynnsport provided simply excellent support and the food they provided this year was in a different class.  The event website is clearly a major factor in the success of the event; it has now attracted over 40,000 hits in 5 years and a staggering 1339 hits on one day.  Another ground-breaking innovation was provided by Rod Baron this year when he arranged for an interim result, up to and including Stage 9, to be available at Scole.  Meanwhile, the Scole night-time changeover has become a feature in its own right under the management of Phil Sutton (Brandon Fernhoppers). 

May I again thank you all for the generous presentation you made to me at the conclusion of the event.  It has been my privilege and pleasure to direct all but one of the RNRs, helped over the years by a small, dedicated group of people who have all contributed to make the event what it is today.  Well done to all teams and individuals for completing the challenge of the Round Norfolk Relay.  I hope to see you all next year over the weekend of 15/16^th September for the 21^st RNR.

The 2006 memento awarded to every competitor
(Click to enlarge)

Coming of Age  -  Race Director’s Report -  2007.

The event certainly came of age in great style in 2007.  A record 50 teams entered the 21^st race with two other clubs waiting in the wings in case any of the original entries fell by the wayside. In a small informal ceremony an anniversary cake, presented by the Lighthouse Café, was cut at the end of Stage 1 in Hunstanton by Councillor Richard Bird, Mayor of Hunstanton and owner of ‘Fat Birds Don’t Fly’ sponsors of the event.

Within the ‘field’ there were 5 debutantes: Thetford AC, Felixstowe Road Runners, both of whom won team prizes, Just 17 (a team drawn largely from the UEA), The Raging Redskins (a group of friends from Norfolk) and Norfolk Farm Vet Knackers (made up of farmers and farm vets).  It was gratifying that Fetcheveryone.com, the highly successful running website (recently bought by Runners World), entered no less than 3 teams this year after their debut in 2006.  Current holders of the Club class title, City of Norwich AC (CONAC) created a ‘first’ by entering a team in four of the five classes demonstrating their strength in depth although ultimately they did not have things all their own way. For the first time the race was run under the auspices of the Association of Running Clubs (ARC), recently created as an alternative to England Athletics.  ARC donated a trophy and medals to be competed for within the race.

In excellent running weather there were some very fine individual and team performances.  Headington Road Runners, from Oxfordshire making their 14^th appearance, posted the fastest time in completing the course in 21:04:27 at an average pace of 6.33.0 per mile. In doing so they won the Open class from CONAC who were some 11 minutes behind them with Ely Runners fending off a strong challenge from Norwich Road Runners in 4^th place. The Open was by far the strongest class with 25 entries.  Incidentally, Headington RR were also awarded the Wooden Spoon when their B team posted the worst time estimate. 

For the first time, the Ladies class pitted Norwich Road Runners (NRR) against their closest rivals CONAC. They started together on Saturday morning and at the end of nearly 25 hours racing only 12 minutes separated them with NRR prevailing in a new Ladies course record of 24:52:24 (average 7:47.8 per mile): An outstanding performance by both teams.

The Casual class, for those who do not run for an affiliated athletic club, attracted a record entry of 10 teams, in which the Fetcheveryone.com team came out ‘top’ in a respectable time average of 7:52.4 pace per mile. 

The Masters class was easily won by CONAC, who fielded an all male team, with Milton Keynes AC, who had a mixed team, some way behind.  To create a level playing field, this rule may well be altered so that there is a mix of genders in this class.

Despite incurring the mandatory time penalty, for a late withdrawal through sickness after the race had started, CONAC clinched a worthy ninth successive title in the Club class finishing just 6 minutes ahead of Paddock Wood AC, contesting their 9^th RNR, with Riverside Runners in 3^rd and 4^th place.  Ely Runners had an excellent race in securing the inaugural ARC trophy and the Best Small Club (under 100 in strength) category.  The best newcomers were Thetford AC and the other debutantes, Felixstowe RR won the Carrott Shield for being within 4 seconds of their time estimate.

Individual honours went to veteran athlete Annie Furbank, Riverside Runners, who was the first lady to win the prestigious Kelly Holmes Trophy for the Outstanding Individual Age-Related Performance with 85.55%, and only the second lady in the history of the event to be the top performer.  Terry Fowler, Garden City Runners and Tommy Salmon, CONAC were top Master and Senior man respectively.  CONAC won both junior prizes through Stuart Huntington and Claire Pring.  Sue Janes, Paddock Wood A C and Ruth Proctor, CONAC took the top female Master and Senior titles respectively.  For the third year in succession, the Simmonds Family, Ryston Runners AC, took the Family trophy. CONAC completed a fine total of individual titles by winning no less than 15 of the 34 stages.

Of the 850 runners, men made up 70%, of which 60% were masters.  Disappointingly only 4% were juniors.  The average age of runners was 40, a consistent trend in the last 4 years.

As ever there were some individuals ‘firsts’ within the race:

• Adam and Natalle Etches who married the day before the race ran Stages 16 and 17 for Ely Runners.
• Father and daughter, Steve and Dani Nimmock who ran Stage 16 in opposition for Dereham and CONAC.
• 4 members of the Gowring family ran for Reepham Runners.
• Fred Amps (64), March AC, who due to a heart attack was unable to finish stage 9 in 2006, returned to complete the stage in 25^th place and with a 73% age-graded result!

There is no doubt that the 2007 race was an unqualified success and in some eyes the ‘best ever’ RNR.  Small things did go wrong but the atmosphere at the finish with 50 teams coming in to Lynnsport in quick succession to enthusiastic support was superb.  As I come to the end of my tenure as race director, I do so in the firm belief that the event has reached a new level as the only true long distance relay in the UK that provides the ultimate club challenge.  In conclusion, I would like to thank all those who have organised, sponsored , supported, officiated or competed in the RNR over the last 21 years for without them there would be no event.

All the 10s in 2008.

For the 10^th consecutive year the race was held in autumnal sunshine and for the 10^th time City of Norwich AC took the premiere Club class title and were overall fastest team.  Fielding no less than 68 athletes in 4 teams, CONAC were only prevented from a ‘clean sweep’ of titles by the impressive performance of Ely Runners, who took the Open class and in doing so were second team overall.  Ely are fast emerging as a club to be reckoned with in East Anglia running circles.  In partnership with Cambridge and Coleridge, Ely also fielded 10 of the 17 ladies in their combined entry in the newly created Ladies Casual category.  But the combined Ely/C&C team had the dubious distinction of getting the Wooden Spoon for the worst time outside their estimate of 1hr 39 mins 20 secs.  Ely also secured the Association of Running Clubs long-distance relay title, ahead of Norfolk Gazelles with debutantes Bedford Harriers in third place.  Bedford, who had a successful first race, were the Best Newcomers, ahead of Eye Community Runners, Coltishall Jaguars, Bungay Black Dog Running Club and UKNetrunners all of whom were making their first appearance.  The title of Best Small Club (under 85 members) went to Haverhill RC, while Ely Runners were the Best from Outside Norfolk.  CONAC added to their haul of trophies by taking the Carrott Shield with an impressive time differential, from their course estimate, of 1min 45 secs.  Averaging a respectable 7:28.8 min/mile, the Norfolk Farm Vets team, who are mainly drawn from members of the farming community and associated professions, ran out worthy winners of the Casual class in only their second appearance in the race.

Individually there were some very fine performances, headed by Anne Furbank (Riverside Runners) who, with an age-graded score of 89.55%, won the Kelly Holmes trophy as the top individual for a second consecutive year.  In doing so, she improved her age related score by 5%.  Guy Amos (CONAC), second overall secured the Paul Evans trophy for Best Master with 85.77%.  The Richard Nerurkar Trophy for Best Junior was taken, for the second consecutive year, with an improved age graded score of 83.59%, by Stuart Huntington (CONAC).  Paddock Wood AC, Paul Haslar and Fetcheveryone.com, Rachel Elliott won the Senior Male and Female prizes respectively.  Interestingly, the average age within the runners remained at 40 with women again accounting for 30% of the total field.  Paul Firmage (Ryston Runners AC) was the first individual to reach 20 appearances, while his club and Norwich Road Runners also reached the 20 appearance milestone.  Paddock Wood duly collected their memento to mark 10 appearances.

For the second year, the race limit of 50 teams was reached although ultimately two late withdrawals meant that only 48 teams started.  This year the race was full only 7 days after the entry opened leaving no les than 9 teams ‘out in the cold’, including a couple of clubs who had entered many times before.  Consideration is therefore being given to try and prevent this unsatisfactory situation occurring in the future.  The organisation was helped enormously this year by local clubs manning changeovers and, in a couple of cases, helping to sign stages.  It is to be hoped that this principle will continue to be embraced by clubs since it not only meant clubs had a stake in the race but, more importantly, it greatly enhanced security in the frenetic area of changeovers.  In particular, Phil Sutton and his helpers from the Suffolk based Brandon Fernhoppers club did a magnificent job of organising and manning the changeover at Scole at night in the middle of the race.  Thanks go to all those people who helped including referees, timekeepers, marshals and dozens of others who did a myriad of jobs and without whom this race could not now function.  Also, in a somewhat trying year, the committee and support group deserve special praise for their work.

Talking of the committee, it is with great sadness and a deep sense of loss that I have to record the death of our first President, John Barrow, who died two days after the race.  John loved our sport and in 18 years associated with the RNR did a tremendous amount to get the race established.  Fortunately, I was able to present him with a painting from the Relay and a signed card from all so that he knew the esteem and affection in which he was held.  He will be fondly remembered by all who knew him.

Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle

Norwich Clubs Dominant - Race Director's Report for 2009

In anticipation of a 'scramble' for the remaining 35 vacancies, after the Norfolk clubs had been allocated 20 preferential places, it was decided to adopt a 'first come, first served' policy.  The anticipated rush was realised when the 35 places were all taken within 20 minutes of the entry opening, with no less than 11 other clubs finding themselves on the waiting list!  Although pleasing that so many had entered the race, it was disappointing that others, particularly long-term loyal supporters of the race, had been unsuccessful.  It has therefore been decided to reward loyalty and assistance in 2010.  An important organisational change took place in 2009 when the event was placed under the overall control of the Norfolk AAA Road Running Committee.  This was done with the aim of guaranteeing the future of the event while, at the same time, encouraging Norfolk clubs to help with the organization of the race.  This proved to be a wise move since the important task of manning changeovers was accepted and executed with skill and enthusiasm by the clubs.

So, it was a record 55 clubs (935 runners) that contested the 23rd running of the race, yet again in ideal conditions.  The 10% increase in the field severely tested the organisation, but only minor problems emerged, during a superb weekends’ sport, and confirmed that the race could safely cope with the increased numbers.  It was the clubs from Norwich that dominated.  For the first time, in many years, Norwich Road Runners got the better of their city rivals in posting the fastest time of 20:31:42 in the Open class and becoming 'Champions of Norfolk'.  Ely Runners split the two Norfolk clubs in taking 2nd place in the Open class as well as prevailing in the Association of Running Clubs championship and being the best team from outside Norfolk.  For their part City of Norwich AC won the Club class for the 11th time and the Ladies class for the 2nd year in succession.  Taking nothing away from others, it has to be recorded that CONAC men were somewhat weakened by contesting elsewhere a play-off for a place in next year's British Athletics League.  The Masters trophy was won by Riverside Runners in a very respectable 7:06 pace per mile.  The Casual class was wrested by British Airways Flyers, from last year's winners the Norfolk Farm Vets. Of the four 'first timers' 26.2 Road Running Club were best debutantes from BRJ Huntingdon Road Running Club, Yaxley Road Runners and Tiptree Road Runners.  The Best Time Estimate, for the Carrott Shield was posted by Paddock Wood AC who were within 51 seconds of their estimate.  Overall, it was pleasing to have a balanced entry between the five classes with 17 Club, 19 Open, 10 Casual, a pleasing 5 Ladies and 4 Masters.  For the first time, a time limit of 28 hours (8:42 mins per mile) was imposed.  Four teams failed to reach this qualifying time.

For the third consecutive race Riverside Runners' Anne Furbank won the prestigious Kelly Holmes trophy with the best age-graded result of 88%.  In second place, 3% behind, was Paul Hasler, Paddock Wood AC with St. Edmunds Pacers' Peter Golding 3rd and Best Master.  Hollie Rowland, CONAC was easily the best junior with an impressive 82%.  In a very close Family contest, the Simmonds family of Ryston Runners AC beat the Milletts, NRR by just 0.5%.  Between them, CONAC (10) and NRR (7) won half of the stage prizes including Richard Sales who clocked-up his magnificent 16th stage win, the first being in 1988! Garden City Runners and Headington Road Runners both picked up 3 stage wins and Norfolk Gazelles 2.  In total 24 stage records were bettered.  The two oldest stage records set in 2002 by Garry Harris (Headington Road Runners) and Nia Parry (Serpentine RC) remained intact.

Four hundred and ninety teams and 9248 individuals have now competed in the race.  Again this year, by far the largest category was the masters making up nearly 65% of the field.  It was pleasing that the ladies accounted for 32%.  A worrying trend is the ever reducing number of seniors, this year down to around a third.  The average age was approaching 42, the youngest being 15 and the oldest 74.

Special presentations were made to Brenda and Dave Hutcheon who after many years leave the Support Group and Rod Baron who in 10 years of association with the race has done so much to bring the race into the 21st century with his technical innovations and quite excellent race website. A race of this complexity could not survive without the help of many people.  In particular the committee and support group, the Norfolk clubs who man changeovers and help mark the course, for the first time this year the Explorer group of scouts from Runcton Holme who collected the signs from the off-road stages and the officials, particularly those who came for the first time. It is with great pleasure that we are able to announce a three-year sponsorship deal with Birketts LLP, one of East Anglia’s leading law firms with offices in Norwich, Ipswich and Cambridge, whose senior partner Nigel Farthing presented the prizes.

Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle

A New Order for 2010

Although the on-line ‘first come, first served’ principle used for entry to the 2009 race worked well it did have limitations.  The most serious of these was that too much depended on a person’s keyboard skills, it relied upon the efficiency of Pay Pal to process the entry fee and, probably most importantly, no account was taken of factors such as loyalty to the event.  It was therefore decided to adopt a policy that rewarded loyalty and acknowledged the help of clubs that volunteered to man changeovers or helped sign the course.

The Casual class was introduced in 2004 with a view to increasing the number of teams and to allow unaffiliated teams to enter the race.  Generally, the idea worked well but it did create unintended anomalies such as affiliated clubs entering (and winning) the class.  In some instances it was seen as a soft alternative to entering one of the main classes.  It was therefore decided to suspend the Casual class in 2010 and to require all teams to be affiliated to either England Athletics or the Association of Running Clubs.

Norfolk clubs were allowed to submit entries prior to the entry being opened to all, but in accordance with the ‘one team per class’ rule.  Clubs from outside Norfolk, who had volunteered to help with the race, were also allowed a ‘priority entry’ before the entry was opened to all.  The principle of clubs helping with the organisation worked exceptionally well and will surely become a lasting feature of the event.

With safety considerations in mind, a further section of the course was moved off the road, the changeovers at Salthouse (4/5) and Geldeston (10/11) were moved to Cley and Bungay respectively.  These modifications were successful but there is little doubt that they made the course more difficult.

After the late withdrawal of the team from the Australian Defence Force AC, the 54 teams, one short of the maximum, lined up for the 24^th race.  The field included two clubs, West Norfolk AC and race sponsors Birketts’ Runners AC, making their debut.  London based The Stragglers and Harwich Running Club were presented with special awards to mark their 20^th and 10^th appearance respectively. 

The race was fiercely contested with Norwich Road Runners wresting the premier Club class from 12-time consecutive winners City of Norwich AC, averaging 6:22 minutes per mile.  NRR also took the Masters title from CONAC and won 7 of the 34 individual stage titles.  Cambridge & Coleridge, making their 5^th appearance, finished some 22 minutes ahead of 3^rd place Paddock Wood AC to take second place in the Club class field of 24 teams.  Both CONAC and C&C won 4 individual stage titles.  CONAC had some pre-race fitness and availability problems but were quick to acknowledge they had been soundly beaten by the better team on the day. 

Ely Runners, fast emerging as a real force in East Anglia, won the Open class race and finished second overall, with an impressive performance, averaging 6:32 minutes per mile. Ely also won the ARC Shield from 13 other clubs.  Original ‘owners’ of the race Ryston Runners had their best result for many years and their best time since 1996 in finishing 2^nd Open team and 4^th overall.  In 3^rd Open class place was North Norfolk Beach Runners, 13 seconds per mile behind were the fast improving Fenland Running Club who posted their best time ever of 7:03 minutes per mile.

In the Ladies race, unfortunately only contested by two clubs even though ladies made up 30% of the runners, Riverside Runners were easy winners being a full hour ahead of Milton Keynes AC.  West Norfolk AC took the Newcomers Trophy from Birketts’ Runners AC while Coltishall Jaguars were best Small Club (>80).

There was some consolation for CONAC as Robert Cheverton recorded an age grading of 86.99% to win the coveted Kelly Holmes Trophy for the best individual performance.  With a superb display over the 9.24 miles of stage 7 from Mundesley to Lessingham, the 53-year-old ran a time of 53:40.  For C&C, John Oakes was just 2% behind him on the early morning, 8 mile stage from Feltwell to Wissington to win the Paul Evans trophy.  Tracey Curl (NRR) posted the best overall ladies performance with an 83.45% run over 7.52 miles from Lessingham to Horsey. The Richard Nerurkar trophy for the best junior was won by Ben Russell (NRR) with Daisy Glover the best junior lady.  The Simmonds Family (RRAC) secured their 7^th Family title with an aggregated age grading of 73.26%.  Excluding the five stages which were ‘new’, 11 new stage records were recorded.

There were two other notable performances.  Iva Barr (Bedford Harriers) became the oldest competitor at age 82 and 32 year old blind runner Simon Webb completed the 7.20 miles 15^th Stage in 53.49 to finish 20^th /54 runners.  During the weekend Claire Peircy (Yaxley Runners) became the 10,000^th person to run in the RNR.

Richard Sales (NRR) who made his 20^th appearance and recorded his 17^th stage win was presented with a 20 year award along with Andy Smith (RRAC), while eight received medals to mark 10 appearances.  Special awards were made to Gordon Reid and Tony Hunt for their long and dedicated service to the race.

For the first time clubs assisted in the organisation of the race including marking the off-road stages, manning changeovers and providing marshals.  The clubs involved were: Ryston Runners AC, Dereham Runners, Coltishall Jaguars, Reepham Runners, UK Net Runners, Norfolk Gazelles, Biggleswade AC, Ramsey Road Runners, Norwich Road Runners, North Norfolk Beach Runners, City of Norwich AC, Great Yarmouth Road Runners, Bedford Harriers, Bungay Black Dog RC, Tiptree Road Runners, Thetford AC, Wymondham AC, Ely Runners, Stowmarket Striders, West Norfolk AC, St Edmund Pacers, Milton Keynes AC, BRJ Huntingdon RRC, Great Yarmouth & District AC and Downham Dollies RC.  We are extremely grateful to every one of these clubs and the individuals who kindly gave of their time in support of the race for without your help it is doubtful whether the race could go ahead in its present form.  Once again the referees and timekeepers monitored the race with their customary firmness and fairness.   No acknowledgement of help and support would be complete without mentioning the committee and support group of the RNR.  Their unstinting work is an inspiration and I am proud to lead such a fine team.  Thank you all.

Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle.

A Silver Celebration - 2011

A maximum sixty teams signed up for the 25^th race but in the event a record 57 teams (969 individuals) ran on the day.  The field included three debutantes, Newmarket Joggers, Virgin Money AC and Roman Runners, a team from 16 Air Assault Brigade stationed in Colchester, who had just returned from an operational tour in Afghanistan who took the Newcomers trophy.  The Stragglers received a 20-year appearance award while Ramsey Road Runners, Serpentine Running Club and Haverhill Running Club were also recognised having run in 10 races.

To mark the Silver Jubilee, Ron Hill, the former European, Commonwealth and Boston Marathon champion, was guest of honour and he agreed that the family trophy would in future carry his name.  First recipients of the Ron Hill Trophy were Martin, Robert and Andrew Simmonds, Ryston Runners AC, who achieved an age-related average score of 74.23%. In his address at prizegiving, Ron regretted the demise of long-distance relays and congratulated the RNR on its unique position in the UK athletics calendar and for steadily growing during its 25 year life. It was a real privilege and pleasure to have the legendary Ron at our event.  He now joins the select band of Dame Kelly Holmes, Richard Nerurkar and Paul Evans all of whom have visited the race and presented trophies to be competed for.

Norwich Road Runners won the premier Club Class, for the second year, with a fine display of sustained running from Paddock Wood AC.  Norwich Road Runners also took the Masters Class which suggests that they can now claim to be the strongest distance running club in Norfolk.  Their well-deserved victory was slightly marred by the fact that they exceeded their predicted time by a massive margin and in doing so got the Wooden Spoon.

Ely Runners were victors, for the second successive year, in the Open Class and in doing so bettered their average pace by a substantial 10 seconds per mile.  Runners up in the Open Class were City of Norwich AC.  Winning the Ladies Class City of Norwich set a new record by averaging 7:34:6 per mile and in doing so improved their previous ladies record by a second per mile!  Coltishall Jaguars won the Best Small Club (>80 adults) for the second year.  In the incorporated Association of Running Clubs (ARC) championship, Ely Runners maintained their unbeaten record since the championship was first introduced in 2008.

In the age-graded order of merit, 54-year old Robert Cheverton, CONAC, narrowly headed Nigel Rackman, Metros, and Nigel Arnold, Norfolk Gazelles, to win the Kelly Holmes Trophy with a score of 87.56% over Stage 7.  The best lady’s performance came from 44 year old Phillipa Taylor, CONAC, who achieved a score of 85.54% over the 19.67 miles of Stage 12, which she completed in 2:06:36, in doing so she was second overall on the stage.  Second lady was Jane Clarke, CONAC.  Damian Rogers, CONAC, won the Richard Nerurkar Trophy for best junior. The ARC individual honours, formally recognised for the first time, went to Nigel Arnold, Norfolk Gazelles and Dena Parfitt, North Norfolk Beach Runners

Confirming that they possess a crop of very fine individual runners, City of Norwich, won no less than 11 stage prizes, awarded for the fastest man and woman in each of the 17 stages.  On this basis Norwich Road Runners were second with 6 wins with Ely Runners in third with 4 wins.  Each participating runner was presented with a specially struck silver medal to commemorate the Silver Jubilee race.

In this year’s race, Masters accounted for 66% of the field with senior runners down to 30%, which seems to confirm a perceived national trend of fewer seniors taking part in distance road running. The average age of all runners was just below 42.  In the gender ‘stakes’, lady runners accounted for 27%.

This was my last as race director.  Reflecting on my 25-year association with the event, I look back with pride at the progress made by the event.  From modest beginnings the race is now recognised nationally and has a unique place in the athletics calendar.  This success has been due to the many people I have been privileged to work with.  The event needs the support of a vast number of people and organisations to whom the race owes a huge debt of gratitude. In recognition of some individuals I made a presentation to: Rob Saines, Rod Baron, Phil Sutton, Karen Wagge, Graham Bocking, Gordon Reid, Tony Hunt, Steve Carrott, Richard Handoll and Peter Duhig for their outstanding contribution to the race over many years.

 I hand over to Paul Sullivan in the belief that the event is in good order and I wish the new committee all success as they strive to maintain the reputation of this great race.

Ian Vaughan-Arbuckle.

Last updated 02/01/2012

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