Big turnout for Friday 5

Nearly 350 runners completed Sudbury Joggers’ sole home event of the season, their leg of the popular Friday 5 Series, with the host club having a podium finisher in the overall senior race.

The event, believed to be the first time Sudbury have hosted a round of the series, served as the launch race of the parkland weekly six-series race, sponsored by the East of England Co-OP.

It also took on extra significance for competitors as it doubled up as one of 10 races that runners can participate in for the Suffolk County Athletics Association Suffolk Grand Prix Series.

Sudbury Joggers also held a Juniors’ race on the same evening that was 2km long and for those runners that were aged under 15.

Both started and finished in Great Cornard with the seniors five-mile race having a total of 343 finishers with 37 of those being from Sudbury Joggers. The junior race saw 70 children cross the line.

Coming first in the senior race was Tom Adams from Ipswich Harriers in a time of 28 minutes and 10 seconds, followed closely by Ermeas Afewerki of Colchester Harriers AC a second later.

In third place was the host club’s own Kieran Hayles, who completed the five-mile course in 28.16.

Coming first for their age groups for Sudbury Joggers, along with Hayles, was Peter Davy.

Andrew Buck, Jackie Hann and Cathy Beard each came in third for their age groups (see results & fixtures below for full club results on the night).

As well as the 37 runners taking part in the Friday race, the club also had a massive turnout from other members as they marshalled, made cakes to raise money for charity and cheered on runners as they went around the course.

Friday’s race was not the only race that members of Sudbury Joggers attended.

Jacquie Webb ran the Mayflower Cross Country Half Marathon in two hours and 44 minutes, while Tony Todd, Steve Jeggo, Richard Smith, Dan Smith, Robert Hunt, Andrea Hunt and Matt Benson all ran the Ivybuild Braintree Track Marathon. To top things off, Buck claimed second in his age group for the Suffolk Winter League Cross Country.