Holt 10k on Sunday 24th May saw 15 Dereham Runners AC members head out to Greshams School to take part in the North Norfolk Beach Runners AC’s Holt 10k. 

This was the 8th race on the Sportlink grandprix series calendar, and probably the hottest race in the Series so far with temperatures soaring as the morning went on.

Even with a 2nd water station added, it was tough going for everyone out there on the course.  Probably a day not to worry about times and PBs but to make sure you got to the finish line safe and well. The heat definitely took its toll on some out there.

Thankfully all the DRACs athletes finished the 10k race with 9 of them crossing the line in the top ten of their age categories,  these being Louise Hudson (5th), Helen Scothern (6th), Wayne Ramsbottom (8th), Martin Scothern (9th), Jan Totterdale (7th), Michael Eglington (9th) with  Jacquie Wood (3rd), Amanda Baker (3rd) and Kareana Symonds (3d). Kareana (45:16) and Michael (42:31) were the first female and male club members back across the line.

Many of of the club knows Logan Smith who finished in first place (32:44) who was a former member. But the first lady back across the line was  Rachel Cooke (39:51) of Buckingham and Stowe Running Club... also a former DRAC member from years ago and even more interesting especially in our 40th Anniversary year of the club ,was the girl who won a competition to design our club logo way back then.

Sunday 17th May was the The Fighter 5K race which was held at the old RAF Great Massingham Airfield. This race took runners around the single lap course incorporating the perimeter track and runways of the old Airfield.

This was the 2nd year of the race which again was hosted by West Norfolk AC and this year it was part of the Sportlink grandprix series.

The fast flat but breezy course on the day saw some great times from many of the athletes out there with a couple of course records and an age category record broken.

For Dereham Runners AC this was part of our own in house club grandprix and taking part on the day were 34 club members .

Across the various age categories DRAC had 16 finish in the top ten, these being Graham Hardingham (9th), Gill Woodhouse (9th) Jacquie Wood (7th), Amanda Baker (4th), Andrew Hayward (4th), Susan Swales (7th) Wayne Ramsbottom (7th), Helen Scothern (8th) Emma Potter-Campbell (7th), Sarah Hayward (6th), Louise Hudson (4th), Ashley Gilbert (5th), Adele Edwards (9th) with Leanne Bagge (3rd), Kareana Symonds (3rd) and Jason Mattless (2nd).

The first male and female club members back to the finish line were Ashley Gilbert with a time of 17:45 and crossing the line with 20:25 was Leanne Bagge.

A little closer to home was the Zig Zag Birthday Run. This event as usual was a series of different distances that runners can compete in on the day from a 5k upwards. This was held at Billingford lakes and it took everyone on just over a 5k course for those running further, then it was just more laps.

DRAC had 5 members amongst those taking part. Michelle Graham doing the 5k (32:49) . In the Heavy Half Marathon (5 laps) was Jonathan Burton (2:45:30) and Terry Brunton (3:29:27). In the Full Marathon (8 laps) was Caroline Fletcher (4:05:48) and doing the Ultra Marathon (9laps) was Jen Gilbert (6:13:03).

Great Yarmouth 5mile on Wednesday 13th May was the 3rd and final race of the Great Yarmouth 5mile series.

Another good turnout of members from the club for the midweek race with 21 of them running out up and town the town’s seafront and also braving the ever ongoing road closures on the way home.

On the night there were 5 who finished in their age categories top tens - Jan Totterdale (7th) Wayne Ramsbottom (10th), Nick Deere (7th), Louise Hudson (3rd) and age group winner Jacquie Wood.

Over the three races 40 members made the trip at least once, from these there were 14 completing the whole series of races (Jacquie Wood. David and Alison Riglar, Wayne Ramsbottom, Michael and Dawn Protheroe, Philip Websdale, Neil Rivers, Robert Last, Georgia Clements, Gemma Starling, Maria Hull. Helen Holmes and Daniel Hawking).

Well done everyone who took part over the series.

The weekend of the 9th and 10th of May had Dereham Runners AC members head to races in Aylsham and Banham and over in Bristol.

Sunday 10th was the Aylsham 10k. This was the next race in the Sportlink Grand Prix Series, and started on the edge of the market town and headed out on the traffic free course on quiet country roads. The club had 8 top ten age category finishers on what was a cold and somewhat breezy day... Sophie Cross (6th) Michael Eglington (6th), Sarah Hayward (5th), Emma Potter-Campbell (6th), Wayne Ramsbottom (7th), Keith Moore (8th) and winning their age groups were Kareana Symonds and Jacquie Wood. There were 16 members taking part in the event. The first DRAC male and females back were Michael Eglington (38:59) and Kareana Symonds (42:54).

The same day in Bristol was lone DRAC runner taking part in the Bristol Half Marathon. Neil Messenger ran the flat fast course closed road race which started in the Millennium Square and took runners past the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Neil ran a great time of 1:40.06.

The previous day (9th May) was the Run For Wildlife. Banham Zoo 5k. Here everyone was taking on the 5k in and around the zoo grounds (with the option of staying for the rest of the day enjoying looking round the zoo). DRAC had ten members running the course, on what was a very warm morning. From these ten there were 2 top ten age group finishers these being Gill Woodhouse (5th) and Imogen O'Connor (6th). Imogen was the first club member back to the finish with 26:36 followed in by Robert King with a time of 26:51. For Robert and also DRACs Amelie O'Connor this was their first 5k race for the club.

May Bank Holiday weekend was a busy time for Dereham Runners AC members covering distances from 10k to Marathon up to 100 miles.

Over the weekend of 2nd and 3rd of May was the Thames Path 100.

This event took runners out from the start line in Richmond (South West London) travelling out along the Thames through the scenic countryside to the finish line at the Queens College Sports Ground in Oxford. Stepping up to take on this extremely tough challenge was DRACs Kelly Mitchell. A great run from Kelly saw her cross the finish line (7th in her age group) with an amazing time of 24:27:10. Along the way she was joined by her support crew of Ash Gilbert and James Davis. At Hendon (51 miles in ) Ash accompanied Kelly to the finish. A great achievement by Kelly.

Sunday the 3rd May many DRAC members headed out to King's Lynn to take part in the King's Lynn GEAR (Great East Anglian Run) 10k. A great event taking runners from the Tuesday Market place weaving out through the town, around the walks back down the River Ouse Pathway back to the finish line where it all started from. As always there was a great atmosphere with loads of great support all around the whole route. The first male and female Club members back across that finish were Guzel Sari with 39:07 and Beatrice Green finishing in 44:25.

Bank Holiday Monday (4th May) and the next race was the Breckland 10k. This race was hosted by Thetford AC and was the next race in the Sportlink Grand Prix Series. Starting in Croxton and heading up out of the village around local country lanes before heading back to to the finish just down the road from where everyone started from. The first runner back for the club was Michael Eglington with 39:18, finishing 3rd in his age category. Also finishing in 3rd place in their category with a time of 57:16 was Amanda Baker. The other top ten age group finishers were Jacquie Wood (4th), Jan Totterdale (10th), Ian Brown (8th) Emma Potter-Campbell (5th) and Wayne Ramsbottom (7th) also running the 10k was Dawn Protheroe this was her 2nd 10k of the weekend as she ran GEAR the day before.

A bit further away running the Milton Keynes Marathon was Martin Scothern. The course took everyone through the heart of Milton Keynes out through picturesque villages and finally taking runners to the finish line in the Stadium MK. The force was strong in Martin, finishing his Marathon run with a time of 3:45:39.

A great weekend of running from everyone out there over the whole weekend.