Weekly Report – 23rd February 2020
On Sunday, February 23rd, Sudbury Joggers once again descend on the village Beyton outside Bury St Edmunds for the Tarpley 10 or Tarpley 20.
The Tarpley races are part of Saint Edmund Pacers’ annual event of holding a 10-mile road race and a 20-mile road race from and to Beyton in Suffolk.
These races saw hundreds of runners from all over Suffolk and beyond attend, including 25 from Sudbury Joggers, to run in 20-30mph winds with gusts up to 50mph. Added to that some occasional light rain, chilly temperatures and hills, it proved to be a demanding race.
Tarpley 20-mile
(L-R) Todd Lewis, Charlotte Richardson, Simon Elliott, Charles Hann, Ruth Cowlin (Tarpley 10 runner), Jackie Hann, Sally-Ann Bowen, Lucy Cowlin, Sandy Thorogood and Emma Drury ready to run the Tarpley 20.
Harsh conditions will not stop our runners from completing their races with 13 Joggers finishing the Tarpley 10 and a further 12 completing the Tarpley 20.
The Tarpley 20-mile race headed out an hour before the 10-mile race. The 20-miler was part of the Suffolk County Championships, and first to finish for Sudbury Joggers was Todd Lewis in a time of 2 hours and 14 minutes.
Lewis placed nineteenth overall and first in his age group. For Todd, this race was training for the London Marathon where he is raising money for Guide Dogs.
Next to cross the finish line was Charles Hann in 2:23:39, with Emma Drury being the first lady to finish for the club in 2:35:30.
Finishing second in her age group was Sandy Thorogood in 2:38:33, with Gary Godfrey (2:44:04) and Lucy Cowlin (2:50:32) completing the windy 20 miles minutes after each other.
Sally-Ann Bowen placed third in her age group ending her 20 miles in a time of 2:51:50. Minutes later, Jackie Hann finished in 2:57:24.
After an injury 18-months ago, Dee St Ledger completed Tarpley 20, her longest distance since her injury, in a time of 3 hours and 2 minutes.
St Ledger’s efforts placed her fourth in her age category for the race and second in her age category for the Suffolk Country Championships.
The final three from Sudbury Joggers to complete the Tarpley 20 were Steven Jeggo (3:18:27), Simon Elliott (3:21:17) and Charlotte Richardson (3:57:25).
Charlotte Richardson commented “It was tough out there today with the wind, rain and hills! I have never run 20 miles before, but I am so chuffed and very happy with my time”.
Todd Lewis placed nineteenth overall and first in his age group running the Tarpley 20.
Claire Rooke and Jodie Budd after running the Tarpley 10.
Tarpley 10-mile
(L-R) Sharon Breward, Ruth Cowlin, Claire Rooke, Matthew Benson, Jodie Budd, James Wood, Brian Bloomfield, Jenny Merry, Michelle Holland, Thierry Pennec, Claire Fradley, Sue Crawte and Steve Roberts ready to run the Tarpley 10.
For the ten-mile race, Matthew Benson was first to finish for the club in 1:14:15, followed by Thierry Pennec (1:23:55), Brian Bloomfield (1:28:57) and Ruth Cowlin (1:32:01).
Jenny Merry and James Wood ran together and finished in 1 hour and 32 minutes. This time saw a new personal course best before Merry.
Another of our club to be returning after an injury was Sharon Breward. After a problematic start due to a hidden pothole on a partially flooded road, Breward not only completed the 10 miles, but she achieved a new personal best with a time of 1:47:16.
Moments later, Michelle Holland finished in a time of 1:47:28 and was followed by Claire Fradley (1:51:23) and Sue Crawte (1:54:13).
Jodie Budd and Claire Rooke ran together and finished in a time of 1 hour and 54 minutes. This time was a new personal best for Jodie by more than a minute.
Steve Roberts was the last of the Sudbury Joggers to complete the ten-mile race in a time of 2:09:55. In 2018, the Tarpley 10 was Steve’s first-ever race and this year he beat his course record by 6 minutes and 11 seconds.
Thetford Winter 10k
While many Sudbury Joggers were running the Tarpley races, Lizanne Ford headed to Thetford to run her third and final Thetford Winter 10k.
Lizanne managed to new personal best and finished the 6.2 miles in a time of 53 minutes and 24 seconds, gaining her ninth lady overall and second in her age category.
