West Norfolk athletes thrive in second race of series at Shouldham Warren

West Norfolk Athletic Club managed a quartet of top spots as Ryston Runners AC hosted the second fixture of the Shouldham Cross Country Grand Prix at Shouldham Warren

With recent forestry work and heavy rain turning the course into a churned-up, mud-filled test of endurance, runners faced true cross-country conditions.

Despite conditions being described as brutal, WNAC members rose superbly to the challenge.

The seniors and under-17s took on the long 9km course - the seniors over two laps and the under-17s one - while the younger age groups raced over shorter distances.

WNAC’s day started strongly as Benji Rodriguez claimed the club’s first victory, storming home in 3:09 to win the Under-9 boys’ race.

Jacob Green also impressed, finishing 9th with a time of 3:35.

In the boys’ race, William Ward was placed eighth in 9:05, while debutant Owen Hamilton made an excellent start to his cross-country career, finishing 11th in 9:59.

In the girls’ event, Dana Bishop produced her best-ever result, taking fourth place in 9:48, closely followed by Jessica Watts in 9:54.

Chloe Gayton also made the top ten, finishing 10th in 13:07.

Aidan Howard claimed victory in the U15 boys’ race, completing the short course in 8:45.

In the girls’ race, Casey Ward marked a fine return from injury with second place in 10:18 (short course), while India Richardson battled the full-distance route impressively to finish fifth in 18:10.

The final race of the day saw the seniors and masters tackle two gruelling laps of the 9km course, with the under-17s completing one.

Despite the mud and standing water, WNAC’s athletes dominated proceedings.

Ethan Ward led from the front to take a commanding first place in the U17 boys’ race with 15:49, followed by Henry Gosnell (18:48) and Oliver Gayton (21:49) to complete a clean sweep of the podium.

Flynn Angell continued his fine form, finishing fourth in 23:06.

In the U17 girls’ race, Evie Clayton was a clear winner, clocking 19:56.

There was more success for WNAC in the senior and masters categories.

Callum Stanforth made a triumphant return to cross country after three years away, winning the overall race and the M35-40 category in 30:28.

Lewis English finished third overall and took victory in the senior men’s division after a hard-fought sprint finish, clocking 32:55.

Newcomer Lewis Pearson impressed with seventh in the senior men’s category (36:40), while Darren Easter took second in the M50–54 class (37:33) and club chairman Mark Garrett claimed third in the same category (40:49).

Benjamin Collison continued his return from injury with a determined 41:34, followed by John Greenhalgh (42:29) and Rob Gosnell (44:02), both battling through the heavy going to the finish.