Thetford Athletics Club’s junior and senior athletes were in action this weekend at the latest round of cross country races that form part of the Ryston Runners Grand Prix through the forest at Shouldham Thorpe.
The Under 9 Boys kicked off the event with Thetford’s Ewan Peck finishing in 14th place with a time of 3.37min with Ben Peck in 15th position with a time of 3.42. Pippa-Rainbow Swan was Thetford’s sole competitor in the Under 9 Girls event and completed the course in a time of 5.03 for 28th position.
Cameron Try lead the way for the Thetford athletes in the U11 Boys competition, finishing 
8th with his fastest time of the season of 9.57min. James Peck was in 12th spot with a time of 10.07. There was an eighth place finish for Abigail Clouston in the U11 Girls race with a time of 10.07. There was a lofty fourth place finish for Ben Garrod in the U13 Boys event as he completed the course in a time of 12.00min.
Thetford were well represented in the U15 Boys category with a second place finish for Harley Swan in a time of 10.52. Charlie Stone finished in fourth spot in a time of 11.09 with Kieran Moody one place further back in fifth with a time of 11.35.
Senior athlete, Simon Smith, finished 3rd in the V40 category with a time of 34.43min. There was a fifth place finish for Sam Wing in the Senior Ladies race, crossing the line in 45.19. Charlotte Smith took the honours in the V35 Ladies race, winning the event in a time of 40.11. Tina Plumley took second spot on the V40 category with a time of 41.53.
Thetford athletes were also in action but this time representing their county school’s teams in the Anglian Schools Cross Country Championships. The event took place in the grounds of the Royal Hospital School near Ipswich with places in the English Schools Cross Country Championships up for grabs.
Harley Swan was the highest placed Thetford athlete within the Norfolk Schools Team, finishing the race in overall 7th position and was the second Norfolk athlete home. Swan completed the race in a time of 13.18min. Aiden Try finished 28th with a time of 14.03 and was the eight Norfolk athlete to finish with both boys hopeful of making the Norfolk U15 squad for the national championships taking place in Blackburn during early March. Thetford’s Tom Mead also participated in the race but represented the Suffolk Schools Team, completing the course in a time of 14.21 for 50th position.
Thetford’s Jessica Norkett and Maddie Rolph represented the Norfolk Schools Team in the U13 event with Norkett finishing in 28th position and Rolph in 45th place.
