Andrew Rooke retained his Framlingham Flyers Friday Five title as a bumper field took on the annual five-mile rural challenge, from Framlingham Sports Club tonight.
Rooke, a member of the host club Framlingham Flyers, repeated his wins from 20016, 2017 and 2018 to make it four wins in a row.
Despite being hampered by recent injury and asthma problems, Ipswich-based Rooke surged clear of early leader Chris Burgoyne, of Springfield Striders, just before the half-way mark to win in 25mins 37secs.
Rooke had clocked 25:57 last year, 25:02 when running in Ipswich JAFFA colours in 2017, and 25:20 when representing Aldershot, Farnham & District in 2016.
"It was tough," admitted Rooke.
"I had a breakdown in training recently, firstly with injury and then later with asthma, which I picked up while training out at Playford.
"That knocked my confidence, but it was nice to come back to my local club and win the race again.
"It helped that Chris Burgoyne was up with me early on. In fact, he led for the first couple of miles, acting as a wind-shield, before I took the lead at 2.3 miles," added Rooke.
Burgoyne finished second in 26:07, followed by third-placed Ben Toye, of Gosport Road Runners, fourth-placed Matt Spencer (27:13) and Framlingham Flyers' Jim Last (27:25), who was fifth and also the first veteran.
Felixstowe Road Runners' Tony Garvin, who had won the first race in the Friday Five Series at Kirton the previous Friday evening, was sixth at Framlingham while Kirton runner-up Samuel Burdett was just behind in seventh.
Dasiy Glover, of host club Framlingham Flyers, was away and clear in the ladies' race, finishing a fine 15th overall in 29:09.
Sara Bird, of Ipswich JAFFA, ran strongly for second spot in 30:07, followed by Katie Austin (32:32) in third.
Meanwhile, in the supporting junior races, Lewis Sullivan powered to victory over the 2.5K multi-terrain course.
Under-15 athlete Sullivan, of Saint Edmund Pacers, had won the prestigious Vitality Westminter Mile just under two weeks ago.
Max Berry was a runner-up and Archie Henington took third spot, while Ellen Moodie, of Framlingham Flyers, was the first under-15 girl.
Ipswich JAFFA's Freya Wilcox and Luca Barricella were first in the under-13 age groups, as were Phoebe Duffin and West Suffolk's AC's Seb Melero in the under-11s.
Over the shorter 1K distance, Colchester Harriers' Harrison Cumner and Ella Kading were first boy and girl in the under-nine age category.
Results
Framlingham Flyers Friday FIve:
Top 20 men: 1 A Rooke (Framlingham Flyers) 25:37; 2 C Burgoyne (Springfield Striders) 26:07; 3 B Toye (Gosport RR) 26:23; 4 M Spencer 27:13; 5 J Last (Framlingham Flyers, first over-40) 27:25; 6 T Gavin (Felixstowe RR)27:40; 7 S Burdett (Stowmarket Striders) 27:51; 8 A Southwood (Saint Edmund Pacers) 28:06; 9 F Adams (Ipswich Harriers, first under-20) 28:08; 10 L Barber (Fram/Flyers) 28:10.
11 A Wade (Ipswich JAFFA) 28:19; 12 A Howlett (Fram/Flyers, first over-45) 28:30; 13 J Marter (Fram/Flyers) 28:49; 14 K Hayles (Sudbury Joggers) 29:04; 15 A Ellis (Felixstoer RR)29:19; 16 N Clarke (JAFFA) 29:21; 17 O Watson (JAFFA) 29:26; 18 B Jacobs (Felixstowe RR) 29:32; 19 W Law (City of Norwich) 29:36; 20 C Leek (Fram/Flyers) 29:38.
Top 10 ladies: 1 D Glover (Fram/Flyers) 29:09; 2 S Bird (JAFFA) 30:07; 3 K Austin 32:27; 4 T English (Southend, first over-40) 32:29; 5 T Jordan (Stowmarket, second over-40)32:44; 6 K King (Pacers) 33:54; 7 E Zethraeus (Great Bentley RC) 34:04; 8 R Fish 34:15; 9 R Pittman (Springfield, first over-55) 34:27; 10 R Hamblyn (JAFFA) 34:33.
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