TWO ladies infiltrated the top-10 finishers at Sudbury Joggers MT five-mile race.

TWO ladies infiltrated the top-10 finishers at Sudbury Joggers MT five-mile race.

Helen Decker, of Ipswich Jaffa, was fifth overall on her way to the ladies' trophy in 29min 2sec, while her closest rival - Tamara Jordan, of Stowmarket Striders - clocked 29.33 in eighth overall.

Both athletes have been in fine form this year. Decker has been re-writing the Jaffa record books over a wide range of distances, while Jordan is on course to retain her Friday Five Series title.

In fact, many of Suffolk's leading female runners were in the starting line-up at Sudbury. Jaffa's Natasha Belsom, who won the Suffolk County 5K senior title at the Bury track the previous week, was third in 31.53 (17th overall), with club-mate Jayne Williams a further 52 seconds back in fourth spot.

Just 15 seconds separated the first three home in the men's race. Jaffa's Gavin Davies tasted victory in 27.50, followed by Colchester Harriers' ultra-distance specialist Allen Smalls (27.57) and City of Portsmouth's Paul Cardy (28.05). Davies overtook Smalls during the closing stages.

Over-45 veteran Colin Ridley, of West Suffolk AC, was an impressive fourth in 28.47, just ahead of over-40 athlete Mark Armitage, who led home a strong contingent from Halstead Road Runners.