THERE was a double success for Suffolk clubs at the annual Turing Trail Relay, held over six stages from Ely to Cambridge and then back to Ely.Ipswich Harriers won the men's title in a time of 3hrs 33mins 14secs, while Saint Edmund Pacers claimed victory in the ladies' race with a combined time of 4.

Carl Marston

THERE was a double success for Suffolk clubs at the annual Turing Trail Relay, held over six stages from Ely to Cambridge and then back to Ely.

Ipswich Harriers won the men's title in a time of 3hrs 33mins 14secs, while Saint Edmund Pacers claimed victory in the ladies' race with a combined time of 4.33.52.

The total distance of 34.3 miles was staged mainly along riverside footpaths next to the Great Ouse and River Cam, with the stage lengths varying from five to 6.1 miles.

The wind was mainly against the runners on the return stages (four, five and six). The Harriers were never out of the top two. Kevin Peirce and Simon Gardiner both clocked the second-fastest times on the first two legs, before Josh Entwistle took the lead on leg three.

Veteran Glynn Thomas maintained that lead, before James Calvert rattled up the quickest time of the day on leg five. The Harriers team was anchored to victory by teenager Elliott Palmer.

The Bury-based Pacers were third in the men's section. Kevin Murphy actually ran the quickest anchor leg of the day, while club-mates Peter Golding and Chris Cooke were second-fastest on their stages.

But there was no stopping the Pacers in the ladies' event.

They enjoyed a healthy seven-minute margin of victory, thanks to the sextet of Eloise Calver, Karen Hatton, Sarah Golding, Julia Jepson, Sarah Hinchliffe and Wendy Jones.

Results round-up

Men: 1 Ipswich Harriers 3.33.14 (K Peirce 30.35, S Gardiner 36.55, J Entwistle 32.15, G Thomas 39.38, J Calvert 38.45, E Palmer 35.06); 2 Muddy Mucky Munkeys 3.38.44; 3 Saint Edmund Pacers 3.40.48 (T Fox 31.28, J Rabett 44.14, P Golding 32.35, C Cooke 37.55, D Reed 41.02, K Murphy 33.36).

Also: 7 Newmarket Flyers 4.01.26 (T Jefferson 34.20, V Coogan 46.16, S Hansell 38.43, M Ball 39.14, P Holly 40.21, B Munns 42.32; 16 Saint Edmund Pacers C 4.24.02 (T Dennison 37.10, I Milligan 42.12, C Cook 42.33, M Troup 44.57, S Williams 50.22, P Clarke 46.48); 22 Ipswich Harriers B 4.28.57 (L Thorndyke 43.22, T Byford 40.19, K Hamilton 44.13, M Gisby 46.15, D Palmer 44.35, E Welbourn 50.13).

Ladies: 1 Saint Edmund Pacers 4.33.52 (E Calver 38.59, K Hatton 53.17, S Golding 41.51, J Jepson 47.52, S Hinchliffe 48.10, W Jones 43.43); 2 Cambridge & Coleridge Fast Girls 4.40.40; 3 Newmarket Flyers 4.52.42 (T Smith 43.48, M Paul 53.13, J O'Callaghan 45.59, C Starling 48.41, G Godward 57.09, E White 43.52.