Two runners recorded their second wins, from three Friday Five races this summer, at the Glasswells Bury Friday Five last week.
There were an impressive 359 finishers in the main five-mile event, held from Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds, in addition to many juniors taking part in the two supporting junior races, on a very warm evening.
An in-form Andrew Rooke had won the first event in the series, the Ipswich JAFFA Friday Five, and finished second to Aaron Scott at the second race in Kirton the previous Friday.
But the 24-year-old returned to winning ways last Friday, blasting around the tough five-mile route, which included an opening first mile inside the park, and then a tough second mile up-hill to High Green, in a time of 25mins 54secs.
Former Ipswich Harrier Rooke, who runs for Aldershot, Farnham & District, is therefore set to scoop the overall Friday Five Series title – the last two races are at Haughley Park, Stowmarket (tonight) and Great Bentley (July 3).
Defending champion Macauley Delo, of West Suffolk AC, was second to Rooke on his home course at Bury. Delo stopped the clock at 26.14, having won last year in a slighter slower time of 26.31.
There was then a gap of more than two minutes to third-placed Martin Gear, from the host club Saint Edmund Pacers, who recorded 28.26. Gear led the Pacers to the team title, with four filling the top eight places.
Adam Howlett, of Framlingham Flyers, was the leading veteran in ninth spot, in 29.40, one of 12 runners to duck under the 30-minute barrier.
Odette Robson, meanwhile, looks set to retain her ladies’ Friday Five Series title, after following up her win at Ipswich, and second spot at Kirton, with a comfortable victory on home turf.
Over-40 veteran Robson was only beaten by 12 men, finishing an impressive 13th overall in 30.03. She was second to Sara Bird last year, and also in 2013,
A several-times former winner of the Bury title, Tamara Jordan, of Stowmarket Striders, was second to Robson in 31.21.
Jordan, 37, won the Bury crown for four years in succession, from 2007.
Val Jennings, an over-50 veteran from Ipswich JAFFA, rolled back the years to take third spot in 34.53.
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