Ipswich JAFFA retain their 53-12 title, while Hadleigh Hares are promoted

Ipswich JAFFA have successfully retained their 53-12 League title, with a meeting to spare, following yet another team victory at the recent event organised by Springfield Striders at Writtle College.

JAFFA have again dominated the league this winter, and they topped the men’s, ladies’ and combined team stakes at the fifth of six meetings, to stretch their lead at the top of Pool A to an unassailable six points, with just one race remaining – at Great Notley Country Park on Sunday week.

Paul Wain led home a field of 282 senior runners at Writtle to set JAFFA on their way. Springfield’s James Smith and Colchester Harriers’ ultra-distance specialist, Allen Smalls, were second and third respectively. Over-45 Smalls was the leading veteran.

The top five was completed by JAFFA’s Mark Clements and Robert Reason, of Harwich Runners.

There was a fine win for Davina Greenwell, of Hadleigh Hares, in the ladies’ race.

JAFFA had two ladies in the top four, with Claire Weller (second) and Sam Spencer (fourth) sandwiching third-placed Sam Bilbie, of the host club Striders.

Jaffa won the men’s section with 129 points, followed by Springfield (144) and Witham (266), while JAFFA (32) also headed the ladies’ table with the Harriers (41) in second and Great Bentley third (80).

In the combined teams on the day, JAFFA won from Springfield Striders and Witham RC, while overall the Ipswich club are out of sight with 29 points from five races, with Harriers (23) second and Witham (17) in third.

In Pool B, meanwhile, all-conquering Hadleigh Hares won the men’s and ladies’ sections to wrap up promotion to Pool A.

Results

Top 10 men: 1 P Wain (JAFFA); 2 J Smith (Springfield); 3 A Smalls (Colchester Harriers); 4 M Clements (JAFFA); 5 R Reason (Harwich); 6 G Deacon (Springfield); 7 C Burgoyne (Springfield); 8 K Tilley (JAFFA); 9 J Alexander (Gt Bentley); 10 A Holford (Col/Harr).

Top 20 ladies: 1 D Greenwell (Hadleigh): 2 C Weller (JAFFA); 3 S Bilbie (Springfield); 4 S Spencer (JAFFA); 5 E Mayne (Col/Harr); 6 V Hunt (Witham); 7 R Dale (Col/Harr); 8 V Smith (JAFFA);9 V Knight (Tiptree EE); 10 V Presland (Gt Bentley).