CARL Prewer overhauled long-time leader Richard Jordan to win the 25th annual Bungay Black Dog Marathon, staged from the Maltings Meadow Sports Field last Sunday.

By Carl Marston

CARL Prewer overhauled long-time leader Richard Jordan to win the 25th annual Bungay Black Dog Marathon, staged from the Maltings Meadow Sports Field last Sunday.

But the event was marred by Jordan's post-race disqualification for “inappropriate behaviour.” Referee Jennie Grimwood made the decision after discussions with Suffolk County Athletics Association officials.

Entries were up in both the marathon and the supporting half-marathon, for the fourth successive year, and Prewer clinched the main title in the very last mile of the race.

Former winner Jordan, of Stowmarket Striders, led for the first 25 miles of this undulating two-lap challenge, only to be pipped by Prewer, who had timed his effort to perfection.

Prewer, of Lowestoft Road Runners, stopped the clock at 2hrs 46mins 59secs. Paul Hart, of Dumfries Running Club, took second in 2.48.14, because of Jordan's subsequent disqualification.

Jordan said: “I had led for every step of the way, going into the last mile. I had wanted to set a good time, so I had gone out quickly.

“I suffered later on, but I don't think that I've taken too much out of me. I was just disappointed to lose the race. I suppose I'm a bad loser.”

Glenn Doel, of Colchester Harriers, set a massive personal best time on his way to third spot in 2.54.16. Doel chopped a remarkable 28 seconds off his previous best for the 26.2-mile challenge. It was his fourth PB of the season, following new landmarks over 10 miles, the half-marathon and 20 miles.

Ipswich Jaffa's Terry Back had the distinction of not only finishing fourth overall, but also winning the over-50 veteran award. He registered 2.56.42, which was exactly a minute quicker than his fifth-placed club-mate, Scott MacSephney.

Jaffa won the men's team prize, with John Thorpe (3.16.24) joining Back and MacSephney in the winning trio. There was a strong run from Paul McClelland, of Harwich Runners. He posted 2.58.19 for sixth spot, which also saw him top the over-40 section.

Amanda Henry, of Sudbury Joggers, completed a Suffolk double by winning the ladies' marathon title in a fine time of 3.19.38. She was 23rd overall. Lisa-Jane Barry, from Royston Road Runners, was her closest challenger in second spot, although she was nearly seven minutes adrift. Woodbridge Shufflers' Mel Roberts scooped the over-45 trophy in 3.39.49.

The supporting half-marathon, staged over one lap, was won by Jason Meachen, an experienced athlete from Harwich Runners. Meachen triumphed in 1.17.33, a mere 21 seconds clear of runner-up Benvenuto Baldelli, of Cambridge & Coleridge. Kevin Vaughan, of Saint Edmund Pacers, was fourth and the leading veteran.

Less than a minute separated the top two in the ladies' half-marathon. Norfolk-based veteran Sandra Bower clocked a winning time of 1.35.35, with Jaffa's Julie Brown finishing second with 1.36.21.

Amongst the female veteran categories, the Suffolk duo of Julia Midleton (Newmarket Joggers) and Sarah Vick (Saxons) won the over-55 and over-35 age groups respectively, while Tiptree Road Runners' Jenny Sheahan led home the over-45 contingent.

The Bungay event is one of the few remaining marathons in East Anglia. The route follows the rural Waveney Valley between Bungay and Beccles.

Bungay Black Dog Marathon results

MARATHON

Top 10 men: 1 C Prewer (Lowestoft RR) 2.46.59; 2 P Hart (Dumfries RC) 2.48.14; 3 G Doel (Colchester Harriers AC) 2.54.16; 4 T Back (Ipswich Jaffa) 2.56.42; 5 S MacSephney (Jaffa) 2.57.42; 6 P McClelland (Harwich Runners) 2.58.19; 7 J Manlow (Unattached) 2.59.07; 8 G Bowdery (Un) 2.59.23; 9 R Watkinson (Un) 3.01.35; 10 R Blake (Gt Yarmouth RR) 3.02.09.

Other leading local affiliated runners: 11 D Wright (Col/Harr) 3.05.49; 17 A Buck (Sudbury Joggers) 3.14.05; 20 J Thorpe (Jaffa) 3.16.24; 26 D Copland (Ipswich Tri Club) 3.20.47; 44 C Chorley (Bungay Black RC) 3.34.50; 45 A Wilmot (Halstead RR) 3.34.58; 76 R Keevil (Brandon Fern Hoppers) 3.50.57; 77 S Kenyon (Waveney Valley AC) 3.52.19; 80 R Peevor (Ipswich Tri) 3.55.52; 88 C Sears (Woodbridge Shufflers) 4.00.43.

Top three ladies: 1 A Henry (Sudbury) 3.19.38; 2 L-J Barry (Royston RR) 3.26.26; 3 A Morrison (Un) 3.35.31.

Other leading local affiliated ladies: M Roberts (Woodbridge) 3.39.49; C Sewell (Woodbridge) 3.47.55; K Stannett (Ipswich Tri) 4.07.05; J Yelloly (Ipswich Tri) 4.07.50; T Green (Saint Edmund Pacers) 4.27.09;

Male veterans, over-40: McCelland. Over-50: Back. Over-60: V Barltrop (100 Marathon Club) 3.27.13.

Female veterans, over-35: M Foyster (Un) 3.37.09. Over-45: Roberts. Over-55: I Wilson (Strathaven Striders) 4.35.17.

Men's team: Ipswich Jaffa (Back, MacSephney, Thorpe). Ladies' team: Bishop's Stortford.

HALF-MARATHON

Top 10 men: 1 J Meachen (Harwich) 1.17.33; 2 B Baldelli (Cambridge & Coleridge) 1.17.54; 3 T Topper (Norfolk Gazelles) 1.18.04; 4 K Vaughan (Pacers) 1.20.57; 5 S Millett (Norwich RR) 1.22.26; 6 A Kett (Un) 1.23.48; 7 R Kett (Un) 1.25.23; 8 S Barrett (Bungay BD) 1.26.00; 9 I Taylor (Bungay BD) 1.26.15; 10 T Epps (Wymondham) 1.26.22.

Other leading local affiliated men: 12 J Cooper (Bungay BD) 1.26.59; 20 P Hamblett (Halstead RR) 1.30.00; 25 R Dye (Bungay BD) 1.31.41; 26 M Lloyd (53-12 Multisports) 1.31.59; 27 R Ackerley (Woodbridge) 1.32.20; 31 D Kinsman (Saxons) 1.32.48; 32 M Fawbert (Bungay BD) 1.33.02; 33 R James (Bungay BD) 1.33.07; 38 S Hunt (Hadleigh Hares) 1.34.48; 39 M Potter (Waveney Valley) 1.34.55.

Top three ladies: 1 S Bower (Un) 1.35.35; 2 J Brown (Jaffa) 1.36.21; 3 L Greenaerg (Un) 1.37.32.

Other leading local affiliated ladies: J Midleton (Newmarket Joggers) 1.40.31; J Sheahan (Tiptree RR) 1.41.44; S Vick (Saxons) 1.41.50; M McCarthy (Pacers) 1.45.21; N Mostert (Jaffa) 1.47.19; E Price (Framlingham Flyers) 1.51.25;

Male veterans, over-40: Vaughan. Over-50: Epps. Over-60: C Ford (Un).

Female veterans, over-35: Vick. Over-45: Sheahan. Over-55: Midleton.

Men's team: Bungay Black Dog (Barrett, Taylor, Cooper). Ladies' team: Norwich Road Runners.