Pacers are second at Tarpley

ROAD RUNNING

St Edmunds Pacers have managed a second place for the team at the Tarpley 10-mile road race, staged from Beyton Middle School.

The competition however was dominated by Ipswich Jaffas stars David Laing and Helen Decker, who chalked up firsts in the Mens and Womens races.

In the process, the Ipswich duo also wrapped up the Suffolk County 10-mile titles.

Laing led home a four-strong breakaway in the men's race. The quartet of Laing, Richard Jordan from Stowmarket Striders, Pacers runner David Reed and Ian Keeble were soon away clear.

It was around the half-way mark that Laing began to open up a gap, and the 40-year-old stayed ahead to reach the finish in 56mins 51secs, just 10 seconds outside the course record set by Lowestoft's Nigel Jackson at last year's inaugural event.

Laing finished 11 seconds clear of runner-up Jordan.

The top three were all veterans. Despite suffering from a stomach complaint, the 44-year-old Bury postman David Reed clocked 57.17 in third.

Meanwhile, Decker was always in charge of the ladies' race, therefore adding to recent victories that have included the Framlingham 10K, Great Yarmouth Half-Marathon and Harlow 10.

Ipswich-based Decker was 20th overall in 64.53. She was 44 seconds slower than Tamara Jordan's winning time (64.09) from last year, although conditions if anything were too warm on Sunday.

Miranda Wheatley, of the Pacers, was an excellent second in 68.24, finishing just ahead of Ipswich Jaffa's Jayne Williams (68.52).

Hayley Suttle, of Newmarket Joggers, and Pacers' Gill Leathers completed the top five. Suttle topped the over-40 section, while Leathers was the first over-35 veteran.

The Tarpley 10 was set up last year in memory of Bert Tarpley, a co-founder of the Pacers and their president. One of his sons, Robert Tarpley, completed Sunday's race, which was sponsored by John Banks Mitsubishi.