Saint Edmund Pacers made the most of home advantage to open up a big lead at the top of the Suffolk Winter League, after the recent fourth meeting at Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds.

East Anglian Daily Times: Odette Robson, who led the Saint Edmund Paces charge in the ladies' race with third spot at Nowton Park.Odette Robson, who led the Saint Edmund Paces charge in the ladies' race with third spot at Nowton Park.

It has been a very tight league this season, but the Pacers topped both the men’s and ladies’ standings on the day, and so are now in a strong position to reclaim a title that they used to win on a regular basis.

On the day, the Pacers won by a combined margin of 183 points from Newmarket & Sudbury Joggers, while overall they are 177 points clear, a sizeable lead but by no means an unassailable one.

Denys Olefir, of the host club Pacers, powered to victory around Nowton Park, backed up by other top 12 performances from club-mates Nick Smith (sixth), Andrew Southwood (ninth) and Kevin Murphy (12th)

Robert Chenery, representing Bungay Black Dog, was the closest challenger to Olefir in second spot, with Haverhill Running Club’s Michael Gilbert in third.

The top five was completed by the more youthful duo of Dominic Oliver (Waveney Valley AC) and Tom Adams (Ipswich JAFFA).

The ladies’ race was a close affair – the ladies run the same distance and in the same race as the men, in this league – with Jo Andrews, of Bungay Black Dog, just finishing ahead of Lowestoft Road Runners’ Collen Nicole Mukuya. This duo finished 21st and 22nd overall.

Over-45 veteran, Odette Robson, led the Pacers charge in third slot, followed by Daisy Glover (composite Newmarket and Sudbury Joggers) ,and Gemma Porch, of Stowmarket Striders.

The fifth race will be held at Fritton Lake on Sunday, March 11.