Runners had to cope with some sweltering hot conditions at Friday evening’s Great Bentley Friday Five, the sixth and last race in the East of England Co-Op Friday Five Series.

East Anglian Daily Times: Laura Thomas approaches the finish-line to take first spot in the ladies' race at the Great Bentley Friday Five. Picture: CARL MARSTONLaura Thomas approaches the finish-line to take first spot in the ladies' race at the Great Bentley Friday Five. Picture: CARL MARSTON (Image: Archant)

There was a Springfield Striders one-two in the men's race, with Peter Robinson tasting victory in 25mins 44secs, finishing 12 seconds ahead of club-mate Chris Burgoyne (25:56).

Tim Woulfe, of Braintree & District AC, battled home in third spot in 26:09, nearly a minute clear of Colchester Harriers' under-20 athlete, Ermeas Afewerki, who took fourth spot in 27:08.

Robert Reason, from Harwich Runners, was fifth in 27:23, on an evening when an impressive total of 425 runners completed the five-mile course on rural roads from Great Bentley Village Hall.

There was a Suffolk winner in the ladies' race, Ipswich JAFFA' Laura Thomas surging to victory in an excellent 29:25.

East Anglian Daily Times: Heidi Steele, of Colchester Harriers, finishes third lady at tonight's Great Bentley Friday Five, Picture: CARL MARSTONHeidi Steele, of Colchester Harriers, finishes third lady at tonight's Great Bentley Friday Five, Picture: CARL MARSTON (Image: Archant)

Rachel Sweatt, of Grange Farm Trotters, was a runner-up in 30:07 with Heidi Steele, of Colchester Harriers, finishing third lady in 30:57.

The top five was completed by JAFFA's Sara Bird (31:22) and Southend-on-Sea veteran Tracy English (31.31), with Saint Edmund Pacers' over-45 veteran Odette Robson just one second behind.

The first male veteran (over-40) was Andrew Southwood, also of the Pacers, who was seventh overall in 27:30. JAFFA's Keith Tilley was first over-45 (28:07), while Colchester Harriers' Colin Ridley (29:03) just pipped Pacers' Chris Cooke (29:05) to the over-55 title.

JAFFA's Wilfred Campbell was the leading over-50 veteran with 29:48 on a night when 39 runners ducked under the 30-minute barrier.

East Anglian Daily Times: The top three men at the Great Bentley Friday Five (from left): winner Peter Robinson (No. 343), third-placed Tim Woulfe and runner-up Chris Burgoyne. Picture: CARL MARSTONThe top three men at the Great Bentley Friday Five (from left): winner Peter Robinson (No. 343), third-placed Tim Woulfe and runner-up Chris Burgoyne. Picture: CARL MARSTON (Image: Archant)

The other male veteran category winners were the JAFFA double act of Terry Back (over-60) and Ron McCulloch (over-70), plus Colchester Harriers' Aruthur Whiston (over-65).

In the female veteran section, there were wins for the JAFFA duo of Belinda Godbold (over-60) and Maureen Wright (over-70), and the Springfield trio of Nicola Ranson (over-50), Rebecca Pittman (over-55) and Lynn Tanner (over-65).

- Stowmarket Friday Five report and results

East Anglian Daily Times: Female runner-up Racheal Sweatt, of Grange Farm TrottersFemale runner-up Racheal Sweatt, of Grange Farm Trotters (Image: Archant)

The first race in the Friday Five Series, at Kirton, was won by Tony Gavin, while the second event at Framlingham saw a victory for Andrew Rooke.

Southwood won the third race at Sudbury and Gavin returning to winning ways at Bury St Edmunds, before long distance specialist Adam Holland triumphed at Stowmarket the previous Friday evening.

The first four women's titles had been shared around, with Philippa Unthank winning at Kirton, Daisy Glover blasting to victory at Framlingham and Odette Robson finishing first at Sudbury.

Sara Bird powered to victory at Bury at Edmunds, before Unthank celebrated her second success of the Series at Stowmarket's Haughley Park.

Meanwhile, in the supporting 2K junior race at Great Bentley, Haverhill RC's Ben Phillips led home the field in 6mins 52secs. He was also the first under-13.

Stowmarket Striders' Jake Hayward was second overall and the leading under-15 in 7:06, followed by Colchester & Tendring's Archie Henington (7:10). West Suffolk AC's Seb Melero was the first under-11 boy in 7:34.

Millie Presland, representing hosts Great Bentley RC, was the first female finisher in 7:20, with CATs' Rachel Sandercock second and the top under-13 in 7:56 and JAFFA's Freya Wilcox third (7:59). JAFFA's Bella Jameson was the first under-11 (8:24), a mere three seconds ahead of Pacers' Leoise Perry (8:27).

The 1K junior race, for under-nines, there were victories for CATs' Harrison Cumner (4:12) and JAFFA's Millie-Rose Downs (4:31).

Great Bentley Five results

Top 40: 1 P Robinson (Springfield) 25:44: 2 C Burgoyne (Springfield) 25:56; 3 T Woulfe (Braintree) 26:09; 4 E Afewerki (Colchester Harriers) 27:08; 5 R Reason (Harwich) 27:23; 6 A Gladley 27:27; 7 A Southwood (Pacers, first over-40) 27:30; 8 A Wade (Ipswich JAFFA) 27:42; 9 C Culham (Braintree) 27:49; 10 T Gavin (Felixstowe RR) 27:54.

11 M McKeown (Col/Harr) 27:54; 12 S Burdett (Stowmarket Striders) 28:00; 13 K Tilley (JAFFA) 28:07; 14 F Adams (Ipswich Harriers) 28:14; 15 J Glanfield (Felixstowe) 28:22; 16 J Robson (Pacers) 28:26; 17 P Wain (JAFFA) 28:36; 18 T Cresswell (Col/Harr0 28:38; 19 J Wilson (Saxmundham Sports) 28:40; 20 P Bown (Un) 28:44.

21 N Hardwick (Un) 28:44; 22 N Clarke (JAFFA) 28:50; 23 O Watson (JAFFA) 28:58; 24 C Ridley (Col/Harr) 29:03; 25 B Jacobs (Felixstowe) 29:05; 26 C Cooke (Pacers) 29:05; 27 J Wilkinson (Un) 29:08; 28 M Friend (Harwich Runners) 29:09; 29 M Axton (Pacers) 29:18; 30 F Crouch (Col/Harr) 29:27.

31 J Nears (Col/Harr) 29:33; 32 K Peirce (Ips/Harr) 29:39; 33 A Smy (Framlingham Flyers) 29:41; 34 M Hayden (Fram/Flyers) 29:44; 35 G Taylor (Felixstowe) 29:48; 36 W Campbell (JAFFA) 29:48; 37 M Ball (Riverside Runners) 29:49; 38 M Ford (Felixstowe) 29:52; 39 C Mower (Pacers) 29:59; 40 P West (Col/Harr) 30.00.

Top 30 ladies: 1 L Thomas (JAFFA) 29:25; 2 R Sweatt (Grange Farm) 30:07; 3 H Steele (Col/Harr) 30:57; 4 S Bird (JAFFA) 31:22; 5 T English (Southend, first over-40) 31:31; 6 O Robson (Pacers, first over-45) 31:32; 7 A Goodwin (Ipswich Harriers) 32:05; 8 J Gooderham (Pacers) 32:19; 9 R Hamblyn (JAFFA) 33:22; 10 R Fish (unattached) 33:46.

11 G Porch (Stowmarket) 34:12; 12 J Chappels (Un) 34:13; 13 E Mortimer (Un) 34:16; 14 R Pittman (Springfield) 34:46; 15 A Oakman (Col/Harr) 35:29; 16 K Robertson (Pacers) 35:33; 17 K King (Pacers) 35:35; 18 S Spencer (JAFFA) 35;46; 19 M Lewis (Harwich) 35:47; 20 N Ranson (Springfield) 36:15.

21 H Taylor (Felixstowe) 36:24; 22 V Jennings (JAFFA) 36:26; 23 T Green (JAFFA) 36:36; 24 E Cumner (Col/Harr) 36:43; 25 V Macdonald-Clink (Cambridge & Coleridge) 36:44; 26 S Copeman (JAFFA) 36:45; 27 H Barber (Fram/Flyers) 36:54; 28 B Wallen (Witham RC) 36:55; 29 H Coates (Pacers) 37:12; 30 J Hann (Sudbury Joggers) 37:23.

Male veterans, over-40: 1 Southwood, 2 Hardwick. Over-45: 1 Tilley, 2 Hayden. Over-50: 1 Campbell; 2 Ford. Over-55: 1 Ridley, 2 Cooke. Over-60: 1 T Back (JAFFA) 31:41; 2 A Jackson (JAFFA) 33:46. Over-65: 1 A Whiston (Col/Harr) 34:31; 2 N Clarke (Newmarket Joggers) 34:58. Over-70: 1 R McCullough (JAFFA) 34:22.

Female veterans, over-40: 1 English, 2 Hamblyn. Over-45: 1 Robson, 2 Oakman. Over-50: 1 Ranson, Hann, Over-55: Pittman, 2 Jennings. Over-60: 1 B Godbold (JAFFA) 39:29; 2 A Herbert (Harwich) 41:12. Over-65: 1 L Tanner (Springfield) 40:24; 2 C Beard (Sudbury) 45:27. Over-70: 1 M Wright (JAFFA) 48:55.