WAVENEY Valley Athletic Club fielded a strong continent of senior and junior runners in the final race of the Suffolk Winter cross country league which was hosted by St Edmund Pacers at Nowton Park on Sunday.

WAVENEY Valley Athletic Club fielded a strong continent of senior and junior runners in the final race of the Suffolk Winter cross country league which was hosted by St Edmund Pacers at Nowton Park on Sunday.

In the senior race, despite the bitterly cold wind conditions Waveney runners had their best race this season with four of their top male runners finishing in the top eight. The rest of the squad packed in well which resulted in the men's squad finishing in second place.

Luke Allen put in a strong run to clinch second spot with 31:28. Veteran runner Richard Moore once again showed that he is getting back to full strength finishing not far behind his team-mate in taking third spot in 31:58. Robert Cheverton finished off the season on a high in finishing in the top six in 33:24.

It was good to see that Mark Potter is finally getting results from his hard training schedule in finishing in the top 10 for the first time in clocking 33:42 in eight place. James Maycock also improved in taking 20th place with 35:46.

In the individual awards over the six races of the series, Waveney talented veterans Richard Moore V40+, Robert Cheverton V50+ and Bill Kingaby V55+ all took top honours in their respective age group. The consistent running from David Pyrce secured him third place in the V60+ age group.

The ladies' team which comprised of Ann Millett, Lisa Potter and Elies Mann all finished in the top 35 in their section and finished in eighth-place overall. Ann Millett also collected an overall individual third place trophy in the ladies V50+ category.

The combined ladies' and men's A team finished in fifth place overall in the final positions over the six races while the B team were 14th. Again a very creditable performance from the senior section of the club.

Waveney were also to the fore in the junior race. Samuel Cheverton again dominated, finishing well ahead of the rest of the field in 14:28.

Alice Wicks took the honours in the girls' section in clocking 16:49 in 12th place overall.

In the overall league prizes Samuel came away with the first place trophy in the U17 section and Matt Nichols was third.

Waveney U17 girls made a clean sweep in claiming all the top awards, Megan Burt first Alice Wicks second and Laurie Fox third.

Young Megan Soanes, in her first season for the club, has impressed the club's cross country secretary with her determination and improvement at each race. She took 15th place overall and took the second place prize in the U13 Girls sections in the overall league positions.

Another promising junior, Kieran McMorran, took third sport in the U13 boys' overall league positions.

For the fifth year in succession Waveney's girls team came away with the team trophy, a brilliant achievement. The boys' squad finished in third place.

Full results from Bury St. Edmunds: Seniors: 2 Luke Allen 31:28, 3 Richard Moore 31:58, 6 Robert Cheverton 33:24, 8 Mark Potter 33:42, 20 James Maycock 35:46, 48 Bill Kingaby 38:36, 58 Steve Barber 39:34, 93 Tony Millett 43:00, 95 Nigel Herrod 43:18, 101 Ann Millett 43:55, 112 Nick Matthews 45:01, 115 Lisa Potter 45:10, 128 Elies Mann 46:50, 129 Paul Sullivan 46:50, 134 David Lewis 47:46, 135 David Pryce 47:54.

Juniors: 1 Samuel Cheverton 14:28, 12 Alice Wicks 16:49, 15 Megan Soanes 17:08, 17 Kieran McMorran 17:18, 23 Laurie Fox 18:12, 31 Alice Cheverton 18:32, 32 Polly Davis 18:33, 34 Tamsin Desborough 18:39, 37 Bethany Fox 19:38.