FOUR Bungay Black Dog runners travelled to East Sussex on December 14 to compete in the Hastings 100th Anniversary Marathon. The route was as near, as could safely be arranged, to the original 1908 course and contained some significant climbs especially in the opening four miles.

FOUR Bungay Black Dog runners travelled to East Sussex on December 14 to compete in the Hastings 100th Anniversary Marathon.

The route was as near, as could safely be arranged, to the original 1908 course and contained some significant climbs especially in the opening four miles.

Mile 23 to 24 was run on the shingle beach between Bexhill and St Leonards which a number of runners found tough. Conditions on the day were perfect with no wind. With spectators lining the course and bands playing this encouraged the runners to record some good times.

First Black Dog to finish was Ian Taylor, who has run 37 races during 2008 including seven marathons, who was 43rd out of 1,174 finishers in a time of 3-07:48 followed by Chris Chorley who recorded a personal best to finish 134th in 3-22:31 and Bobbie Sauerzapf, also getting a personal best, in 394th place in 3-49:34. Bob Jack finished in 5-30:15 in 1,144th position.

On the same day but closer to home, 13 Black Dogs took part in the Waveney Valley AC Turkey Trot 10-mile race.

The course started and finished at the Beccles Sports Centre and was run around quiet country lanes through Ringsfield and St Andrews.

Tim Morton put in a great performance to shatter his personal best to finish in 69:52 in 27th place with Richard Dye next in 32nd place in 73:52 and Bruce Rayner finishing in 75:20 in 40th. David Punt exceeded his expectations by four minutes to finish in 75:49 in 45th place and was third in his age group with Nigel Gilham next in 79:30 in 57th (fourth in age group).

Gavin Cole, Neil Thomas and Ali Morton all finished within eight seconds of each other in 60th, 61st and 62nd in 80:22, 80:29 and 80:30 respectively. Ali was also second in her age group.

Colin Whale and Bob Paul also finished together in 66th and 67th places in a time of 83:07. Carol Maycock was first in her age group in a time of 86:12 in 72nd place with Robin Farrar just behind in 86:45 in 73rd place (third in age group). Karen Waters, improving with every race, finished in 87th place in a time of 102:29 mins.

The next run will be the “Groggy Doggy” cross-country race on Boxing Day starting on Bungay Common at 10.30am. Runners and joggers (and dogs) of all abilities are welcome to enter on the day to blow away the Christmas Day cobwebs.