Heron flies home in the opening Frostbite race

Athletics

Ben Heron winged his way to victory in the opening fixture of the Frostbite League at Priory Park in St Neots on Sunday. The 31 year-old high flyer capped an unprecedented day of firsts for Eye Community Runners, with Isaac Ellard sharing in the success by winning the junior race.

Heron, who was first bitten by the running bug less than two years ago, chased down f ast- starting Nene Valley youngster Nathan Tweedie and pulled away in theclosing stages to complete the five-mile off-road course in a time of 26.52, 10 seconds ahead of Tweedie.

Hunts AC won the team competitionwithWerrington JoggersrevivingformerFrostbite glories when finishing as runners-up. James Whitehead was the first Jogger home, f i nishing third, and was joined in the top 10 by eighthplaced Paul Halford.

Werrington’s cause was helped by Rachel Gibbs who was first lady in 30:45 with Anne Wood and Jade Watson adding invaluable support.

Nene Valley Harriers finished as the third- placed team and runner-up Tweedie was given solid support by Rob Browner (7th), Mike Chapman ( 17th) and Lee Harthill (21st.)

Chloe Pavey was in fine form for the Harriers finishing as fifth lady.

Yaxley’s Simon Hearty provided one of the day’s highlights with a fifth-place finish.

Thejunior race, held over a distance of little more than amileandaquarter, waswon at a canter by Ellard in a time of 6:56. The Eye athlete has been featuring prominently in senior races recently, and was in a different class to the rest of the field.

Nene Valley’s Matthew Dowling was runner-up in 7:24, just four seconds ahead of the leading lady, Shannon Flockhart of Hunts AC. Nene Valley’s Olly Slater won a battle with James Sadlier from Peterborough AC at last weekend’s Lincoln HalfMarathon.

Mason crossed the line in 23rd place with a 1:23.45 clocking. Sadlier was just three places further back running a PB of 1:24.18.

PAC veteran Ray Wilson finished in 107th position recording a time of 1:32.59. BrianCorleysfinishedfifthin the BournemouthHalf-MarathononSunday. Onascenic seafront course the 42 yearold Bushfield Jogger wasjust 10 seconds outside his PB as he crossed the finish line in 1:15.40.

Ben Heron.