Dereham Runners AC put in a strong showing at the popular Worstead Five Mile race on Friday evening, fielding 19 competitors and bringing home four trophies.

Up and coming junior Jake Stearman finished fifth overall in a field of 417, crossing the line in just 28.15.

Carol Devlin and Emma Potter Campbell also won awards in their respective age categories, finishing in 34.20 and 35.36 respectively.

The race also saw Louise Juby continue a fine run of form, holding on to her position as leading lady only to be pipped at the post by Alexandra Smith of Wymondman AC.

Nevertheless a fast time of 33.01 served to ensure that Juby remains first female in the Leathes Prior Grand Prix, a series of 10 races held all around the county — with only two events to go.

Other Dereham Runners taking part were: Todd Lake 31.01, Craig Farr 34.49, James Nice 36.56, Malcolm Fisher 37.12, Brian Titchiner 37.15, Rob Crockford 37.41, Phillip Websdale 39.05, Helen Harrison 42.53, Gill Woodhouse 43.27, Jacquie Wood 45.30, Rory Campbell 46.36, Paula Olley 46.47, Caroline Fletcher 46.48, Amanda Baker 49.34 and Hazel Cason 51.16.

North Norfolk Beach Runners again organised the race which, as usual, kicked off the Worstead Festival.

The undulating course, starting from the village square and run mostly over quiet lanes, was contested by 477 runners, with winner Dominic Blake of Reepham Runners coming home in 26.52.9.

With dozens of Beach Runners marshalling the course, running the registration tent, organising the start/finish and manning the water points, only a few ran the race. But Chris Parker was seventh in 29.33.5 and Rachel Robson came eighth in the FV50 category with a personal best of 41.21.1. Elsewhere, Ian Odgers travelled to Switzerland to take part in the Davos Alpine Ultra Marathon, a punishing 47.2km endurance race which takes in four alpine values and 6,603 feet of elevation, making it the highest altitude mountain marathon in Europe.

Odgers, a veteran of 112 standard length marathons, judged Davos to be his toughest running challenge so far, yet managed to finish in nine hours seven minutes.