Tree-mendous race for Hoppers

BRANDON Fern-hoppers staged their Forest Half-Marathon on Monday. The course is made up of two circuits of a cloverleaf shaped route, meaning that runners return to a central point every two miles or so.

BRANDON Fern-hoppers staged their Forest Half-Marathon on Monday.

The course is made up of two circuits of a cloverleaf shaped route, meaning that runners return to a central point every two miles or so.

The race navigates the wider tracks within most of the forest although runners are treated to some narrower tracks through trees in some areas.

Upon arriving in the events field race HQ entrants to this sell-out event are led into a false sense of security because as far as they can see in every direction the ground is flat.

Within half a mile of the start and once through a small group of trees, runners are faced with a few hilly sections that prove this is not the easiest of half- marathons.

Despite the weather changing from dry and windy to stormy and back again the winner, Alex Tate (Muddy Mucky Munkeys), achieved a time of one hr 14 min 20 sec.

The first woman home was Tracey Woodyard (Springfield Striders) with a time of 1-29:23.

Local runners included Casey Osmonovich, of Thetford Athletics Club (pictured) who was fifth home in 1-21:42, claiming the prize of second male.

Other Thetford runners were Angela Mccarthy with 2-11:28 and Rita Norry taking 2-16:12 to complete the 13.1 miles.

A special mention should also go to David Toms, of Fernhoppers, who travelled back from finishing the Edinburgh Marathon on Sunday to take up his role of running around the course, acting as sweeper to ensure everyone finished safely.