THE annual East Cambs Half-Marathon was again a success this year, attracting competitors from across the region. Keen runners lined up at the start-line at Soham Village College on Sunday morning, anticipating the off. The race was started by Councillor

THE annual East Cambs Half-Marathon was again a success this year, attracting competitors from across the region.

Keen runners lined up at the start-line at Soham Village College on Sunday morning, anticipating the off.

The race was started by Councillor Jeremy Friend-Smith, chairman of East Cambridgeshire District Council.

The field made its way through Soham, before journeying to Padnal, on to Wicken and back into Soham to finish at the college's Lodeside campus.

A total of 173 runners finished the race, with Peterborough AC's Matthew Exton coming home first with a time of 1hr 16min 30 sec.

The first East Cambs runner home was John Crisp, of Ely Runners, clocking a time of 1.20.14.

The city club were the second best team, finishing narrowly behind Newmarket Joggers.

First woman home was Fiona Bailey, of Riverside Rivers, with a mark of 1.26.09.

Competitors were presented with trophies after the event.

Geoff Fisher, an assistant at the Ross Peers Sports Centre, Soham, which organises the event, said: "Although we were about 30 entries down on last year, which was probably due to the weather, everyone enjoyed a good race.

"The winner's time was not as fast as last year but, overall, the race finished more quickly.

"We've had several e-mails of positive feedback on how well the race was organised and it is a very pleasant route because it is quite flat.