FAVOURABLE conditions greeted intrepid runners as a mild temperature and a fresh breeze along the seafront led to Lowestoft residents excelling at the ever-popular Scores Race on Sunday.

With 140 runners battling it out on the tough circuit for the senior race, there was joy for a familiar face on the podium.

For Lowestoft Road Runners club member Carl Prewer it was a personal triumph as he took an early lead in the race and maintained this to win in a time of 26.55.

And after a second place finish last year, which had come after two third place finishes in the previous years, Prewer beat unattached runner Roger Braybrooks by more than a minute to lift the top title.

The 40-year-old also led his Lowestoft Road Runners club to victory as they took the first male team prize with Chris Scott, who finished in fifth place with a personal best 29.22, and Jonathon Meadows in 20th position with a pb of 33.04.

In the main race, Roger Braybrooks finished second in 28mins 11secs and Nick Palmer from Stowmarket Striders crossed the line in 28mins 21secs to take third.

There was more joy for Lowestoft Road Runners, as Karen Archbold won the women's race for a second successive year. She clocked a personal best time of 33mins 41secs, a 30-second improvement on last year's winning time, to finish in 23rd position overall with Alice Wicks taking second place in the ladies section for host club Waveney Valley AC in 36mins 13secs, followed by Louise Bernasloni, unattached, in 36.22.

Continuing the successful day for LRR, Karen Archbold combined with teammates Andrea Prime in 72nd with 39.20 and Gina Scott in 114th place in 44.09, to win the first female team prize.

The tough 4.75 mile route, which loops from the High Street, along the seawall, and up and down 13 'scores' or hills between the town and the sea, also includes a draining 409 steps.

Former Olympian, Scores Race winner and Lowestoft resident Paul Evans sounded the starter for this year's event once more.

The junior race had a low entry this year, with Megan Soanes – after a thrilling dead heat last year with Alice Cheverton – continuing her success at this event to lift the junior 13-15 category, ahead of Cheverton in second. Talented youngster Lilyella Craw-Seaman won the girls' 10-12 category while Dominic Oliver won the boys' 13-15 category for a second successive year, as Jamie Finch claimed victory in the boys' 10-12 age group.

All proceeds from the 15th event, which is Britain's most easterly hill race, went to East Anglia's Children's Hospices Tree House Appeal.

And for a delighted Waveney District Council service manager – sports and arts, Claire Henwood, who jointly organised this race, it was another great success.

'I would like to thank all the support that we were given from the Waveney Valley Athletics Club, Birds Eye, the volunteer marshals and Christchurch – the help is crucial to the success of the event,' she told The Journal.

David Pimlott, race director, told The Journal: 'The race was huge success, with a good level of entries in advance and on the day. The weather was kind and all reports from runners were positive.'