Jo Coates, who won the ladies' race at Nowton Park

SAINT Edmund Pacers claimed another double victory at the third cross country meeting in the Suffolk Winter League, which they hosted at Nowton Park, Bury St Edmunds.

A bumper field of 240 took part in the senior race, held around two laps of the park in muddy conditions. It was the biggest field for many years.

But there was no stopping the Pacers duo of Steve Robinson and Jo Coates, who were the respective winners of the men’s and ladies’ events.

Eastern Counties champion Robinson repeated his victory from the first two races, at Framlingham and Sutton, by a big margin.

Club-mate Kevin Murphy was his nearest challenger in a comfortable second place.

Meanwhile, Coates likewise followed up her win at Sutton with an impressive display on home turf.

Coates stepped up a gear during the second lap to finish clear of Laura O’Dell, of Ipswich Harriers. O’Dell had won the first event at Framlingham Castle.

The Pacers have extended their lead at the top of the table, with two races remaining, and so stay on course to retain their title.

The fourth meeting will be staged at Ditchingham, near Bungay, on Sunday, February 19.

Results from Nowton Park

Top 30 men: 1 S Robinson (Saint Edmund Pacers); 2 K Murphy (Pacers); 3 C Rooke (Ipswich Harriers); 4 M Delo (West Suffolk AC); 5 C Prewer (Waveney Valley); 6 S Dawson (West Suffolk); 7 A Taylor (Pacers); 8 P Holly (Newmarket Joggers & Sudbury Joggers); 9 S Gardiner (Ips/Harr); 10 T Cresswell (New/Sud Joggers).

11 N Palmer (Stowmarket Striders); 12 C Ridley (West Suffolk); 13 D Hinchcliffe (Stowmarket); 14 G Davis (New/Sud Joggers); 15 K Vaughan (Pacers); 16 J Oakes (New/Sud Joggers); 17 R Fawcett (Ips/Harr); 18 V Coogan (New/Sud Joggers); 19 R Stone (Felixstowe Road Runners); 20 G Douglas (Pacers).

21 L Morgan (Ipswich Tri and Newmarket Tri Clubs); 22 D Reed (Pacers); 23 A Barbrooke (West Suffolk Tri); 24 C Starmer (Stowmarket); 25 M Singleton (West Suffolk Tri); 26 D Shepherd (Flying Shufflers); 27 R Cheverton (Waveney Valley); 28 B Green (Ips/New Tri Clubs); 29 R Peacher (Flying Shufflers); 30 T Jarrett (Ips/New Tri Club).

Top 20 ladies: 1 J Coates (Pacers); 2 L O’Dell (Ips/Harr); 3 T Curl (Waveney Valley); 4 L Emmett (Bungay Black Dog); 5 C Anthony (West Suffolk AC); 6 M McCarthy (West Suffolk AC); 7 A Joiner-Handy (Pacers); 8 L Barnes (ips/Harr); 9 L Hampshire (New/Sud Joggers); 10 C Jeffrey (Pacers).

11 J Anthony (West Suffolk); 12 S Calton (West Suffolk Tri); 13 M Narey (Stowmarket); 14 S Owen (Thetford AC); 15 E Mann (Waveney Valley); 16 L White (Thetford); 17 C Hoblyn (Pacers); 18 S wing (Thetford); 19 C Geraghty (Stowmarket); 20 D Carver (Waveney Valley).