BACK-to-form runner Richard Jordan has scooped his fourth Felixstowe Half Marathon title.The Ipswich Jaffa man finished more than one minute ahead of second-placed Manu Sivaraj, no stranger to the event but who had only flown in from Sydney three days earlier.

By Mel Henderson

BACK-to-form runner Richard Jordan has scooped his fourth Felixstowe Half Marathon title.

The Ipswich Jaffa man finished more than one minute ahead of second-placed Manu Sivaraj, no stranger to the event but who had only flown in from Sydney three days earlier.

Sivaraj, 41, is now a member of the Randwick Botany Harriers, a long-established athletics club with a proud history of members representing Australia in the Commonwealth and Olympic Games.

Race director Roger Causon revealed: “Manu used to vie for first place with David Lang until he emigrated about four years ago.

“It was good to see him back. He's a former BT employee who still works in telecommunications.

“He was telling me he completed a marathon in Sydney in May, so he is clearly as keen as ever on running.”

Lang, also an Ipswich Jaffa member, runs The Chequers public house at Blakenham and finished 51st in the London Marathon a few years back. He came home seventh on Sunday.

Last year's winner, David Miller of Woodbridge Shufflers, did initially enter but was unable to defend his title due to injury.

It was the 18th running of the eagerly-awaited event, with jazz duo Chris Causon and Matt Keane giving the runners a musical send-off from The Cork bar.

Ex-Olympian Stan Cox started the race. Aged 86 and resident in Felixstowe, he represented Great Britain in the 1948 and 1952 Games, in the marathon and 10,000 metres respectively.

And with 'Blues Brothers' Bob Southgate and Mike Todd trotting out a procession of gags during their running commentary, there was never a dull moment.

The leading woman was Essex-based Tracey Apps, normally an off-road runner who decided the race would be ideal preparation for her participation in the forthcoming Beachy Head Marathon.

She finished 17th overall, while young mum Tamara Jordan of Stowmarket Striders was the next best-placed woman in 27th place.

The host club's leading runner was Richard Wold, who finished sixth, and the event was sponsored by shipping company MSC (UK) Limited, with managing director David Petchey presenting the medals.