SAFFRON Striders produced a fantastic performance in the four-stage Peterborough to Ely relay on Sunday. Against the cream of running clubs from East Anglia, Striders claimed a stage win, second placed veteran team, second placed mixed team and most imp

SAFFRON Striders produced a fantastic performance in the four-stage Peterborough to Ely relay on Sunday.

Against the cream of running clubs from East Anglia, Striders claimed a stage win, second placed veteran team, second placed mixed team and most impressive of all, third placed female team.

Bryn Reynolds produced Striders' first ever stage win by romping home first in the opening stage. Despite injury, Nick Mahoney finished in 22nd, Janet Lipski got the all-girls team Saffron Superstars off to a flyer with 37th place and Paul Waters took Saffron Sprint into the top 50 with his effort which left him with absolutely nothing to spare.

The worst conditions of the day confronted the Stage Two runners. But all three men finished in the top 20 and Fiona Tideswell was amazingly the fourth quickest female.

Toby Lumsden thrived in the pressure of such a lofty starting position and only conceded 10 places for his Saffron Slipstream team, but Chris Dodge was devastating as he clocked the eighth fastest stage time and reeled in 13 runners.

John James, with the 15th quickest time of the stage, pushed Sprint into the reckoning with his capture of 23 places.

Fiona Tideswell finished with the 48th quickest stage time of the day and more importantly, kept the Saffron Superstars in the hunt for the female team prize.

The weather improved for Stage Three. Nigel Coates, in his ninth consecutive Hereward Relay, was oblivious to the tough conditions underfoot and stormed to the 15th fastest time of the day. Gavin Long (21st in the stage) moved Saffron Sprint up to the top 20 and Keith Savill, running in this first Hereward Relay, kept Saffron Slipstream in the top 25.

It was inevitable that Claire Waters would thrive in the demanding conditions and her time of 1:22 was the second quickest female time of the stage.

Brilliant blue skies and bright sunshine greeted the Stage Four runners as they completed a lap of Ely football pitch in front of the gathered spectators at the end of their 10-mile leg.

Unfortunately Saffron Spice had to withdraw from the race in 10th position after stage three.

Steve White produced the Striders performance of his life, by dragging Saffron Sprint from 20th to 13th in the notoriously difficult to overtake final stage.

Margit Wendelberger-James brought Saffron Slipstream home in a fantastic 28th position, which claimed the second prize for a mixed team and the highest ever finishing position for a Saffron Striders third team.

Rebecca White stormed off at the start of stage four and helped clinch the prize for the third placed ladies team for Saffron Superstars.