GREAT Bentley Running Club members were in action at the Ekiden Relay, hosted by Ipswich Jaffa.

The teams each have six members, running legs of 7.2km, 5km, 10km, 5km, 10km and 5km.

In total, each team completes a marathon.

Bentley fielded nine teams in four categories.

In the mixed category, they placed fourth - an improvement on the previous year - with a time of two hours, 44 minutes and 36 seconds.

The team comprised David Wright, Claire Groves, Adam Smith, Vicky Presland, Joe Alexander and Russ Sharp.

Another Bentley team - Davina Swindell, Kevin Stevens, Meera Rajoo-Oakley, Michael Oates, Patrick Reynolds and Rebecca Conran - finished 26th, in a time of 3h 27m 45s.

Bentley also had teams placing 65th and 72nd.

In the male vets (40-49), Bentley placed 10th with a time of 3h 4m 8s.

The team comprised Jon Tither, Malcolm Jarvis, Chris Warren, Paul Hollidge, Gary Parker and Phil Presland.

Bentley's male super vets finished eighth in the category with a time of 3h 15m 36s.

The team included Michael Simmons, Kevin James, Paul Carlisle, Eric Shaw, Rodger Alexander and Graham Clarke.

The ladies' open category had three Bentley teams competing and in eighth, with a time of 3h 36m 44s, were Karen Skene, Jennifer Aylen, Lorna Sharp, Eileen Shadford, Anna Mills and Katie Presland.

Placing 13th in four hours dead were Caroline Searle, Leoni Lowe, Deborah Cubberley, Belinda Palmer-Barnes, Vicky Presland and Sandra James.

In 15th in the category, with a time of 4h 29m 8s, were Sue Sorrell, Lyndsey Apps, Ruth Metcalfe, Sue Thomas, Alison Clarke and Marion Simmons.

There is also a junior Ekiden, for those aged under 16.

Bentley's young members ran well, with Milly Presland winning the fastest girl under-11 category with a time of 6m 53s for 1.1 miles.

Amie Apps, Megan Hughes and Caitlyn Hughes also ran in the girls' under-11 category, placing 14th, 17th and 19th respectively.

The team finished fourth in their category.

For the under-11 boys, Charlie Sharp, Ollie Hill, Ben Lyons and Alex Hill ran as a team, finishing sixth in their category.