Sri Chinmoy Mad March 10k, Battersea Park (Sat. 2nd Mar.)
On a rainy cold Saturday morning, 194 runners turned up in Battersea Park to run the Mad March 10k including club members Liam McLaughlin who recorded a time of 34:16 and Alex Peat who set an inaugural PB of 36:28.
British Masters Winter Throws Championships, Oxford (Sat. 2nd & Sun. 3rd Mar.)
On the Saturday Natalie Mann (W35) won a silver and two bronze medals at BMAF Winter Throws Championships. Silver came in the hammer with a best of 33:98m and she added bronze in the javelin (20:57m) and weight (9.16m). Natalie also contested the discus where her best of 20.83m gave her fifth place. In action on the Sunday was Peter Wishart (M60) picking up bronze in the shot with 9.71m. In the discus and weight he finished outside the medals with 35.19m and 11.09m respectively.
Paddock Wood Half Marathon (Sun. 3rd Mar.)
Even though we are still technically in Winter, seventeen Cambridge Harriers certainly had a spring in their step with some great runs at Paddock Wood, writes James Macdonald.
Kent’s biggest half marathon with over 2000 runners saw perfect conditions and plenty of fast times. First home for the club was Ben Shearer (pictured below) who ran his fastest half marathon since 2019 and breaking 70 minutes with 69:57. Next home was James Macdonald (1:12:50) and just a few seconds behind John O’Mahoney (1:13:.00) which was a five-minute PB!
Photograph courtesy of SussexSportPhtography
Dave Worden wanted to join the PB club and did so with 1:15:15 following Dave in were Steve Hodges (1:15:58), Rob Shearer (1:18:30) and then two further big PB’s for James Pitts (1:19:53) and Ben Rew (1:20:43).
Lois Hollman making her Cambridge Harriers and half debut ran an amazing 1:22:29, there were some concerns she may be disqualified due to running with earphones, but she didn’t hear anything, possibly because of the earphones. Ray Ramsay (1:23:45) and Christian Poulton (1:24:07) ran their fastest times for a couple of years.
Catherine Gonzalez was second female home with a superb PB of 1:28:53 and Ian Miller (1:29:50) achieved his objective of sub-90. Third female was Phoebe Cooper also running a PB of 1:32:52.
Following them home Jessica Lowe (1:39:37) and then Maggie Illingworth (1:42:49) another PB, John Wilson was just behind (1:42:54).
Although not club members, Phoebe's brother Laurence ran his first half-marathon (1:53:43) and Dave’s sister Katherine (2:22:38 PB!). Maybe they will be future members.
John O'Mahoney - Lois Hollman - Phoebe Cooper
Photographs courtesy of SussexSportPhtography
It was a great run by all and a great organised event from the team at Paddock Wood. Hopefully we are all recovering well and ready to race again soon. Our road running league sees two more events this month with Lydd Half Marathon & 20 Mile this Sunday and Folkestone 10 on Good Friday.
Cambridge Half Marathon (Sun. 3rd Mar.)
Three of the quartet that ran the 2023 Cambridge Half-Marathon returned this year's race. Thomas Brooke (pictured) ran a fine personal best of 68:24 for 27th place. Tom Coghill and Martin Leat (M60) recorded times of 1:52:47 and 1:54:10 respectively.
Photograph courtesy of SussexSportPhtography
High Performance London 10k, QE Olympic Park, London (Sun. 3rd Mar.)
Roderick Cookey-Bresi ran his first race of 2024, recording a time of 59:32.
Sutcliffe 60's. Sutcliffe Park Sports Centre (Sun. 3rd Mar.)
The last of the club’s indoor 60’s promotions was again well supported and there were a number of good PB’s by club athletes, writes Mick Bond. Best on the women’s side was Doyin Aderinto running a season’s best of 7.61s in the second round, whilst quickest of the men was Divine Akinlolu equalling his PB of 7.04s in his first 60m event of the winter. As in previous meetings the event was live streamed and can be viewed on YouTube here - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpRTwItZjjA&t=4958s (First race is at 32 minutes).
Cross Country End of Season Presentations
With the cancellation (or at least postponement) of the Nationals, the cross country season ended not with a bang but a whimper, writes Clem Dixon, but we still celebrated a week later at the clubhouse. Bobby Babaker (pictured left) and Hayley Newman were the season's cross country Grand Prix winners with trophies also being presented for road running and fell running to Sue Dixon and Christian Poulton respectively. The 130 year old Cottrell Cup which is awarded on the basis of participation rather than performance went to James Floyd (pictured right) who ran in every single race of the season. Medals and trophies were presented by club president Lisa Atkinson.
Volunteers for London Marathon Green Start
Phil Pape is seeking volunteers to assist at the green start of the 2024 London Marathon on Sunday 21st April from 7am to 11am. Anyone interested please email Phil at papephil@outlook.com.
Comments