This bank holiday report departs from the usual format as it doesn’t start with Saturday’s parkruns.
On Friday evening, two teams of Strider ladies took part in a women’s softball cricket tournament organised by Mersham Sports Club. The decision to take part was not influenced in any way by the free bottle of Prosecco for each team.
As most members of the Strider teams were complete novices at cricket, neither team won a prize but everyone played with enthusiasm and had a fun evening.
Ashford Parkrun
Back to parkrun, there was a good turnout once again at Ashford’s Victoria Park. Leading the Strider finishers was Keith Haynes with a time of 21:41, followed by Kevan Strand 21:51, Greg Johnson 24:49, Darren Laker 25:48 and Jason Brice with a new personal best of 26:50. Next was Jamie Bartlett 27:03, then Graham Troman 28:11 which was also a PB.
They were followed by Claire Hall-Dawson 28:26, Stephen Rumsey 28:36, David Gadsby 29:21, Amanda James 29:45, Siobhan Hagan 30:16, Lisa Gribbin 31:00, Peter Broom 31:13, Martin Whittingham 32:07, Rita Cooke 32:58, Rachel Theobald 33:00, Kevin York 33:02, Lisa Fulcher 33:56, Rachel Forrester 34:27, Brian Forrester 34:31, Michelle Brice 34:34, Don Dewar 35:16 and Hazel Forrester 36:28
Striders Volunteers at Ashford were: Jason Caldwell, Lee Standen, Rebecca Somerford, Sara Dewar and Simon Jackson. Thank you for giving up your time all of you!
Parkrun tourism
Three Striders visited the trail parkrun at Bedgebury Pinetum. Lucie Shrubsole ran a course PB of 34:08, closely followed by Sharon Gardner with 34:10 and Victoria Shrubsole who also run a course PB of 34:25
Visiting other Kent parkruns were: Justin Burden who completed Mote Park parkrun in a course PB of 23:53, Rachel Tomsett who ran at Royal Tunbridge Wells in 47:32, and Amanda Cooper who found Great Lines parkrun tougher than expected but finished in an excellent time of 28:14
This week’s furthest travelled parkrunner was Vicky Stevenson who went almost to the Welsh border to run the Forest of Dean parkrun in a time of 28:27
Canterbury Half
No Striders were in action on Sunday, but on Bank Holiday Monday Justin Burden was the sole club member racing the Canterbury Half Marathon. The race takes place on a challenging route through country lanes south of the city and Justin finished a time of 2:04:24
Well done to everyone running or taking part in other sporting activities this weekend!
Report by Lisa Fulcher
