Congratulations to everyone who got out and ran this weekend. Also a huge thankyou to everyone who gave up their Sunday to marshal at the Kent Spring Marathon today. Your efforts were greatly appreciated and the feedback from Nice Works and the runners about you all was absolutely amazing so well done, you are all absolute superstars.
Saturday was Parkrun day and Striders were out in force as usual. We will start at Ashford where Andrew Maund took the first Strider place romping home in 20:07. Jamie Penfold was next in the Strider pack with 24:32 followed by our first Strider lady Tamsin Ritchie with 26:18. Paul Baker earned himself a new PB with 26:23 (well done Paul !!) followed closely by Dave Helme in 26:38. Graham Troman recorded a 27:06 finish with David Gadsby next in 27:46. Jason Brice sneaked in under 30 mins with 29:57 just ahead of Rachel Forrester who hit the 30 minute mark exactly. 30:25 was the time for Jayne Hatton followed by Lee Standen in 31:09. Peter Broom completed in 32:18 and Dee Millen 34:06. Brian Forrester came through in 34:13 just ahead of Clare Maxlow in 34:43. Leigh Freeman and Lisa Fulcher were next with respective times of 35:06 and 36:28 with Carole Thomas following them with 37:06. Julie Nicholson and Julie Foster completed with 38:54 and 41:43 respectively and then the injured Amanda James in 47:23. Mark Niles completed in 49:48 followed by Jennifer Watts and Danielle Moss with respective times of 50:01 and 50:23. Hazel Forrester completed the Ashford Strider Line up with a time of 50:23.
As usual a huge thanks to the volunteers who this week included Kevan Strand, Sharni Copham, Simon Jackson, Adam Booth and Terry Sellen.
Onto the Tourists this week and Grovelands in Enfield saw Justin Burden finish in 24:46 followed by Dermot Carr with 26:47. Siobhan Hagan completed in 28:40 and Sally Davidson-Daniel 30:20. Lisa Gribbin and Rachel Misson rounded up the Strider contingent with respective times of 31:41 and 31:46.
Nicola Crawley and Justine Wearn took a trip to the seaside and visited Hastings Parkrun. Both managed sub 30s with 26:39 and 29:11 respectively.
Bedgebury was the venue of choice for Vicky and Lucie Shrubsole and they completed the trail course in 35:10 and 35:12 respectively.
There was some truly outstanding results at various races this weekend. Mandy Cooper and Ian Watson made the long trip over to Northern Ireland to tackle the Giants Causeway Coastal Trail Run on Saturday and they both smashed the tough 20 mile course with Ian finishing in 4:57:12 and Mandy in 5:28:02.
We had competitors in action at the Kent Spring events on Sunday. Adrian Green was outstanding in the Marathon with a brilliant time of 3:34:14 and proudly collected the V60 trophy and equally brilliant was Keith Haynes who completed the half marathon in 1:37:28. As we all know, that is a really tough course so a huge well done to both of them. A special mention also to Lisa Gribbin who went round the course as sweeper giving encouragement to the last runners on the course and she came round in 6:40:50.
Last but very much not least. Congratulations to Hazel Turner. Hazel struggled through injury and illness in her marathon training but today smashed the Manchester Marathon with an outstanding time of 4:21:23. Huge congratulations to you Hazel that is an amazing achievement.
Once again congratulations and Thankyou to everyone who ran, volunteered and supported this weekend, you did yourselves and the club very proud indeed. Have a great week.
Report by Andy Found.
