There was some quite changeable weather to contend with this weekend. In Ashford, the parkrun started off in the rain, but by the end of the event, the sun was coming out and it was warming up.
Andrew Maund was first for the club and 14th overall, finishing in 21:12. Justin Burden came in at 22:57, just ahead of Mark Niles in 23:00. Next we had Jamie Penfold, 24:40, Terry Sellen, 25:14, Darren Laker, 26:51 and Graham Troman, 28:10. Josh Stephens ran a new Ashford parkrun PB with 28:34, then Don Dewar, 28:50, Vicky Stevenson was first Strider lady with 29:10, closely followed by Andy Found, 29:17. Jason Brice completed his 50th parkrun in 29:26, Peter Broom, 31:08, Leigh Freeman, 31:51, Aimee Donohue, 32:17, Michelle Brice with an Ashford parkrun PB of 32:45, David Gadsby, 33:08, Simon Pharoah, 33:10, Michelle Bryant, 33:23, Delia Millen, 33:44, Jennifer Watts, 34:03, Sara Dewar, 34:56 and Paul Dunning, 39:04. Walking the course together were Siobhan Hagan, 1:03:24, Rachel Misson, 1:03:30, Lisa Gribbin, 1:03:32 and Lynnette Whittingham, 1:03:35. Julie Nicholson who was tail walker, finished in 1:11:18.
Our volunteers this week were: Hazel Turner, Jason Caldwell, Julie Foster, Julie Nicholson, Justin Burden, Kevan Strand, Lisa Fulcher, Simon Jackson and Terry Sellen. Many thanks to you all, the parkrun can’t happen without its volunteers!
Several of our serial parkrun tourists were out and about again, including three who visited the off-road course at Orpington. Justine Wearn finished in 30:34, Jason Wearn was next with 30:43 and Nicola Crawley finished in 34:39.
Staying in Kent, Rachel Tomsett completed Great Lines parkrun in Medway in 29:57. Lee Standen finished the challenging trail run at Kingdom parkrun near Penshurst in 33:40. At Mote Park parkrun were George Cromwell with 31:06, and Vicky Shrubsole and Lucie Shrubsole who both finished in 34:31.
Furthest travelled this week was Jo Mason, who went to Brighton’s Preston Park parkrun and finished this popular event in 27:48. Well done to all the parkrunners!
Onto the weekend’s races. On Saturday we had a brand new event, the Wye King Challenge. This multi terrain event had an unusual start time of 2pm and involved a steep climb to the top of the Downs in the 10k race and two long, steep climbs for those taking on the half marathon. Thankfully it wasn’t as hot as it could have been on a July afternoon but it was very windy!
The Strider gents all opted for the 10k distance. Dave Winchester finished in 52.54 and Simon Pharaoh in 1:00:03. Meanwhile, the ladies showed them how it was done by taking on the half marathon. Siobhan Hagan finished in 2:49:02 and Lisa Fulcher in 3:06:12. Well done everyone, some good finishing times for a difficult race.
On Sunday we had representation in two races. The Mid Kent 5 miler takes place in the quiet lanes around Staplehurst and has good PB potential. Keith Haynes was first Strider in 32:01 then George Cromwell, 47:13, Adam Thomas, 51:48, Kay Hunt, 51:49, and Lucie Shrubsole and Vicky Shrubsole both finishing in 53:11. Well done to you all but a particular well done to George, Keith and Vicky for running new personal best times!
Sunday’s second race was the Les Golding Memorial 10k in Herne Bay, another flat race with PB potential. Indeed that is what chairman Andy Found proved by running a PB of 54:26, followed by Gayle Bailey finishing in 1:04:14 and Rebecca James with 1:07:09. Well done everyone!
Report by Lisa Fulcher.
