The final summer Bank Holiday brought us some sunny weather and an extra day which meant a fab weekend for running.
Ashford parkrun
Ashford parkrun saw a great flurry of red with a brilliant Strider turn out. First home for the club was Adam Booth with an impressive sub 20 5k and time of 19.54. Dan Green come across the line next with a time of 22.53, Justin Burden reached the finishers tunnel in 23.13, Terry Sellen achieved a time of 24.44 and achieving a PB of 25.17 was our very own chairman Andy Found. Our first female Strider finishing in 26.08 was Claire Green with Hazel Turner close behind in a time of 26.20. All achieving a sub 30 on the sunny Saturday morning were Jamie Bartlett (26.24), Jason Brice (26.46), Josh Stephens (also achieving a brilliant PB time of 27.48), Mandy Cooper (28.38), Tasmin Ritchie (28.39) and Don Dewer (29.19). Fantastic running everyone.
Rachel Phillips, Rita Cooke, Amanda James and Catherine Wall got to the finish line within seconds of each other running in times of 30.09, 30.12, 30.14 and 30.16 respectively. Well done ladies! Sally Davidson-Daniel finished the 5k course in 32.27 with Rachel Theobald then pipping Kevin York to the post running home in a time of 32.47 with Kevin crossing the line just 1 second later. Rachel Oliver finished in 33.19 and Peter Broom and Rachel Somerford got through the finishers tunnel at exactly the same time of 33.27. Brilliant stuff all! Finishing the Strider line up round Victoria Park were Michelle Brice (35.20), Clare Maxlow (35.28), Jennifer Watts (36.49) and Hazel Forrester (36.51).
parkrun Tourism
We had Strider representation across a range of parkruns over the country this weekend (some probably coinciding with their bank holiday travels – impressive and dedicated guys).
Staying in Kent were a group running Walmer and Deal – Dermott Carr was the first to finish in 23.51, Siobhan Hagan achieved 28.40, Rachel Misson got a time of 29.28, Michelle Bryant finished in 33.01, Martin Whittingham ran in 35.37 and Lynnette Whittingham rounded up the pack in 1hr 04.14. Andrew Maund visited Maidstone parkrun and finished the 5k course in 21.39. George Cromwell travelled to Sittingbourne and ran in 28.02.
Volunteering as high vis heroes and even enjoying some bubbles at the end where Justine Wearn and Nicola Crawley who visited Foots Cray parkrun and finished in 56.14 and 56.16 respectively. Keeping with the London theme was Sonette Schwartz who travelled to Hackney Marshes and achieved a time of 30.04.
Enjoying some beach air was Rachel Tomsett who finished Seaford Beach’s course in 42.05 and Jamie Penfold who completed Worthing parkrun in 22.12. Travelling bit further up north and completing Birmingham’s Cannon Hill parkrun was Neil Wood who got a time of 23.53 but the gold star for farthest afield parkrun for this week’s tourism was Lisa Gribbon who completed the undulating course in Ganavan Sands, Scotland in an impressive sub 30 time of 29.17.
Amazing tourism all and huge well done each and every one of you.
Canterbury Half Marathon – Mon 28th.
It’s not often we have a race on a Monday morning – but today found 3 striders completing the Canterbury Half Marathon.
Doing it for the girls were – Hazel Turner who finished the half in a fab 2hrs 05.18, Aimee Donohue achieved a brilliant time of 2hrs 41.25 and Lisa Fulcher was not far behind gaining her well earned medal at the end in 2hrs 41.32. Great running girls.
Some different achievements of the weekend and all deserve special mentions in this week’s reports were the ladies who competed in Friday’s Softball competition – a brilliant night was had by all, bubbles enjoyed and laughs galore.
Karen Edwards went to the Capital and took on a walking challenge with the 25k Summer Walk – well done Karen.
Finally we had Jason Kennedy who decided to set himself a goal of running 4 miles every 4 hours over 48 hours. Gruelling but what an achievement.
Congratulations to everyone for their achievements this weekend, and we hope you all enjoyed the long weekend.
Report by Kirsty Theobald.
