Happy New Year and welcome to the (slightly delayed) first report of the year.
Striders true to form, took advantage of the extra parkrun this week and started the year, in the only way that we know how and that’s with a 5km run. We were also blessed with a dry morning; someone having turned the tap off for once! There was no Ashford parkrun on New Year’s Day, so ‘tourism’ took place for many runners.
Canterbury parkrun was visited by Tamsin Ritchie who completed the hilly course in 39:55. Travelling down the motorway to Folkestone, saw the largest contingent. Justin Burden led the Striders home with a time of 23:05, followed by first lady home, Hazel Turner in 25:41. Then Siobahn Hagan (27:51), David Helme (28:20), Michelle Bryant (28:57), Peter Broom (32:49) and Martin Whittingham (33:55). Sharni Copham travelled to Hastings, completing in 31:07. Three Striders preferred the riverside course at Maidstone: Mandy Cooper finishing in 30:09, Kay Hunt 30:50 and Adam Thomas on her heels in 30:51. At the other side of Maidstone we had three Striders at Mote park, Stephen Cleaver leading the pack in 28:46, Rachel Tomsett in 37:28 & Lisa Fulcher completing the hilly course in 38 minutes exactly. Tilgate in Surrey was the course of choice for Nicola Crawley (30:27); Nadine Golding (33:46) and Justine Wearn (33:52). Back to the seaside at Walmer & Deal were Rachel Misson finishing in 29:58 and Lisa Gribbin in 30:10, and Whitstable saw two Striders complete the course – Isobel Phillips in 28:08 and George Phillips in 31:06.
Only one Strider raced on New Year’s Day, and that was Jason Kennedy who raced the aptly named Knacker Cracker, also known as Britain’s toughest 10Km race at Denbies Estate, which incorporates Box Hill. Jason completed in 1:12:08 and lived to tell the tale!
6th January was the first Saturday parkrun of the year, and again, we were blessed with dry, albeit chilly, weather.
Ashford saw the biggest contingent of Striders with Keith Haynes leading the pack in 19:52. Next home was Scott Hawkins in 26:37, followed by: Stephen Cleaver (26:46), Richard Randle (27:25), Andy Found (27:28), Christopher Wicks (27:33), David Helme (28:57), Josh Stephens (29:32), David Gadsby (29:34). Sharni Copham was the first lady home in 32:08. She was followed by Lee Standen (32:20), Catherine Wall (33:04), Justine Wearn (33:19), Dee Millen (33:24), Brian Forrester (34:11), Siobahn Hagan (34:12), Rachel Tomsett (34:17), Michelle Bryant (34:25), Rachel Oliver (34:56), Jennifer Watts (35:37), Dave Warner (36:18), Rachel Theobald (38:42), Kevin York (38:43), Holly Forest (39:41) and Hazel Forrester, (40:10)
There was also the usual parkrun tourism this week, so in alphabetical order, we’ll start with Barking where Justin Burden finished in 23:27 and Laura Clark bagged a PB of 35:35. Well-done Laura! Bedgebury, was the parkrun of choice for Mandy Cooper, competing the hilly off-road course in 30:54. Also visiting a trail parkrun (a bit further north) were George & Isobel Phillips who completed Belton House in 26:30 & 36:47 respectively. Canterbury was visited by Tamsin Ritchie who completed in 30:32. Dover Waterfront was visited by Lisa Gribbin who completed in 28:25 and Rachel Misson in 29:33. Along the coast at Folkestone saw Michael Davies finish in 22:30 and Emma Matthews in 38:18. Great Lines was visited by Nicola Crawley who finished in 28:30 and the mud fest of Harrow Lodge, was completed by Jamie Penfold in 26:37. Malling saw Don Dewar finish in 28:01, followed by Sara Dewar and Leigh Freeman both finishing in 34:40. And finally …. University Parks saw Lydia Huntley finish in 27:15.
Saturday also saw the first ever Strider attendance at the Kent Cross Country Championships at Brands Hatch. Although almost at the end of the Cross-Country season, three
valiant Striders represented the club. Dave Winchester was the first male home for the club in 1:04:53, closely followed by Jack Farrant in 1:07:28 for the 12km male course. Elle Weeks represented the ladies and finished the 8.4km course in a cracking time of 49.11. Well done!
