By George Phillips
Ashford was the place to be Saturday and the Striders never disappoint when it’s Take Over day! The bad weather did not completely stay away, but spirits remained high.
To switch it up, this week we will start with the volunteers, I’m sure everyone enjoyed supporting all the runners out on course and a big thank you to Julie for getting it organised so well. These events really show why Striders are the best running club in Ashford!
Run Director – Mat Norman
Event Set up – Justin and Laura
Marshalls – Carole, Chris, Lucie, George, Rob, Gayle, Pauline, Danies Son, Megan, The Whole Corby family, Steve and Helen
Time Keepers – Clare and Ned
Scanners – Gary, Pav and Sarah
Finish Tokens – Amanda and Tamsin
First Timers – Isabelle
Tail walkers – Isabelle and Maria
Funnel Manager – Julie
Report Writer – Lisa
Photographer – Amy
And last (and probably most importantly) the Cake Table – Becky and Jayne
I’m sure there were others too, so apologies if I have missed anyone!
We also had a host of Pacers helping runners round the course. Keith, Kevin, Jack, Scott, Josh, Andy, Vicky, Cara, Lisa, Aimee and Kat. And the award for closest to their finish time was……Keith! Who was only 3 seconds off with a time of 20.03.
On to the runners!
A total of 46 Striders attended a Parkrun on 13/09/25 , 35 at Ashford, and 11 on tour.
Keith Haynes was first strider across the line with a time of 20:03, followed by Kevan Strand with a time of 21:46, and Dan Green third strider, with a time of 21:49
They were followed by
Jack Farrant 24:07, Terry (fred) Sellen 24:07, Chloe Stott 24:23, Lee Gribbin 24:54, Michael Ruck 25:09, Linda-jean Delport 25:29, Alice Foulger 25:30, Chloe Winham 25:31, Jason Wearn 26:04, Scott Hawkins 26:05, Harry Lockhart 26:48, Justin Burden 27:11, David Gadsby 27:55, David Martins 28:03, Josh Stephens 28:13, Jamie Bartlett 28:31, Andy Found 28:56, Catherine Wall 29:34, Russ Berliner 30:29, Victoria Shrubsole 31:37, Marion Fitzpatrick 31:43, Cara Linin 33:49, Lee Standen 34:30, Melissa Dawkins 35:28, Lisa Gribbin 35:53, Aimee Donohue 38:07, Kat Silvester 39:16, Rick Newman 45:21, Justine Wearn 45:22, Mark Niles 52:38, Isabelle Froissart 1:03:17, Maria Chapman 1:03:18,
Parkrun Tourism
Not everyone could make it to the take over so a number of Striders took to park runs around the country, a couple even made it overseas!
Leigh Freeman completed the Cardiff parkrun in 35:23,
Ross Mcinnes erupted over the line at the Etna parkrun in 43:10, Sharon Mcinnes in 45:14,
Simon Pharoah was this weeks speediest Striders down in Folkestone with a time of 18:39,
Richard Randle completed the Moors Valley parkrun in 31:01, Katarzyna Janas in 33:59, Delia Millen in 34:56 and Nige Terry in 35:00,
Martin Whittingham completed the Pontypool parkrun in 41:22,
Konrad Gryniewicz completed the Southwark parkrun in 23:48,
Eloise Pegg completed the Whitley Bay parkrun in 29:54
Sunday Races
Rye Ancient Trails 15k and 30k
A gaggle of Striders left the roads behind and took on the hills surrounding Rye.
Darren Laker and Daniel Schwartz took on the 15k route in times of 1.58.32 and 1.48.00.
Dave Winchester, Matt Beasley and Ash Robinson opted for the 30k route finishing with times of 3.28.00, 3.46.06 and 5.18.35.
Garmin New Forest Marathon and 10k
Opting for a lovely weekend in the New Forest Dee Millen, Kasia Janas and Nige Terry took on the 10k run in the woods. Competing in their first race meant PBs for Kasia and Nige with times of 1.15.18 and 1.17.08. Dee got herself a course PB with a time of 1.15.23.
Leaving Richard to fend for himself, he took on the Marathon distance in the New Forest finishing with a time of 4.52.15.
Another brilliant week to be an Ashford Strider!
