The weekend seems an eternity ago, but not too distant a memory to recollect the wonderful achievements of the awesome Hastings Runners that took part in races.

Closest to home was the latest race in our Club Championship, the seafront 10K. A route that all of us are familiar with. But it’s amazing how much quicker one can run with a tag around your ankle.

That proved the case on Sunday with some superb performances from those representing the Green & Black army. Will Withecombe successfully defended his title from last year, crossing the line in an excellent time of 36 minutes and 36 seconds.

We had 3 runners in the Top 4 with Andrew Shipalov clocking a PB of 39:50, holding off a late charge from Martin Snape who was just 3 seconds behind.

Kevin Blowers wrapped up another MV60 category award. His time of 42:30 would have been substantially quicker, had he not hit the brakes just before the finish line to ensure he came home in 10th place, thus winning a free breakfast.

Andy Knight continued his excellent recent form to land the MV50 1st prize in a time of 43:41. There were PBs for Berenice Consavela (54:34). Craig Weeks (55:56), Adam Holland (57:04) and Jacqueline Scott (57:25).

Also running 10K this weekend were Debra Van Aalst, Choccy Sue and Sue Palmer. Not in Hastings mind you. They were in Bodrum. I think that’s in Turkey, is it? They didn’t travel home empty handed with age category wins for both Debra and Choccy.

There was a small event happening in London on Sunday too. You may have caught a glimpse of the action on your television. We had 9 runners in the capital. Tamsin West was the 1st home in 3 hours and 54 minutes. John Simcox completed the course in 4:21. Sarah Marzaioli broke the 5 hour barrier, again, finishing in 4:50, good enough for 13th place in her age category.

I’ll give a mention to Matleena Elonheimo who has only just rejoined the club. I’m assuming it was purely to get a mention in one of my race reports. So there you go Matleena.

Steven Wood and Ady Hall who are rarely seen running apart were forced to start in different pens. Despite 40,000 participants they somehow found one another en route and normality was restored.

James Graham, Kerry Freeman and Darren Owen were the other three Hastings Runners who created lifetime memories by crossing the finish line at the Mall.

Also happening this Sunday was the Loch Ness Marathon. We had 4 runners north of the border and 3 of them flew home with PBs. Sarah Bendle 3:48, Luke Evans 3:51 and Sarah Holmes 5:06 lit up their EasyJet flights home with huge smiles on their faces. Nina Lambrou was pretty chuffed too as despite almost no training she managed an excellent time of 4:14. A quick mention for Rob Thomas who was due to take part and had put in all the training, only to catch Covid in the lead up. Get well soon Rob.

Yolanda King finished 4th lady in he Lewis 10 Mile Downland Trail Race in a time of 1:18:18.

If I’ve missed you off, or you have more details to add, please get in touch. Charities, first time races, memories, anything you would like me to add to the report, just ping me an email or DM on facebook.

Simon Linklater

I was given some shrewd advice on Saturday evening by a wise, unnamed individual. “I think you should learn the route for tomorrow’s race”. 

For the first time in my life, I chose to ignore this person’s guidance and somewhat inevitably it proved costly. 

For the first 23 kilometres myself and race buddy Neil Jeffries were having a cracking morning in the autumnal sunshine. Running along the beautiful trails, through orchids, woodland, past 5 Norman churches and generally loving life. 

Sadly someone didn’t want our fun to continue and had gone to the effort of leading runners off the correct route. Shortly after the 23k mark, we were tricked to take a left turn by a rogue piece of pink ribbon. They had been carefully placed to guide us around the course, but this rebel had other ideas. It became clear we were lost as we continued up said path, unable to find our way. After a brief discussion we retraced our steps and were glad when we discovered a Run Route sign pointing us in the right direction. Or at least that’s what we thought.

Often it’s the sheep that looked lost in the field, on this occasion it was the 50 or so runners, totally bewildered as to where to go next. To the extent they split up into 3 groups and headed in opposite directions. 

A few of us retraced our steps and thanks to the knowledge of a fellow runner, we found the guilty sign and were back on our way. By now our spirits were dashed, the hills grew steeper, and the sun even hotter. We were defeated. Trudging our way up the final steep incline, our spirits briefly lifted by the beautiful views across Rye. What seemed like a short jog back to the finish line took an age. But conquer it we did and there were excellent times among the Hastings Runners contingent that took part.

In the 30k race Paul Lambert ran a blinder to finish 7th overall. There were age category wins for Kevin Blowers, Tamsin West, Bill Edmondson, Bob Dennis and Sylvia Huggett. Also completing the course were Jamie Kennedy, Sarah Bendle, Charles Bowley, Martin Snape, Darren Kilby, Simon Linklater, Luke Evans, Emily Allchurch, Neil Jeffries, Jamie Hitchman, Annette Fry, Jan Young, Alison Anderson, Sarah Marzaioli, Marie Appleton, Ellie Swaine, Victoria Sims, Helen Rothermel, Helen Munday and Alison Tanner.

I will mention one time from the race. That of Will Withecombe who took on the 15km route, finishing in a time of 1 hour 2 minutes and 41 seconds. An average pace of 4:03 per kilometre. Remember this is a hilly trail race with stiles to negotiate. Bonkers. Will won the race by the way. He often keeps that quiet when people ask him how he fared.

Richard Cross, Ben Sayers and Stephen Slater were the other 3 runners taking part in the correctly marked 15km race.

With the darkness looming and the sad realisation the summer was coming to a conclusion, our smiles lit up the room as one by one, Hastings Runners skipped across the sailing club to collect their age category awards.

Robert Weeks 1st Junior
Hayley Ranson Female Vet 55
Irene Kitson Female Vet 65
Sarah Marzaioli Female Vet 70
Craig Weeks 1st Male Vet 45
Andy Knight 1st Male Vet 55
Kevin Blowers 1st Male Vet 60

“We’re pretty good in the old people’s categories” came the remark from a slightly younger HR member, who shall remain nameless (it wasn’t me).

It was the final event of the Rye Summer Series. A trio of races which take place at Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. Known for its outstanding beauty, incredible sunsets and relentless wind. On this rare occasion one of these was missing from the recipe, much to the delight of the runners, it was the stiff breeze.

With Will Withecombe offering vocal support on the sidelines, the honours were left to Adam Weller. He was the first Hastings Runner across the line, in a superb time of 17:38.

A slightly heavier version of Paul Lambert, from the last time I saw him, came home in 19:30, much to his own surprise having spent the majority of his pre race routine talking down his chances after a week of eating takeaways. “I’ll be lucky if I break 21 he told me”. I’ve got my takeout menus ready for my next race after Paul’s incredible efforts.

Kevin Blowers produced a stunning performance to knock over a minute off his PB. Was it the shoes? Or was it the hair? Either way, 19:48 was a fantastic effort, to scoop yet another age category win!

Andy Knight continued his excellent recent revival with a season’s best of 20:52. Jacqueline Scott knocked a minute and a half off her previous 5k PB, who alongside Marie Crawford enjoyed the sunset and spent 27 and a half minutes chatting away. Imagine if they tried? 

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable evening, in the company of wonderful people, in a cracking setting. Go Hastings Runners.

Race Results
Adam Weller 17:38
Paul Lambert 19:30
Kevin Blowers 19:48
Andy Knight 20:52
Stephen Ingram 21:55
Rachael Inns 25:58
Adam Holland 26:40
Craig Weeks 26:43
Jacqueline Scott 27:32
Marie Crawford 27:38
Sarah Marzaioli 30:00
Robert Weeks 31:22
Irene Kitson 31:45
Hayley Ranson 32:01
Catherine Southgate 34:58
Henry Worthington 41:08

Another day, another sea of black and green. (Except in the junior race, of course, which would come as a surprise to none of us.) Fifty-two of us – plus Danny Ratnarajah sadly taken unwell before the start – in a field of 258. All the best to you, Danny…

We Battle first-timers were in for a treat, despite the warm weather – a lovely, mostly wooded, oblongular course that sent us downhill for the best part of 3k, then uphill for approximately 15 miles, before a final 3k of flat-to-coasting downhillish to the finish, right in front of Battle Abbey gates.

There I spied a friendly chap offering me a medal, then noticed the mayor handing out medals to people less sweaty than myself. I then sat down beside an utterly exhausted Martin Snape who had somehow finished about half an hour before me despite having been awake for three days welcoming new-born twins into he and his wife Jess’s world. Congratulations!

Creaking slowly to my feet, I looked around and saw plenty of others to congratulate – not least Will Withecombe, placed second in a time of 35’32 and our fastest woman, Nicky Steed in 45’58 who was also placed first in her age category.

There were further age-cat wins for Keiran Price, Martin Noakes, Neil Jeffries (who?), Jo French, Yocklin Richardson and Robert Dennis – and plenty more for whom glory was measured in more personal triumphs, such as beating last year’s time: Patrick Bermingham, Charlie Bowley, David Harding, Andy Knight, Chris Weeks, Jacqueline Scott and Krista Barzee – with apologies to any I’ve inadvertently missed.

Hats off to our fifth fastest entrant Andrew Shipilov, who seems to get faster with every run, and Craig Weeks – who ran to the finish despite nursing a hip injury. Well done to Battle first-timer Heidi Rossetter whose never-say-die attitude saw her clinch the Grin of the Day award.

Special mention, finally, to Louise Cavill who not only knocked the best part of six minutes off her 2021 time, but did so replicating Lioness Chloe Kelly’s sports bra celebration all the way down Battle High Street. Girl power to the MAX!

Written by Neil Jeffries