Athletics round-up

Burgess Hill runners are celebrating their 20th anniversary by planning 20 separate celebratory events over the next year.
burgess hill runners at clairpark runburgess hill runners at clairpark run
burgess hill runners at clairpark run

And the first of those took place last Saturday when on a chilly morning, around 50 club members swelled the usual numbers to a record 131 at the Clair Parkrun.

It was unfortunate that on the day they were unable to provide the winner around the hilly and testing 5k course, that honour going to unattached runner Sean Hubbard who smashed the course record in 17 mins 12 seconds.

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That put him well ahead of Tom Mullen from Haywards Heath Harriers in 18.04, with James Collins from BHR third in 18.28.

There were a multitude of personal bests set by BHR members, including Mark Nicholls (19.32), Andy Sayers (21.24), Janet Clapton (22.36), Mark Craigs (23.08), Lee Crow (23.55), Bryony Monnery (25.21), Dave Woodhouse (25.52), Stephanie Harding (28.46) and Kim Gow (30.58).

On Sunday a number of club members made their way to Bexhill for the Poppy half marathon which is organised to raise funds for the Royal British Legion and starts at 12.30pm to allow people to attend commemoration events.

Cath Beckett was delighted to achieve a new personal best for the distance, finishing in 1 hour 48 mins 23 seconds, followed by Helen Slater who was equally pleased to dip under the 2-hour barrier in 1.59.05.

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Nick Dawson also did well to set a new PB but just missed the 2hr milestone with 2.00.06.

Other club finishers included Carole Mills (2.15.42), Lucy Tyrrell (2.27.01), Steven Gray (2.30.25), Angie Bower (2.36.16) and Julie Green (2.36.17).

This week it is the Reebok Brighton 10k which is the last race in the club’s own championship series.

Haywards Heath Harrier and last week’s run director, Marion Hemsworth was delighted with the record turnout for the Clair Parkrun.

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“We were boosted by the Burgess Hill Runners contingent but there were representatives from 11 different athletics clubs in total.

“There were 40 running the Parkrun for the first time and it was great to see 10 new runners joining in from J & M starting running group in Haywards Heath.

“What a Saturday morning with 36 PBs recorded. That was amazing in far from ideal conditions.

“It was an amazing performance from local lad returning from working away Sean Hubbard (JM15-19), and an unattached runner, set an amazing new course record of 17.12 with a fabulous performance from start to finish.

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Not to be outdone, Izzy Coomber of Haywards Heath Harriers stormed ahead for 5th place overall and improved on her own female course record with 19.02. Tom Mullen, also from Haywards Heath Harriers, was second over the line in 18.04, followed for third place by James Collins of Burgess Hill Runners in 18.28. Erica Martin of Brighton Phoenix was second female in 19.59 with Janet Clapton, also from Burgess Hill Runners in 22.36. Harrier Paul Cousins (VM50-54) was 4th overall in 18.41 in his 100th age graded result of 79.57%.

18 plucky juniors took on this challenging 5k course including Meadow

Davies, aged 8 who ran her first Clair Parkrun in a super 30.06 for 87th

Six Harriers ran the Poppy Half Marathon at Bexhill on Sunday, four laps along the seafront in bright sunny breezy conditions. A fine performance came from Steve Dallman, 1.27.17 taking a brilliant 21st

runners.