Hastings Half Marathon: Incredible popularity grows with Kenyans joining race

But in 1991, there was another ‘Who’s Who’ of British athletes taking part which included past winner Paul Davies Hale, regulars like Kevin Forster and Nick Rose, with Steve Binns, Steve Brace, Tony Miliousorov, Mike Gratton, Chris Robison,Nigel Gates and Paul Evans, along with three athletes from Kenya.

We already had an increasing number of entrants from our twin towns of Dordrecht and Oudenaarde, Swerte and Bethune who actually loved our hills!

Entries topped 5,000 for the first time.

The race was all about a large group of runners who kept together for most of the route – before Paul Evans put the pressure on in the last couple of miles to pull away from the Kenyans in particular, winning £2,000, but more than a minute outside the bonus time.

SEE ALSO Remembering the Hastings Half Marathon - picture special | Hastings Half marathon: All hail the £5m race | Hastings Half Marathon: Remembering how the popular race started in 1985There was an interesting issue that arose that year, with a month to go before the race.

There were big road and promenade works going on at the seafront between the Adventure Golf and White Rock, which we had been monitoring closely, and I was invited to a meeting of the Highways Department and the contractors at offices in Wellington Square, Hastings.

Very quickly it was announced that the works would not be finished by the time of the Half Marathon, and that we would have to find a new route.

They did not understand that with a loop route and the start and finish at the same point, any changes would be impossible, and course timings and bonus prizes would be affected.

I simply said that if that was the case, then I would immediately go round to the Town Hall and inform the Mayor that the event would have to be cancelled this year, and walked out of the meeting.

Halfway to the Town Hall, someone running caught me up, and asked me to re-consider and come back to the meeting as they had another proposition.

The attitude of the contractors had quickly changed, and they now proposed that if they were not finished by the half marathon, they would ensure they made a route through the works.

They were as good as their word, and although in the week leading up to race day it looked a hopeless task, they brilliantly manufactured a running surface and route through the chaos.

What a relief!

The fundraising had also increased dramatically, and we went past the first £1million raised.

n The Mini Run for youngsters, 11-16, had been introduced for the first time in 1991, and this event grew in popularity this year, giving our younger athletes to taste the ‘big time’, by running 2.5k from just west of Hastings Pier to the half marathon finishing line.

Starting at 10.45am it fitted in nicely with the half marathon – and many of these youngsters moved on to athletics, and are still running today.

One of these early entrants was a certain Sean Baldock, who went on to win Olympic Gold for GB in the 4-x400 metres relay.

Many other GB internationals were to follow. One of the special things about prize-giving on race day was that the half marathon male and female winners presented the winning Mini Run trophies to the winning boy and girl.

This used to take place on the open top bus in the start/finish area. It was rather different to see all the athletes sitting on the top deck!

Next week - Eamonn Martin sets us alight!

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