Chichester's new 10k gives bosses plenty to build on

They faced strong winds and torrential rain sweeping across Goodwood on Sunday morning. But more than 500 finished as the first renewal of the annual race under new management was voted a success.

Numbers were significantly down on previous years’ Rotary Club-organised Chichester Priory 10ks but this event has given new organisers Runbase Events something to build on. Race director Gavin Stephens said: “We faced a bit of everything weather-wise on race day.

“Despite the conditions there was a particularly fine performance by Tessa McCormick (Vale Royal) to win the female race in a PB 34:46.

“There was a great battle in the men’s race with Joshua Grace (Aldershot & Farnham) holding off a fast-finishing Jack Woods (Worthing & District) to win in 30:45.

“While numbers were significantly down on pre-Covid levels, our main objective was to bring quality running back to the Chichester calendar. The feedback from runners has been incredibly strong, and the organising team would like to extend our thanks to everyone who helped deliver a successful event.”

The 10k in pictures.

The 5k in pictures.

Although a number of elite runners who had entered did not attend, perhaps put off by the forecast rain and gales, it was an absorbing event.

Things soon hotted up at the front with Grace, one of the pre-race favourites, leading.

Close on his heels were a pack of half a dozen with Ben Brown of Southampton AC and Worthing’s Woods looking strong.

Going out on to the roads after 3k, there were half a dozen within striking distance of the leader. Not too far back were the leaders in the women’s race with McCormick ahead of Emily Ruane from City of Norwich and Portsmouth’s Cassie Thorp.

Less than two miles was on public roads and in no time the leaders were racing into the Goodwood circuit for their final lap of just under 4k.

Grace still had the lead but Woods was chasing with Brown clear third.

These three held their positions until the end with Grace crossing in 30min 45sec, Woods just a couple of seconds back and Brown also under the 31 minute barrier, a fine achievement by all three. For Woods it was a new best time.

The three top women kept up the pace with McCormick setting that new PB, Ruane beating her PB in 35.15 and Thorp crossing in 35.53.

Race report by Phil Baker...

Athletes from far and wide were delighted the Chichester 10k was back this year after a Covid-enforced break in 2021.

But they probably hadn’t bargained for some of the most challenging conditions imaginable. The race is under new management after the previous organisers of the past 30 years stepped down, with Runbase Events taking over.

Much credit must go to Graham Jessop and his Rotary team for having put Chichester on the map with a succession of high quality races, leaving a legacy to be proud of.

This year it was going to be a challenge to emulate the standard of previous years, especially the 2020 race where a new course record was set.

Race director Gavin Stephens had a dozen potential sub-30 minute athletes lined up but the forecast of gale-force winds and heavy rain – which proved accurate – kept away a number of faster runners.

In the end there were just over 500 finishers.

The way the race panned out is described on the back page but it wasJosh Grace from the Aldershot and Farnham club who won in 30.45 with Tessa McCormick from northern club Vale Royal first woman home in 34.46.

Chichester’s Mike Houston won the over-40 race in 33.20.

In the women’s race, local favourite Helen Dean produced her second fastest time, just outside 44 minutes, to win the over-65 category by 23 minutes and put her top of the UK rankings.

One new feature this year was a 5k which took place just before the main event. A field of just under 100 set off in windy conditions and a few minutes in, a rainstorm struck, leaving runners soaked and the surface awash.

But they stuck to their task and Basingstoke’s James Beeks won in 15.30 with Bodyworks Eastbourne under-17 duo of Matt Gedes and Thomas Hutton also under 16 minutes.

Chichester legend James Baker won the veterans’ category in 16.08. In the women’s 5k there was a win for Elaine Beach from Hastings in 17.15.

The third female runner home caused much excitement when her time was announced. It was Brighton 11-year-old Katherine Haslip, still at primary school and making her mark in the Sussex Cross Country League, winning her races by a staggering margin.

She finished in 17.50 – and the fastest time ever recorded by an 11-year-old is 17.45 by American Lindsey Sherf in 1998. Remember where you saw Haslip first!