Women runners shine as almost 100 HRs tackle Battle 10k

Organised by the Battel Bonfire Boyes in conjunction with Nice Work, the road race is always a popular event. The course begins in the High Street then run downhill to turn right into Powdermill Lane towards Catsfield before turning back towards Battle along Catsfield Road to finish in front of the Abbey Gates.

The Hastings Runners entry once again exhibited the age-range of its membership with representatives in every five-year bracket above 40. The women – who also fielded an VV35 entrant – were particularly strong, winning five of the nine veterans’ categories.

Sue Hull picked up the FV50 trophy with her time of 51 minutes and 35 seconds. Manami Cheves was fastest FV55 (48:56) and Jo French quickest FV60 (58:56). Fastest FV70 was Linda Beddis (1:18:17) with Sarah Marzaioli the first FV75 home in (1:05:02). Marzaioli’s fellow FV75 Yockie Richardson, although closer to the FV80 category, trailed by only another three minutes.

At the sharper, younger end of the field well done to Ashley Vora and Steve Hoath who finished third and fourth in times of 36:33 and 37:23, respectively. Third fastest man, their fellow Senior Male Sam Evans was eighth in 39:11 while Ben McNeill came ninth in 39:20.

Senior Female Zoe Habgood was sixth in the female race, placed 45th overall, in a time of 44:12. Second and third fastest HR women were FV35s Fleur Record Smith (45:51) and Claire Thomas (46:43) – with FV45 Sarah Bendle not far behind in 48:19.

Well done to all, and also to the three HRs who instead entered The Big Half in London – alongside one Dame Kelly Homes and winner Eilish McColgan, Olympian and 2022 Commonwealth Games 10,000m champion. Alice Tigwell didn’t catch either of those, but did break the two-hour mark with a time of 1:59:54 and was closely followed by Jessica Snape (2:05:31) and Sue Wilkinson (2:14:21).

Hastings Runners welcomes new members of all abilities aged 12 and over for fun, training and competitive running. Visit https://hastingsrunners.co.uk