Phil and Paul lead home Mid Sussexrunners with superb top 40 finishes

Mid Sussex runners were out in force for the Brighton Marathon on Sunday.
HH Harriers at the brighton Marathon L to R Barry Tullett, Andy Biggs & Richard SutorHH Harriers at the brighton Marathon L to R Barry Tullett, Andy Biggs & Richard Sutor
HH Harriers at the brighton Marathon L to R Barry Tullett, Andy Biggs & Richard Sutor

Top local finisher was Haywards Heath Harrier Phil Hardaway in a superb personal best (PB) of 2.53.00 (chip) to earn 30th place.

In a field of 9,067, next over the line was Burgess Hill Runners’ Paul Sargent in 2.56.59 for a splendid 38th place.

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Hardaway was one of 14 Harriers in the record field, who were cheered on by thousands of spectators basking in the sunshine that chased away the early wind and cloud.

Tom Mullen took a massive 30 minutes off his PB in clocking 2.58.16 for 51st place, while Phil Payne built on his success in Rome by slashing his PB to 3.06.43 for 130th.

Remarkably, training buddies Barry Tullet and Richard Sutor notched an idential chip time of 3.23.28 despite setting off from the start separately. It was a fine debut for Tullett and a PB for Sutor.

Dave Kirby was 787th in a brilliant 3.31.41 and also in the top thousand was Andy Biggs, who after an injury-plagued season notched a PB of 3.35.32.

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Carl Bicknell has competed in all the Brighton Marathons and he was 1139th in a solid 3.39.45, while other times for the men were Tim Swainson 3.49.38, Stuart Auston 3.52.45, Mark Johnson 3.58.19 and Colin Johnson 5.57.11.

For Harriers’ ladies, Abbey Fisell made a fine debut to finish 130th woman out of the 3,177 taking part. She clocked an excellent 3.43.37 as Mims Davies made a creditable debut with 5.04.55.

Burgess Hill Runners were out in even greater force, with Mark Nicholls knocking almost 30 minutes off his PB in 3.08.55 and close behind with a great first attempt was Jason Collett in a superb 3.14.12.

Keith Delderfield, who has done a great job leading the club’s weekly long training runs since Christmas and helping first-timers in particular, crossed the line in a fine 3.46.38 in what he says will be his last marathon. It was the all the more impressive as he was dressed, appropriately, as Superman.

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Next BHR man home was Darren Chilcott in 3.50.29, followed by Alison Dunks 3.51.52, first-timer James Sorbie 3.52.48, Suzanne Sturgeon 3.54.02 and Dan Foord, who took 20 minutes off his PB with 3.56.30.

Other times were Alan Fry 4.08.47 (1st-timer), Oliver Dewdney 4.11.54 (1st-timer), Lee Crow (1st-timer) 4.27.36, Benny Coxhill 4.33.33, Jan Lavis (supposed to be retiring from marathon running) 4.35.09 (superb in full cat costume), Di Delderfield 4.38.50 (supposed to be retiring), Karen Lawson 4.38.59, Nick Dawson (1st-timer) 4.39.29, Elaine Sugg 4.41.20, Paul Russell 4.50.22, Linda Russell 4.57.17 PB, Stephanie Harding 4.58.48 PB, Allie Wood 4.59.18, Bettina Jung 5.16.56, Nina Ecroyd 5.22.43, Kevin Walker 5.33.32 PB, Anne Savidge 5.33.55, Leanne Cleaveley 5.35.13 and Steven Gray 5.42.33.

More Harriers news can be found on page 86.