Benjy Bediako wins Minithon 600m

There were several outstanding performances from Heathsiders over the last weekend. Our speedy 11-year-old Benjy Bediako broke his own club record in winning the 600m in the Minithon in Lee Valley in a time of 1:42:37. Marco Serena ran a PB in Amsterdam in 2:37:51 and Heathside’s women came 6th out of 45 teams in the Southern Cross-Country Relays, with Rebecca Piggott running the fastest (anchor) leg. And we had a record number of six wins in Parkruns.

SEAA Cross-Country Relays, Wormwood Scrubs, October 19

Our women did well to come 6th and 11th out of 45 teams in the Southern Cross-Country Relays. Our men came 19th and 25th out of 41 teams. Our fastest man was Peter Gould who completed his 5,000m leg in 14:50th – the 39th fastest leg out of 155. Our fastest woman was Rebecca Piggott who completed her 3000m leg in 12:16 (the 12th fastest out of 125). The second fastest was Lily Woolcock, who ran in the B team, completing the distance in an excellent 12:29 (19th). Also worth mentioning among the men was Chris Vincent who ran in the incomplete C team but was the third fastest Heathsider in a time of 16:01.

Our U13 girls came 17th out of 38 teams. The fastest Heathsider was Hattie Monday who completed her leg in 7:58, the 16th fastest out of 132 runners.

Our U15 boys came 21st with .Jack Davis- Black running the fastest 2000 leg in a nifty 7:11.

Results

U13 girls

17th out of 38 - 25:35  - Hattie Monday (7:58), Amara Odeogberin (9:09), Isabella Watkins (8:28)

U15 boys - 21st - Jack Davis-Black 7.11 Stan Hasson 7.42 Spike Blake 7.24

Senior women (3 x 3,000me – 45 teams)

A-team: 6th:  37:58 – Rosa Serafina (12:31), Emma Watson (13:11), Rebecca Piggott (12:16)

B-team: 11th: 39:02 – Lily Woolcok (12:29), Annabel Litchfield (13:01), Esti Guijarro Puente (13:25)

Senior men (4 x 5,000m – 41 teams)

A-team: 19th: 01:03:37: Peter Gould (14:50), James Gibson (15:45), Jake Spencer (16:30), John Flahive (16:32)

B-team: 25th: 01:07:14 Mark Jefford (16:21), Tom Parker (17:05), Lenny Martin (17:10), Nichaolas Hodges-Gibson (16:38)

C-team (incomplete): Chris Vincent (16:01), Gareth Marshall (17:24)

Minithon, Lee Valley, London, October 19

The outstanding performance of the day belonged to Benjy Bediako who broke his own U13 club record in the 600m, winning the 24-boy event in a time of 1:42:37. Benjy also did well in the 60m spring, coming sixth out of 40 in a time of 8:86. Suraya Frost put in a strong performance over the same U13 distance, coming 6th out of 43 in *.96.

Results

 U13 boys

60m (40 finishers)

6th Benjy Bediako – 8:86

600m boys (24 finishers)

1st Benjy Bediako – 1:42:37 (PB & club record)

15th Sam Turner – 2:03:35 (PB)

U13 girls

60m(43 finisher)

6th Suraya Frost – 8:96

8th Martha Jolly – 9:09

200m (58 finishers)

12th Suraya Frost – 31:07

27th Elkie Baker – 32:48

600m

14th Elkie Baker -2:06:13

Sunday League, Cheshunt

Scarlett Parker sent this report: 'We had 14 at Cheshunt, rallied by Captain Laura and supported by vélo-vets Ruth & Dave. More by luck than design, with the male/female split meant we had exactly the right numbers for two complete A teams. Spirited runs by everyone, first in age categories for Emilia and Bob, and a few age group 'podiums' among the rest of us. Hopefully we'll be joined by more of the regulars (and newcomers alike) at the next one, race calendar permitting. That's Trent Park, 10.30am, Sunday 1st December.'

Results:

621st Scarlett Parker 31:25

135th Fabio Esperito-Santo 34:32

229th Alun Nash 38:32

233rd Michael Hickey 38:31

238th Emelia Vynnycky 38:50

267th Nilseh Goswami 40:08

273rd Kim Butler 40:20

301st Georgie Hooper 41:28

302nd Edyta Szot 41:29

303rd Rebecca Marshall 41:29

321 Nick Dodd 42:12

329th Sue Eedie 42:42

370th Ken Townson 45:07

418th Rob Gould 49:25

Yorkshire Marathon, York, October 20 

Five Heathsiders were among the 4310 finishers in the sixth-ever Yorkshire Marathon. Conditions were near-perfect - a cool 10 degrees and just a light breeze – but the course was hillier than expected. The first nine miles are almost all uphill (gently so, but still taxing) and there are a few other hills along the way including a nasty one in the final mile.

Natan Doran was the first Heathsider in a PB time of 2:54:49, which is outstanding considering that he lost three weeks of training with a hamstring injury. Natan ran the perfect race – even splits. We went out together but he decided I was over-cooking it and wisely held back only to sail past me with a mile or so to go.

I was running for the first time in an England vest (last year I ticked the wrong box) and training had gone well so I was a bit morose when going down with a cold in the final week (a product of going on the tube to save my legs from a cycle). But on Sunday morning it seemed to more or less clear and I decided to do 6:30 miles for as long as I could. I went through the half at 1:24:30 and felt fine but at 22 miles I paid the price, cramping badly in my calves before hobbling in at 2:55:29.

Tatyana Potiyenko was the first Heathside woman in 3:22:45. Also finishing were James Cutty (3:16:14) and Jessica Vinluan (3:36:46) – a very impressive 21 minute PB.

Results (4,310 finishers)

145th Natan Doron – 2:54:49

153rd Gavin Evans (V55) – 2:55:29

449th James Cuddy – 3:16:14

577th Tatyana Potiyenko – 3:22:45

950th Jessica Vinluan – 3:36:46

Amsterdam Marathon and Half Marathon, Sunday October 20th 

Marco Serena reports that '12 Heathsiders made the trip to Holland by train or plane for the Amsterdam marathon and half marathon. Both events finished in the 1928 Olympic stadium which added a special feeling. Amsterdam roads are probably too narrow for the crowds in these sell out events expecially at the start but the atmosphere was great with runners from all over the world and the organisation top class. Running conditions were ideal with 10 degrees and virtually no wind and the brave Heathsiders delivered fantastic runs and heroic performances.

'In the marathon, first home for Heathside was Marco Serena in 2:37:51. He’s still wondering how he shaved nearly five and half mins off his previous PB from April this year. Great runs by Thomas Stottor who followed in 2:47:17 and Mike Kennedy in 2:54:08. Congratulations for amazing PBs to Joe Clemoes 2:55:20, Liam Hazelton 3:02:38 and Steve Whibley, most improved Heathsider who closed in 3:15:48 (previous PB 3:23). Bas Vlaming came home in 3:28:42. Unlucky day for Rob Beam who had to abandon shortly after half way. Special mention to team Fenton for the amazing support at km 5, 10 and 42. Holly and Mike you kept us going.

'In the half marathon, Kwasi Agyei-Owusu led the Heathsiders home in a PB time of 1:30:43. Well done to Holly Fenton who finished in 1:39:22, Daniel Wrapson who crossed the line 1:41:25 and Mike Fenton who battled injury to close in 1:41:34

'It was great to travel to a marathon abroad with fellow Heathsiders and well done to all those who came. Looking at repeating the experience next year, we could try and organise earlier in the year and book group accommodation for the bulk of the participants to have more of a team experience.'

Results:

Marathon

Marco Serena 2:37:51

Thomas Stottor 2:47:17

Mike Kennedy 2:54:08

Joe Clemoes 2:55:20

Liam Hazelton 3:02:38

Steve Whibley 3:15:48

Bas Vlaming 3:28:42

Rob Beam dnf

Half Marathon

Kwasi Agyei-Owusu 1:30:43

Holly Fenton 1:39:22

Mike Fenton 1:41:34

Daniel Wrapson 1:41:25

Abington Marathon, Sunday October 20

Rajiv Ratan ran this one, completing the distance in 3:12:59.

Lisbon Marathon, Sunday October 20 

Felipe Cardoso reports that he and Nuno Ortero were in Portugal to compete at the Lisbon Marathon. The conditions were great with sunny weather and no wind. Unfortunately, Nuno did not recover from his injury on time so he could not run. Filipe  ran his first marathon in 3:31:47. 

Great South Run (10 miles), Portsmouth, October 20 

Jim Gardiner picked up a ten-mile PB and broke the 60-minute mark, in a time of 59:51. Four others joined Jim and all picked up PBs (if  you count first-timers over the distance). Shaun Kennedy sent this report: 'Conditions in Portsmouth were absolutely perfect with the sun shining on a beautiful clear autumnal morning. Very well organised event with plenty of local support out on the streets and some great performances with what looks like PBs for everyone (perhaps inevitable for me in my first race over 10 miles).'

Results:

Jim Gardiner 59:51

Tom Bedwell 63:17

Thomas Clark 65:14

Chris Prickett 70:41

Shaun Kennedy 77:06

Parkruns

Fifty-four Heathsiders ran in 20 Parkruns on Saturday with a record number of six wins for our men. Seyfu Jamaal won in Finsbury Park in 15:41. Roger Maidment won in Walthamstow in 17:04. Andy Barnes won in Greenpoint in 17:19. Joe McKeown won in Wormwood Sctubs in 18:17. Andrew Alasdair Brown won in Hilly Fields in 18:44. Melvin Lewis won in 19:06 in Sheffield Castle. Full results are here: https://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=2017&eventdate=2019-10-19 

Report by Gavin Evans with thanks to Scarlett Parker, Shaun Kennedy, Jessica Vinluan, Felipe Cardoso, Marco Serena