Weekend wins for Sarah, James, Thomas and Gabriel
Heathside had a big, sunny running and throwing week. Triumphs included club records for Gabriel Edwards (U13 75m – 2nd fastest in the country so-far this year), James Hambling (hammer throw) and Thomas Archer (U20 1500) while Sarah Swinhoe came fifth overall in the Devil’s Lite 50k race in the South Downs as well as being the second woman and the 1st vet.
And on the ultra-front there were also strong showings from Rachel Normand, who came 3rd in the North Downs 50 miler, while Michael Kennedy came 7th in 100km London to Brighton race and Julie Pickering came 4th in the Ultra-X 100k race in Surrey. Meanwhile, George Gurney ran an excellent 15:11 in the Battersea 5k.
Be-fit Academy Open, Dagenham, Saturday May 29
Simon Baker reports that young Gabriel Edwards continued his fine season recording two new PBs and Club fastest times at the Befit Academy Open at Dagenham. These were the 2nd and 3rd fastest times recorded by an U13 Boy this year. Also running were Mia Rosen and David Baah-Okyere who train with Peter Scott with David taking 20s off his previous PB and Mia 5s off hers.
Results
75m
R3 1st Gabriel Edwards (U11B) 10.18 PB New Club U13B record
150m
R1 1st Gabriel Edwards (U11B) 20.38 w PB
R3 2nd Rufus Tansey (U20M) 16.85 PB
1500m
R1 4th Mia Rosen (U15G) 5:13.35 PB
R3 13th David Baah-Okyere (U15B) 4:31.40 PB
BMC Grand Prix, Manchester, Saturday May 29
Thomas Archer continued his outstanding season at the prestigious BMC Grand Prix 1500m recording a time of 3:57.52 improving his season best time by 6s and setting a new U20 Club record.
Result
1500m
RC 12th Thomas Archer 3:57.52 Club U20 Record
Devil’s Lite 50k, Steyning, Sussex, Saturday May 29
Sarah Swinhoe left the boys way, way behind in coming fifth overall in this hilly, stony, rutted, sunny 50k in the South Downs. She was the first V50 woman, arriving almost 59 minutes ahead of the first V40 woman and 128 minutes ahead of the second V50 woman. She was also the second woman overall in an event won by a woman, Jade Elphick (who was six minutes ahead of the first man).
Sarah, Rob Shulman and I ran together for the first half with Damien Lane passing us when we took a wrong turn. But in the second half Sarah changed gear, charging up the steep hills that everyone else walked, explaining that this decision was motivated by her pre-race hip troubles. ‘Walking up the hills was a pain – running was just more comfortable,’ she explained as she scampered off. She soon passed Damien and worked her way through the field. Taking a leaf from the Bunting book, Sarah did two cartwheels after finishing in 4:43:25 – 17-minutes ahead of Damien.
Damien and I ran together for several miles but he was less nervy on the precarious downhills and over the last quarter, surged. Without my guide I soon took a wrong turn and was forced to retrace my steps before being guided back to the path by a local pig farmer who chatted to me about rugby. Two miles from the end I tumbled in a rutted ditch section, emerged with a calf cramp that made me squeak and looked plaintively at the blue sky for a couple of minutes before chugging off to the finish line, seven minutes behind Damien.
Rob was next in, 20 minutes later – a job well done, having used it as a test for his ultra ambitions, after a hernia injury. There was a long wait and then came Liam Hazelton, which was a surprise because when last seen he was behind Dan Johns and Tom Bedwell. They arrived ten minutes after Liam, having taken a disastrous wrong turn, which saw them running an extra three miles. “All my fault,” admitted Dan. “I followed another runner, who turned out not to be a runner, and Tom followed.” Matt Beard arrived six minutes later – all eight of us finally in.
The event was free and very well organised - definitely worth another stab next year.
Results (192 finishers)
5th Sarah Swinhoe – 4:43:25 (2nd woman, 1st V50 W)
13th Damien Lane – 5:00:05
17th Gavin Evans – 5:07:18 (1st V60)
21st Rob Shulman – 5:27:14
41st Liam Hazelton – 6:07:58
55th Dan Johns – 6:17:07
56th Tom Bedwell – 6:17:20
63rd Matt Beard – 6:23:34
London to Brighton 100km 29 May, 2021
Michael Kennedy came an outstanding 7th in the London to Brighton 100k race. Here’s his report:
‘London to Brighton is one of those journeys that most people have completed either by train, car or bike at some point in their lives. People tend to understand the distance, undulation of the terrain and effort that is needed to get there. This context makes the race a real talking point with friends and colleagues.
‘Starting off at Old Deer Park in Richmond, the course heads along The Thames, through the North Downs, across the Surrey & Sussex countryside, over the South Downs with the 100km finish at the Brighton Racecourse.
‘With the "unseasonal" wet May, a large portion of the trails and farmland were boggy underfoot making the pace a lot slower. This was compounded by a clear and hot day (21 / 22 degrees). I had done very little heat training in my build-up so felt less prepared than I would have liked to be. No doubt these two factors played a factor in only 12 competitors completing the course in under 12 hours and a DNF rate of 36% (ca.400 people).
‘Overall, the race was well organised, the landscape stunning and ideal for anyone wanting a runnable course (subject to favourable conditions!). The race has provided me a good foundation and confidence boost for my upcoming 12-hour track ultra in Crawley in late June - bring on the 400m loop.’
Results
7th Michael Kennedy 11:23.58
Lee Valley Throws Feast, Lee Valley, Sunday May 23
James Hamblin who joined the club in the summer broke the Club Hammer record at Lee Valley Throws Feast his 55.51m was the 23rd furthest in the UK this year and surpassed Izaiah Turner's previous mark of 33.31m set in 2019.
Result
Hammer 7.26kg
James Hamblin 55.51m New Club Record
.Ultra X Spring 100k, Haslemere, Surrey, Saturday May 22
Julie Pickering finished 4th Woman in this long race held in what sounded like brutal conditions.
Result
16th Julie Pickering 13:18.24 4th Female, 2nd V35W
North Downs Way 50-miles, Saturday May 22
Rachel Normand finished 3rd woman in this race, just over 20 mins behind the female winner.
Result
Rachel Normand 8:20.49 3rd woman
Battersea under the Lights 5k, Battersea Park, Saturday May 29
George Gurney, Sion Lewis and Kieran Morris all ran excellent 5ks in a highly competitive race at Battersea Park.
Result
46th George Gurney 15:11.3
88th Sion Lewis 16:01.7
93rd Kieran Morris 16:05.6
Report by Gavin Evans, with big thanks, as always to Simon Baker and also to Michael Kennedy.