23rd February 2009 Sussex Beacon Half Marathon

Congratulations to the 15 Waddies who competed in the Sussex Beacon Half Marathon today.

Fittingly, the Waddies were led home by stalwart member Michael Mackay, displaying his usual prowess. There were some excellent individual performances with several pbs. Lyn Hayes ran still nursing the ankle she injured recently whilst skiing and it fell to the Chairman afterwards to demonstrate his skills on Lyn's ankle as a masseur. Barry Gilbert travelled from Reading to be at the event. For Mark Casse it was his first race.

The course starts in Madeira Drive and goes up London Road to just beyond the station, then makes its way through the Lanes back onto the seafront to Hove, where it loops back and later follows the Lower Promenade. Past the Pier the route climbs above Madeira Drive and then doubles back down towards the Start so at 10 miles average-paced runners have the excitement of seeing the Race Winners finish their race. The runners proceed towards the Marina, climb the cliff once again and above the Marina descend a steep path to sea level alongside the bobbing boats before running the final mile to the Finish. Gone are the windswept muddy paths towards Rottingdean loathed by runners in bygone years.

The conditions were good. It seemed quite cold in the wind but once under way the runners quickly warmed up! It was mostly cloudy after some glimpses of the sun before the Start. The breeze never really troubled until it headed in the last mile. There were 6063 Registered Entrants and 4613 Finishers so it is the biggest race in the neighbourhood and appeared to have been enjoyed by all the Waddies who took part.

The results:-

Provisional Results for All Competitors in finish order.
Sussex Beacon Half Marathon, Half Marathon Race - Sunday 22 February 2009. 9:45 am
Race Chip Race Race
Place Time Name Team Age Category Time No Place

242 1:29:41 MACKAY, Michael Wadhurst Runners Men 40-49 1:29:07 235 242
372 1:33:14 WATTENBACH, Eddie Wadhurst Runners Men 40-49 1:33:10 2754 372
553 1:36:48 HALL, Cathy Wadhurst Runners Ladies 21-39 1:36:44 4988 553
691 1:38:51 BURFOOT, Peter Wadhurst Runners Men 50-59 1:38:42 1740 691
711 1:39:09 HAYES, Linda Wadhurst Runners Ladies 40-49 1:38:43 666 711
926 1:42:25 JONES, David Wadhurst Runners Men 50-59 1:41:17 2538 926
1022 1:43:59 KEMP, Albert Wadhurst Runners Men 60-69 1:43:43 1974 1022
1118 1:45:14 CASSE, Mark Wadhurst Runners Men 21-39 1:44:57 4583 1118
1239 1:46:56 LAST, Shane Wadhurst Runners Men 40-49 1:42:56 1748 1239
1513 1:49:53 NEARY, Helen Wadhurst Runners Ladies 50-59 1:48:46 2467 1513
1896 1:53:51 RANDOLPH, Fergus Wadhurst Runners Men 40-49 1:52:44 4982 1896
2538 2:00:41 MACKAY, Melinda Wadhurst Runners Ladies 40-49 1:55:16 2269 2538
2942 2:04:47 GATES, Anthony Wadhurst Runners Men 50-59 2:04:01 1907 2942
3254 2:08:50 GATES, Kathie Wadhurst Runners Ladies 21-39 2:08:04 1908 3254
3428 2:11:30 GILBERT, Barry Wadhurst Runners Men 60-69 2:08:56 4198 3428

....Meanwhile Janet Drake was running the Bury 10 mile race today and her results are awaited.

The next Sussex Grand Prix race is the Eastbourne Half Marathon on 1st March. For those needing to run a longer race for training for the early April Paris or Rotterdam Marathons, there is the Thanet 20 mile race on 1st March at Ramsgate.

The next Cross Country is on 8th March at Sedlescombe.

If you want to run a Half Marathon in the next few weeks, why not try the Hastings Half Marathon on 15th March, which is also an SGP event?