A couple of reminders

No races at the weekend - as far as we know - so those in London mode would have enjoyed or endured a long run. For those following an established training schedule, you'll probably have just one more biggy to come and that's the Worthing 20 on April 1st. If you have yet to submit your entry then this link takes you straight to the Worthing website. Remember that the race is part of the Sussex Grand Prix series and there are valuable GP points at stake.

There are no races in Sussex this weekend although a couple of Waddies will be flying the flag in the Brentwood Half Marathon on Sunday. For masochists there is also the Sevenoaks 10K in Knole Park.

A couple of reminders about other events this week. Don't forget tomorrow night after the usual training run there's a special post-run rehydration session in the Greyhound to celebrate a few birthdays - including A Very Significant One for Janet (30?).

On Saturday night, Martin and Cathy are holding a Quiz Night in Beckley Village Centre to raise some money for their London Marathon charities. The evening begins at 8 and for your fiver a head there's wine and nibbles thrown in!

And the final reminder - as you look out of your windows in anticipation of the expected snow, icy winds, hailstone and God knows what else is due to be thrown at us, was it just a week ago since these piccies were taken in Hastings??

Have a good week.

Sara in line for Oscar!!

Club Secretary Sara Wrenn is featured in the promo video for the Hastings Half Marathon.

Romours of roles being lined up in Hollywood are, so far, unconfirmed.

Any suggestions for appropriate film roles for Sara?

Check out Sara's performance here

More photos from Hastings

More photos from Sunday's race in Hastings. We're awaiting the confirmed and final results - but when they arrive, we think Waddies will be on the honours board with Albert amongst the leading V Old Blokes, Helen Neary up there amongst the Vet ladies, Cathy Burke looking to retain her 1st Rye Lady title and both Cathy and Martin sweating on whether they have made the Best Pub Team - running under the joint banner of Wadhurst Runners and Rose & Crown, Beckley.

Remember to check back here for more news and piccies from Hastings.



Kathie storms to a finish.



Melinda and a weeble.



Don't you just hate these nippy things who stand waiting for the rest of us - look at Rachel - fresh as a daisy!!


Sam and Nyree escort a lost runner over the line.

Oh we do like to be beside the seaside!

The Waddies were out in force yesterday for the Hastings Half Marathon. The race was run in unseasonably warm weather but whilst that caused problems for some of the runners, it didn't stop a huge 24-strong Wadhurst team from posting some superb times. To put this performance into perspective two years ago, the membership of the club barely topped 25!



Skipper Mike pain was the highest placed Wadhurst Runner finishing in 1.25.45 and claiming 118th place; two other Wadhurst Runners posted sub 1.30 times, Ed McKinney in 1.28.02 for 160th place and Mike Mackay in 1.29.50 for 212th place.

There were pbs for Mike Pain, Peter Burfoot, Rachel Clements and Sara Wrenn whilst Albert defied his geriatric status with a cracking 1.39.54. In the Mini Run, Liam Burke led the Robertsbridge Community College team in his Wadhurst Runners vest clocking 8.57 for the 2.5K course.



Check back here later for more news and more photos from the race. In the meantime, the provisional results are available here



Provisional results:

Mike Pain 1.25.45
Ed McKinney 1.28.02
Mike Mackay 1.29.50
Peter Burfoot 1.35.08
Albert Kemp 1.39.54
Eddie Wattenbach 1.44.07
Linda Hayes 1.44.10
Cathy Hall 1.48.01
Rachel Clements 1.48.06
Helen Neary 1.49.19
Tony Dymond 1.52.52
"Bonita Backhouse" 1.53.54
Shane Last 1.54.08
David Jones 1.55.32
Cathy Burke 1.58.21
Martin Burke 1.59.02
Nyree Thomson 2.00.09
Sam Craven 2.00.09
Kathie Gates 2.05.27
Melinda Mackay 2.06.33
Tony Gates 2.07.25
Charlie Petkovic 2.15.16
Sara Wrenn 2.28.57
Tony Sorrell 3.00.16

Well done Peter!

Peter Burfoot was one of the few Waddies in race action last weekend as he competed in the Thanet 20 - an ideal pre-Spring Marathon event.

Peter finished in a PB time 2.29.05 - good enough to place him 93rd in the race and good enough to beat his previous 20 mile pb by a staggering 14 minutes! Unable to secure a place for the London Marathon, Peter will be wearing the Wadhurst vest in the Rotterdam Marathon this spring.

Remember that it's Hastings this Sunday and you should meet at Uplands at 8.30 for car sharing. There are two spare places available because Rachel D and Bonita are not able to run. And if anybody can help with handing out leaflets to promote the Bewl 15, please see Albert or Martin.

All off to Hastings?

This Sunday sees one of the biggest dates in the Sussex racing calendar with the running of the Hastings Half marathon. The seaside half marathon is regularly voted the country's top half marathon and well over 4,000 entries have already been received - so a record turnout could be on the cards.

There should be a strong turnout of Waddies on Sunday but if you haven't yet got your entry in, don't worry as the organisers are also still accepting entries on the day. Mind you, if you are thinking of leaving it until the last minute, you'd be advised to make sure you're in Hastings well before the 10.30 start time - the race HQ and surrounding areas are extremely congested and parking can be a problem.

Next up in the Sussex GP series, and ideal for London Marathon preparation, is the Worthing 20 on Sunday April 1st. If that's a touch too lomg, why not take a look at the Paddock Wood Half which takes place on the same day? It's a flat course and ideal for a pb.

No Waddies in action locally at the weekend (unless you know any different?) but Cathy and Martin were part of a group who travelled to Bruges for the annual Ostend to Bruges 10 Mile Race. Cathy was definitely in pot hunting mode as she came home first lady in the 6K - and was rewarded with her pot. Complete with plant!

Martin finished the 10 Mile Race in 1.26.47.

Have a good week.

Photos below show Martin huffing and puffing his way just 1K from home; and the second photo shows what happens if you trust your camera to a local who’s watched the entire race from the comfort of the bar!!

Brighton, Ashford and Hastings - Waddies on the run!

It was a busy old weekend for Waddies at the weekend. A good turnout of club members at the Sussex Grand Prix event - the Sussex Beacon Half, saw some fine performances. It's such a shame that the organisers of this event seem intent on fleecing runners - it cost £8 to enter this race in 2003 and 2004; in 2007 it cost up to £21 depending on when you entered. What price £25 next year? But, rant over, well done to the guys and girls that made the journey. Mike Mackay led the way once again - but what went wrong Mike? A whole second slower than last year?? And as for Albert - a great performance to finish 3rd male in the Old Man's category. Well done too to Jo White who, in her first ever race, finished in a highly creditable 1.58; and to Charlie who recorded a half marathon pb.

Results from the Sussex Beacon are available from www.sussexbeacon.org.uk/documents/results2provisional2007.pdf

147 Mike Mackay 1.27.21
648 Albert Kemp 1.40.00
808 Eddie Wattenbach 1.42.52
868 Linda Hayes 1.43.47
1038 Rachel Davies 1.46.17
1119 Helen Neary 1.47.40
1294 Shane Last 1.49.59
1488 Cathy Hall 1.52.32
1904 Jo White 1.58.21
2251 Tony Gates 2.04.08
2769 Charlie Petkovic 2.13.44
3036 Sarah Wrenn 2.31.57

Over in Kent a good turnout of Waddies contested the Ashford 10K and, although results are not posted yet, we'll have them here just as soon as they are.

Mike Pain was well up with the leaders and recorded a fine top 40 finish, followed by Peter Burfoot who just sneaked into the top 100. Sam Craven also had a great run with 48.46.

37 38:34 Michael Pain
100 42:47 Peter Burfoot
197 48:46 Samantha Craven
229 50:19 Nyree Thomson
285 53:02 Martin Burke
307 54:15 Andy Pain

Finally Cathy Burke was the lone Waddie that took part in the Hastings AC 10 Mile Championships along Bexhill seafront and posted a great time of 1.24.34.

Don't forget to keep up the training and get ready for another weekend of races - your choice on Sunday is between Tunbridge Wells and Eastbourne, both of which stage half marathons; a little further afield, the wadhurst flag will be flying in North London for the Roding Valley Half. The next Grand Prix event is Sunday 11th march with the fantastic Hastings Half Marathon.

Have a good week