MONDAY 13TH OCTOBER 2008

Peter Burfoot reports ...

"The Lewes Downland 10 mile off road race was run on 5th October in atrocious conditions - stinging driving rain, mist, and winds strong enough to stop the runners in their tracks at one point. There was water everywhere running in rivers or collected in ankle-depth puddles, sometimes mixed with mud of similar depth.

Albert announced afterwards that the conditions underfoot were better than usual. He said the the water prevented the mud from being gooey and sticking to your trainers. After everybody else had wrung out their soaked kit and changed into dry clothes at Race HQ, Albert, still drenched, stood shivering and also announced that he was going back for more - he had to run a further 8 miles that morning.

I couldn't possibly comment on past conditions as I hadn't run the race before....nor, apparently, did I this year, since, after waiting a full week for the results I haven't been included - the result of an epic 6.5 mile battle with Shane will never make it into the history books.

The organisers announcement reads:

"Regretably due to the bad weather on the day places and times were lost. Please let us know if you are missing."

Congratulations to all those Waddies who braved the conditions. The published results (after including my own time) are:-

8th 1:06:20 Ciaran Osborn
34th 1:13:21 Mark Waring
51st 1:16:09 Helen Goddard
67th 1:18:15 Eddie Wattenbach
78th 1:20:27 Peter Burfoot
79th 1:20:53 Shane Last
117th 1:26:52 Lynn Hayes
137th 1:30:14 Tony Gates
146th 1:32:24 Albert Kemp
149th 1:32:53 David Jones
208th 1:57:50 Kathie Gates
210th 2:01:52 Sara Wrenn
214th 2:04:47 Janet Drake

If you or your time are still missing, please contact Lewes AC so they can organise a search."

Chichester 10K

In contrasting warm, still and sunny conditions the Chichester 10k AAA Championship Race was run on 12th October, with the winner from Belgrave Harriers clocking a time of 29:38. A clutch of Waddies travelled to the farther reaches of West Sussex for the occasion, and an occasion it was with plenty of support about in the built-up areas and an announcer seemingly imported from the BBC of the World War II era.

Congratulations to all the Waddies who took part and commiserations to Mat Seabrook who arrived just as the race was about to start so didn't have time to attach his "new look" credit card type chip, and so didn't get a time or mention in the results either. Here are the results:-

260th 42:09 Peter Burfoot
307th 43:29 Shane Last
515th 47:37 Tony Gates
650th 50:31 Helen Neary
739th 52:02 Barry Gilbert
53:?? Mat Seabrook
975th 57:57 Kathie Gates

Cross Country News

Crowborough Runners are not expecting to field a team next week for the opening cross country race at Whitbread Hollow Eastbourne on acount of their James Welbury's birthday celebrations. Wadhurst Runners joins up with Crowborough Runners for the Cross Country Season in the East Sussex Sunday Cross Country League.

Details of next week's race can be found on the Sussex Races website.

The next SGP race is the Barn's Green Half Marathon on 2nd November.

MONDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER 2008

As far as is known, Waddies race action at the weekend centred on or near to the south coast, with the Bexhill 10k, the Folkestone Half Marathon and the Firle 20k Trail Run taking place.

Bexhill 10k

60th 48:24 Albert Kemp

Folkestone Half Marathon

439th 2:14:18 Charlotte Petkovic

Firle 20k Trail Run

23rd 1:40:04 Peter Burfoot

The Firle race started in the cool of a sunny windless morning at 9:30 am and the running conditions were ideal for attempting the assault on the scarp face of the South Downs (provided by that time you had not ground to a halt, or a walk) and running up and down along the ridge once you reached the top.

This Sunday sees the running of the Lewes Downland Off-road 10 mile race which is part of the Sussex Grand Prix Series.

Details can be found on the Sussex Races Website:

Lewes Downland 10 and 5, Ashford 10K

It was back to Grand prix action on Sunday with the running of the Lewes Downland 10, supported by a five mile race.

Another fine perfromance from Mike Pain saw him make the top 30.

Full results:

27th 1:08:41 PAIN, Michael
73th 1:17:02 NEWBERRY, Daniel
120th 1:24:11 HAYES, Linda
122nd 1:24:21 KEMP, Albert
187th 1:37:19 GATES, Anthony
200th 1:43:32 JONES, David
211th 1:47:33 BURKE, Catherine
217th 1:50:06 PETROVIC, Charlotte
224th 1:59:38 DRAKE, Janet

Hannah Bates finished 23rd in the 5 mile race in a time of 36.52.

Peter Burfoot and Martin Burke flew the Wadhurst flag in Kent, taking part in the Ashford 10K. Peter finishing 76th out of a field of 700 plus in a time of 42.15 - just a few seconds off his personal best. Martin ran 59.24.