4th May 2009 - More news than you can shake a stick at

SGP Results

The provisional SGP Results for the 1st 4 races (Sussex Beacon, Eastbourne Half, Hastings Half and Worthing 20, are now up on the new Sussex Grand Prix website http://www.sussexgrandprix.co.uk/results.php

Graham Chapman, the SGP Chairman is at pains to point out;

"You'll see that they are provisional results only and need a bit more work before they are finalised.

In particular, the vet cats are not shown, and there's also a small number of duplicated runners on the list.

Thanks for your patience, it's taken a while and quite a lot of work to assemble a new database of competing runners (thanks to Nick Apps for this).

As the season progresses, the results will be smartened up.

Feel free to circulate to your members.

Any comments, then please let me know, but please don't raise any individual queries yet unless there are any runners actually missing from the results.

I'll keep you posted with developments, and remember that once the results have been rehashed there will be a 3 week period to raise queries."

We are aware that the results are not quite right yet, and have noted some of our runners' omissions from some races, eg Tony Gates and Michael Macay/Mackay. I will raise these individual queries when the results have been rehashed, but if you could please let me know any errors affecting you as individuals, please let me know and I will note them all.

Bluebell Run


10 Waddies had a very enjoyable time on Sunday at the annual Bluebell Run over to Hawkden Wood, Mayfield. The bluebells were magnificent this year. It was a sight to behold. Nobody opted for the longer version of the run. The annual awards dinner the previous night may have been a factor. Ably led by Roger Smith there were no excuses for getting lost this year, though Albert did try to ignore the 1st crucial right turn. Unusually for a club run (but no doubt as a result of the getting lost experiences in previous years) the mixed ability group kept together and completed the run in about 90 minutes. It was not nearly as muddy as last year. Thank you Roger and Shane for transporting the group to Tidebrook and back.


Race Results

Peter Burfoot took part in the Nissan Bailey's Whitstable 10K. A regular May Day Bank Holiday fixture, the race this year was oversubscribed by 100 runners whose entries could not be accepted due to the race limit of 650. The race starts on the low cliffs to the east of Whitstable and the course wends its way eastwards for 5k, slightly away from the seafront through a caravan park and residential area and along a grassy stretch of cliff. At the halfway point the route joins the promenade and runners were greeted by a noticeable wind ahead but slightly side on. Performances generally seemed down on last year when the runners had a tail wind in 2nd half but were roasting. There were no heat problems this year. 570 finished the race. The results:-

Pos No. Name Age Club Time Age Grading %
70 466 Peter Burfoot 56 Wadhurst Runners 43:11 73.14


Flying Coaches


2 male members and 1 female have expressed an interest in learning to become coaches. I have notified Elspeth Turner of UK Athletics for some suggested dates for a Tuesday Flying Coach session. The priority will be to fix a date convenient to the Flying and Prospective Coaches, but members who wish to be coached on the day will be notified.

Race details

Please note that the date for the Wednesday evening Worthing "Fish and Chips" 10k SGP race this year is Wednesday 10th June (not 3rd June as previously notified). You don't get fish and chips in your Goodie Bag, but traditionally members have gone for a fish and chip supper afterwards (there is other food on the menu). Early entry is advised to this race as it fills up quickly. There is no on-line entry, but forms are downloadable at Worthing Harriers' website:

Other weekday evening summer races include the Bexhill "Battle of Bexhill" series which starts on 27th May and the Rye Classic Summer series which starts on Friday 24th July.

Nice Work are organising the inaugural Tillingham Valley Rockabilly 5 mile Cross Country race on Saturday evening 30th May. Details of all these events can be found on the Sussex Races website: http://sussexraces.tripod.com/sussexraceseventplanner.html

The Horsham 10k

This Sunday is the Horsham 10k SGP race. Those wishing to car share should meet at Uplands Car Park at 8.30 am.

Sussex Grand Prix - provisional dates for 2009

The provisional 2009 SGP Race Calendar is:

22nd February 2009 - The Sussex Beacon Half
1st March 2009 Eastbourne Half Marathon
15th March 2009 Hastings Half Marathon
5th April 2009 Worthing 20
19th April 2009 Hastings 5 Miles
(26th April 2009 London Marathon)
10th May 2009 Horsham 10K
3rd June 2009 Worthing 10K
(6th June 2009 South Downs Relay)
21st June 2009 Heathfield 10K
5th July 2009 Bewl 15
30th July 2009 Bexhil 5K (prov)
23rd August 2009 Will Page 10K
14th September 2009 Hellingly 10K
20th September 2009 Hove Prom 10K
4th October 2009 Lewes Downland 10 mile
11th October 2009 Chichester 10K
1st November 2009 Barns Green Half Marathon
8th November 2009 Phoenix Park Races
15th November 2009 Brighton 10K
29th November 2009 Crowborough 10K

End of season report from the Headmaster

Chairman Albert Osaurus send us his end of term report:

"Wadhurst Runners entered the last round of the Sussex Grand Prix Road Running Series, being the last of 18 races, at the Crowborough 10K. After 17 races they were clinging onto 5th place, which is one place higher than they achieved in 2007.

Thankfully the race conditions were suitably cold rather than the wet and cold of previous years. The team needed to maximise their results to have a chance of achieving their best ever position.

Ciaran Osborne was the 1st Waddie finishing in a powerful 7th place, his highest place of the year. The first Wadhurst lady was Helen Goddard who also finished strongly in 58th place overall and was 7th lady overall.

Other notable successes were Lyn Hayes who was 4th lady vet 2 and Albert Kemp, club chairman, who was 3rd vet 3. Personal Bests were recorded by new comers Nick Brooker and Matt Seabrook. The team results were:

7th 37:35 minutes Ciaran Osborn – senior male; 58th 43:49 Helen Goddard Lady Vets class 1; 75th 44:57 Peter Burfoot Male Vets class 2; 101st 46:51 Lyn Hayes Lady Vets 2; 137th Nick Brooker 48:53 Male Vets 1; 172nd 50:36 Albert Kemp Male Vets 3; 258th 55:06 Fergus Randolph Male Vets 1; 316th 59:10 Barry Gilbert Male Vets 3; 318th 59:21 Matt Seabrook Male Vet 1; 340th 1:01:09 Tony Gates Male Vets 2 and 345th 1:01:47 Kathie gates Senior Ladies.

As a result of the team performance the Wadhurst Runners achieved their aim and ended 5th overall. Thanks mainly to the ladies who were 3rd overall and 2nd in the vets category. This is the very first time in their history that Wadhurst Runners has ended up with medals in the series. The men were 6th overall and the vets were 5th.

Tony Gates should receive a special mention once again for his award for completing all 18 races. This is an exceptional, indeed rare, feat and this is the 2nd year in a row that he has received this award. Just 3 have runners completed this amazing feat and last year this trophy was restricted to 2 runners only.

The whole Grand prix had 1,119 affiliated club runners of which 667 were men and 452 were women. The series is growing year by year and had 985 runners last year. Individually the Wadhurst Runners have won medals in a number of categories:

Ladies Team – 3rd
Vet Ladies Team – 2nd
Senior Men up to age 39 – 5th Ciaran Osborn
Senior Ladies age 34 – 4th Kathie Gates
Vet ladies age 35+ - 5th Helen Goddard, 7th Lyn Hayes and 8th Cathy Gates
Vet Men V5 age 60 to 64 – Albert Kemp
Vet Lady V1 age 35 to 39 – 2nd Helen Goddard and 3rd Cathy Hall
Vet Lady V3 age 45 to 49 – 2nd Lyn Hayes
Vet Lady V4 age 50 to 54 – 3rd Janet Drake
Vet Lady V5 age 55 to 59 – 3rd Helen Neary
Completing all 18 races – Tony Gates

WEDNESDAY 24TH SEPTEMBER 2008

Entries have now opened for the Sussex Beacon Half Marathon 2009, which will be held on 22nd February. This was a tremendous race this year in glorious sunshine and the course has definite pb potential.

The race is very expensive for a Half Marathon although runners who are members of clubs in the Sussex Grand Prix series can secure an additional discount on the entry fee by quoting an Unique SGP Number.

The number for Wadhurst Runners members which you will need to write on your entry form is W920.

MONDAY 26TH AUGUST 2008

With the Sussex Grand Prix results after 9 races putting Wadhurst Runners 2nd overall in the standings, there is renewed interest in the SGP races.

Yesterday saw the running of the Newick Will Page 10k race, 3rd only to Crowborough in the severity of its undulations.

The uncharacteristically cool damp and dreary weather conditions were ideal for running though some runners noticed a headwind on the main road section between 3.5 and 4.5 kms.

Nine Waddies made the journey and the team was led in by Helen Goddard in a fantastic time of 41:41.

The results were:-

42nd 0:41:41 GODDARD, Helen
52nd 0:42:59 WATTENBACH, Eddie
68th 0:45:00 BURFOOT, Peter
100th 0:48:19 JONES, David
102nd 0:48:27 KEMP, Albert
103rd 0:48:33 CLEMENTS, Tim
128th 0:49:13 GATES, Anthony
200th 1:01:58 GATES, Kathie
204th 1:02:47 DRAKE, Janet

Photos are available at:

The next SGP race is the Hellingly 10k on 14th September and entry details can be found at:



Last, but not least, all are welcome to participate in the 3rd Annual Weald Ridge 10 km run which is due to take place at Weald Ridge, High Street, Ticehurst, Wadhurst East Sussex, TN5 7HT this Sunday 31st August 2008 at 10.00 hrs.

This is a circular run of just over 10k which includes part of the Bewl 15 course. Cakes have traditionally been served on the terrace after the run and the weather forecast is looking good...at the moment

Sussex GP Update

Our Chairman has found a spare few hours in his day to study the latest bulletin from the Sussex GP - and here are his musings:

"We have great news. The club is already 4th overall in the Sussex Grand Prix after 2 of 18 races. The ladies are 3rd and the men 4th. The lady vets are 5th and the male vets are 3rd.

Amazing for us but I knew with the quality of our new runners and the build up of some of the existing runners would produce our best ever year. The best positions so far for the club are:

Senior Men - Ciaran 12th Simon 32nd and Mark 38th overall. They are all new runners this year.

Vet men – Shane 10th, Eddie 12th and Albert 13th overall.

Senior Ladies – Kathie Gates 2nd and Nyree 17th overall.

Vet ladies – Cathy Hall 4th, Janet 18th and Lyn 32nd overall. Cathy is our most improved lady this year.

Vet 1 Men - Shane 4th, Eddie 5th and Michael Pain 7th. Shane is our most improved runner this year so far.

Vet 3 Men – Tony Gates 9th.

Vet 4 Men David Jones 13th.

Vet 5 Men – Albert 2nd

Vet 1 ladies – Cathy Hall 2nd.

Vet 2 ladies – Samantha.

Vet 3 ladies – Lyn 6th.

Vet 4 ladies – Janet 2nd.

Vet 5 ladies – Helen 5th

Overall this is superb but of course it is early days and excludes the Hastings Half Marathon. There are still another 15 races and it will all change one way or another."

You'll find the updated league tables if you scroll down and check the column to the right.

Incidentally, its amazing what the hidden cameras can pick up at Uplands ....

Sussex GP Update

The Sussex Grand Prix tables have now been updated - see right.

As we approach the last race of the season, the tables have changed dramatically as the effect of the 'eight races' rule starts to bite. The main beneficiary appears to be Horsham Joggers who have hit the top spot in both Men's categories and the overall table.

Mike Pain is top Wadhurst Man - 28th overall and 8th in Vet 1; Lyn Hayes is top Lady in 15th overall and 9th in her category. Other notable mentions go to Peter Burfoot who is 10th in Male Vet 3; David Jones, 10th in Male vet 4; ; Albert Kemp who is 2nd in Male vet 5. For the Ladies, Cathy Hall is 6th, Rachel Davies is 7th and Bonita backhouse is 9th in Lady Vet 1; Helen Neary is 3rd in Lady vet 5.

Don't forget that this Sunday sees the last race of the GP season with the Crowborough 10K. A couple of weeks later there's a 5 Mile Race at Ashburnham Place, near Battle - other than that it's downhill all the way to Christmas!