1st March 2009 Eastbourne Half Marathon

Hi,

Wadhurst Runners put up a magnificent performance at the Eastbourne Half Marathon Sussex Grand Prix race today. The results speak for themselves:

6 1:20:43 CARR, Russell Wadhurst Runners Senior Men 1:20:38 790 6
15 1:24:26 OSBORN, Ciaran Wadhurst Runners Senior Men 1:24:26 276 15
36 1:28:33 PAIN, Michael Vet Men 40-49 1:28:31 837 36
37 1:28:50 WARING, Mark Wadhurst Runners Senior Men 1:28:49 596 37
45 1:30:12 MACKAY, Michael Wadhurst Runners Vet Men 40-49 1:30:10 811 45
105 1:36:24 WATTENBACH, Eddie Wadhurst Runners Vet Men 40-49 1:36:19 700 105
122 1:37:44 HALL, Cathy Wadhurst Runners Vet Ladies 35-44 1:37:38 849 122
218 1:44:26 LAST, Shane Wadhurst Runners Vet Men 40-49 1:44:20 946 218
221 1:44:32 BROOKER, Nick Wadhurst Runners Vet Men 40-49 1:44:20 201 221
226 1:44:50 KEMP, Albert Wadhurst Runners Vet Men 60+ 1:44:45 487 226
231 1:44:54 JONES, David Wadhurst Runners Vet Men 50-59 1:44:43 74 231
635 2:07:15 GATES, Anthony Wadhurst Runners Vet Men 50-59 2:07:00 484 635
652 2:08:06 GATES, Kathie Wadhurst Runners Senior Ladies 2:07:51 485 652
768 2:18:51 PETKOVIC, Charlotte Wadhurst Runners Senior Ladies 2:18:37 813 768

Meanwhile the Captain was over on Planet Thanet in ideal conditions trying to get back on track with his training schedule for the Rotterdam Marathon in 5 weeks time, by running the Thanet 20 mile race over a slightly different course for 2009 and taking in the North Foreland Lighthouse and the numerous bays and ups and downs to the north and south of Ramsgate:

163 2:41:50 BURFOOT, Peter Wadhurst Runners M56 67.36% 110 163

Eastbourne Half, Thanet 20 and slightly further afield

Windy conditions affected the times at both Eastbourne, for the return of the town's Half Marathon, and at Thanet, where Peter Burfoot was the sole Waddie representative.

There was a strong Waddie presence in Eastbourne where the weather conditions didn't help the runner's times. In addition to the strength sapping wind, the course also contained a very large hill that some Waddies weren't expecting (not many seafronts built on a hill etc etc!)

The results from Eastbourne were

8 Ciaran Osborn 1.23.23
22 Mike Pain 1.27.45
104 Eddy Watenbach 1.39.16
109 Simon Bowyer 1.39.42
115 Shane Last 1.40.04
130 Cathy Hall 1.41.16
201 Abert Kemp 1.46.27
398 Nyree Thomson 1.58.02
399 Sam Craven 1.58.02
469 Helen Neary 2.03.17
529 Kathy Gates 2.07.07
530 Tony Gates 2.07.12
734 Janet Drake 2.40.38

And over in Kent, well done to Peter Burfoot for completing the Thanet 20!

98 Peter Burfoot 2.35.12

Slightly further afield, a couple of Waddies made the annual pilgramage to the city of chocolate and beer for one of Europe's fastest 10 Mile races. The one way race from Ostend to Bruges along the side of the canal which links these two cities always attracts a large field and, if the wind is blowing in the right direction, some fast times are possible.

WebEd was there with Mrs Ed and recorded a pw of 1.47.50 - nothing to do with the wind being in the wrong direction but more to do with an act of supreme gallantry in volunteering to run with a first-timer.

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.