Sunday October 20th 2024

The penultimate race within the Sussex Grand Prix league took place on Sunday 20th October.  With weather warnings in place, it was set to be a soggy run in extremely windy conditions for the two-lap course starting at Hove Lagoon.

The weather extremes did little to deter the huge turnout of 281 runners, with many entering on the day after a cancelled Great South Run.  A big shout out to Abi Morris 🙌 who was saddened to learn of the GSR cancellation but pitched up and ran the Hove 10K in true Harrier’s spirit to gain extra points for our team🖤 ❤️

Of the 281 runners at Hove, our hardy band of 23 Harriers were the biggest club on the day, even winning the award for Team Turnout 🏆

Starting promptly at 9am, the weather seemed OK! But shortly after the first lap, side-ways wind, hail and rain ☔️ lashed down making conditions extremely challenging not just for the runners but for the poor marshals too.  Huge hi-five to the poor chap at the turnaround cone – he was being blasted from all sides 🫣

First Harrier home and unphased by the weather, finishing in a mighty impressive 4th place overall saw Chris Doherty 🥕 36:17, followed by Captain Bartz 👨🏻‍✈️ in 40:07.  First female Harrier across the line, also unphased by the weather saw Claire Keith 🍒 finish in a remarkable 42:37 and first in age 🌟 , with Woolley 🧶 hot on her heels in 42:42.  Maria Smith 💆🏼‍♀️ managed to run a sensational new 10K personal best in 43:35 also winning first in age 🌟 , with Tinks 🧚🏻 44:36 and KT Reed 🦆 producing a fabulous 10K personal best in 44:55, winning first in age 🌟.  Leeland 🚴‍♀️ crossed the line in 46:39, followed by our Bassett hound 🐶 in 46:43, and Jo McGowan 🌺 also running an incredible new 10K PB in 48:06.  Fluffy 🐌 stormed to the finish despite a few recent niggles to finish in 48:29, followed by Andrew Moore 🏃🏽, not feeling his best, in 49:46, Abi 🌷 clutching on to her race number in 50:15, Nemo 🐠 and Shaun 🐘 running together in a mighty 57:26, Kev 💪🏼 57:50, The Ledge 🖤❤️58:29 and Lady Delves 😎 58:32, winning first in age 🌟.  Ros Daintree 🌹, always smiling, flew to the finish in 58:38, followed by Jayne 🦸🏻‍♀️ 59:13, Lisa PH 🧡 1:02:25, Karen ☘️, even after running back for her detached number, in 1:06:04 and completing the Harriers team – Robbie in 1:25:05.

Hugest congratulations to all that ran in brutal conditions and an extra mention to those that even ran new PB’s ………..WOW! 🤩

The aim at the end after crossing the line was to grab a choccie bar and head off to get changed into dry clothes as quickly as possible, unfortunately for Kevin Morris 💪🏼 he dropped his dry, clean clothes in a puddle and had to drive home NAKED!!😳😳😳, Funniest story of the year!!