Sunday 26th March – 10:30am

It was a soggy start ☔️ for over 2000 entrants at the 39th Hastings Half Marathon on Sunday 26th March, but this certainly did not deter a whopping 28 hardy Harriers from braving the elements – A team on a Sussex Grand Prix mission to lift the 2023 trophy🏆 

Despite the wet conditions, the temperatures were a mild 9° and the wind, for once, was kind.

Our black and red team each produced sterling performances with Ross the rocket 🚀 racing to another personal best ⭐️ and shaving off a minute compared to last years race.  He finished in 1:14:47, placing 8th overall and first in age 🏆 👏🏻 

Ross was followed by team mate Linford Crusty who ran his quickest HM time for 20 years.   Rob stormed across the line in 1:22:34 with Los Jellybaby also running to a new PB ⭐️ in 1:26:03.  

Woolley 🧶 smashed out a fabulous time of 1:29:47, with Tinks 🧚‍♀️1:35:42.  Matt Southam, returning to form, finished in 1:36:43, with our amazing Audrey gaining a new PB of 1:39:29 ⭐️ a time she truly deserves after much hard work and training commitment off late😍. 

BIG Si, hot on his wife’s heels, finished in 1:41:13, with Captain Barts 👨🏻‍✈️ and Mik, taking it easy, as they were all smiles crossing the line, same outfits, same shoes 👯‍♀️ in a respectable 1:41:50.  

3 poo’s Tina made her 2nd claim debut race look easy, with a magnificent time of 1:45:50 finishing first in age 🏆 whilst team Pins & Puns, Wendy and Graham, comfortably raced to 1:47:27.  

Chris Little 🔥 had a superb run in 1:48:59, whilst Mumma Roo, despite feeling incredibly nervous at the start, rocked home in 1:49:01.  

Fluffy 🐌, who would have been happy squeezing under 2 hours, nailed a 1:50:01, whilst Barry Burgess, made his debut Harriers race flying over the line in 1:55:39.  Welcome to the Harriers Barry 🖤❤️ 

Mark Pope had an impressive run in 1:56:46, with cross country Hannah also having a cracker, finishing in 2:00:27.  Victoria 👮🏻‍♀️ who only landed back from sunny Spain just hours before, raced in at 2:02:30, with Lady Delves 😎 2:06:46.

It was great to see Katy Reed achieve her goal for the past few months as she crossed the finish line in a mighty 2:08:58 👏🏻 All that training paying off Katy 😍

Nemo 🐠, who had run an impressive 4 miles beforehand, flew home in 2:13:20, with Ros Thomson running to a much deserved personal best in 2:21:41 … YES ROS!! ⭐️

It was great to see Ladies Vice Captain, Lisa Phillips-Horner 🧡 finishing in 2:28:51.  Last year Lisa tore her Achilles at the same race so to see her back out racing is a real pleasure 😍😍😍

The beautiful Maria Stanford 💕 who adds glamour to all the races, crossed the line in 2:43:03, with or club treasurer Darren Gillett, who never gives up, no matter what he is faced with, finished in 2:44:45 making up our super strong, and determined black and red team 🖤❤️

Like past years, The Hastings Half was organised by Hastings Lions Club 🦁 with the event raising funds for several charities including Martha’s Trust, St Michael’s Hospice, The Sara Lee Trust and Chestnut Tree House.  

All entrants received a bespoke Brass medal depicting a 1928 trolleybus used in Hastings at the start of transport technology. 

And just like that the 2023 SGP kicks off to a competitive start.  Awesome work team 🖤❤️and to our ladies team – Tinks, Audrey and Tina for placing 3rd Ladies team.  With race 1 of 12 complete, the next event is The Haywards Heath 10 mile on Sunday 30th April.