Sunday 7th September 2025

Darren Gillett’s report on the local BBB 10K race is a must-read – it’s engaging and worth taking the time to read ⬇️

The Battel 10k (yes it’s spelt correctly) is always one I look out for each year, being a Sussex boy born and bred it’s not unknown that my love of the Sussex bonfire tradition is very close to my heart❤️

It’s always hard for each bonfire society to raise money to host their events year on year, the battel bonfire boys and belles host the BBB10k race which also incorporates a junior race (on the same morning) before the main race as their largest fundraising event for the year.

I saw on the nice work and BBB10K  facebook page that they required marshals and volunteers again as they do every year and as we know without marshals and volunteers these events cannot happen. They had an extra challenge this year with the closure of Battle Hill causing total chaos to the traffic in Battle. I emailed the organisers to offer my services as a tail runner/sweeper and was accepted.

Unexpectedly I was offered a free place with a number to ensure I got a medal at the end for giving up my time 🥇

The event starts in the main high street. “The bullring” outside the abbey and is where all runners congregate before the race where there are a number of portaloos, a cafe and a pub opposite for refreshments pre-race too. There’s even plenty of parking around battle all payable via ringo from £4 upwards .

The junior race starts outside the abbey 🏰 at 9:30 which runs up the high street to the roundabout at the fire station then back down the high street and loops round the bullring back to the start/finish. Then there is an organised warm up (again at the bullring) pre main race before the runners take a short walk half way up the high street to the start line.

The run then goes up the high street to the fire station 🚒 roundabout before heading back down the high street and past the abbey towards powder mill lane, a nice undulating route with near all roads bar the A271 closed to traffic, a nice climb adjacent to the powder mill hotel before turning right onto horns corner and a slow climb up to north trade road where you turn right and a lovely down hill section past the squirrel pub, this road then takes you past claverham college before heading back into a down hill finish through the high street and a little loop round the bullring to the finish line where medals and water await the finishers .

The route has two well stocked water stations too.

It’s not an expensive race to enter  and this year sold out so no on the day enteries were available. A lot of the local running clubs were in attendance, Hastings Runners being the highest attendees 🖤 💚

So if you are not feeling racey and fancy volunteering at any events just email the organisers and they will happily accept your offer of help, sometimes you get free race enteries , other times hoodies or sometimes just a very nice Thankyou. It’s so rewarding to give back to the running community so if you haven’t volunteered this year be it at parkrun or a race then please consider it at least once before the end of the year. The feel good factor of volunteering is just so good.

🎤 a fantastic account of a wonderful race on our doorstep Darren.  Well done for giving up your time to help others too 🙌