Harriers take on all conditions in full weekend of racing

Ten Harriers made the trip to the popular Chichester Priory 10k on Sunday.
Chichester 10k. Picture by Phil WestlakeChichester 10k. Picture by Phil Westlake
Chichester 10k. Picture by Phil Westlake

The race attracts a field of top athletes from the South due to its status as one of the major races in the English road running calendar.

The undulating, fast course did not disappoint with some outstanding times recorded including those from the Harriers in blustery conditions.

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Izzy Coomber was an impressive 12th lady and first female Harrier in 37:32, with Amanda Soper an excellent 11th in her age group (47:24).

Coomber transfers to Lewes in March and will be a great loss for the Harriers.

Best placed amongst the men and repeating last year’s club standings were Phil Hardaway in 51st (33:45) and Tom Mullen in 75th (35:10).

Bryan Tiller clocked a personal best in 43:46.

Full results

Phil Hardaway 33:45, Tom Mullen 35:10, Russ Mullen 36:26, Izzy Coomber 37:32, Graham Hart 37:55, Jack Chivers 38:19, Bryan Tiller 43:46, Colin Brackenbury 46:32, Amanda Soper 47:24, Shelagh Robinson 52:08.

Henfield 9

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Also on Sunday, several Harriers were out for the Henfield Nine, an off road, flat, nine mile run along the Downslink trail and River Adur. Despite recent illness, Steve Dallman finished in a brilliant fifth (1:02.36), closely followed by a great run from Jason Russell in seventh (1:03.29).

Rod Catton (1:06.38) Stuart Austin (1:14.32), Carl Bicknell (1:18.33) and Marion Hemsworth (1:25.08) rounded off a good day for the Harriers.

parkruns

Plenty of Harriers took on parkruns across the country on Saturday. Pick of the performances came from Will Herbert who equaled his PB at Clair Park to finish sixth and first Harrier in 19:46, with Sue Ledger Catton third lady (23:55).

Jamie Gibson was second in a field of over 400 at Hove Park in a new PB of 17:39 and Barry Tullett was fourth at Hove Prom in 18:54.

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Marion Hemsworth and Carl Bicknell ran in the first staging of the Bevendean Down’s parkrun as Marion strives for 65 different races in this her 65th year in aid of Chron’s and Colitis UK.

Around the South

Also this weekend, Ultra-runner Kat Barrett took on the Thames Trot, a 50 mile race from Oxford to Henley in brutal head winds and thick mud. Kat found the going tough but finished sixth in her category in 9:33. Meanwhile, Phil Payne faced the Grim Challenge in Aldershot over trails, hills, mud, water and a multitude of obstacles and was delighted to finish in fifth position in a field of 2,000.

Rising star Darja Knotkova-Hanley has been selected for Sussex Schools to compete in the National Schools Cross Country Championships following the South of England Schools Championships on Saturday at Bexhill.

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