A busy week for the Sittingbourne Striders

Ashford Podplus 10km – Friday, 18 May 

Chris Mudge ran the Podplus 10km event on Friday, 18 May in Ashford. He completed the 6.2-miles in 43.59 earning him 7 ^th place. The event was won by Simon Jones in 34.46. 

  

Harbour Wallbanger – Saturday, 19 May 2018 

Nine Sittingbourne Striders were amongst a sell out field at the Harbour Wallbanger race held on Broadstairs beach on Saturday, 17 May 2018. 

  

The event, which is promoted by the Thanet Road Runners Club involves a 7km beach run and is a hotly contested affair. 

  

First Strider home was Kevin Rye in 28.30. The speedy runner took 7 ^th place overall and was 4 ^thin his age category of MV40. Next back was Liz Weeks, she also broke the 30-minute mark with a 29.14. This saw her taking the womens race win by some margin and also a trophy for her age group LV35. 

  

Richard Valenti finished next in 33.25. James Topham completed the course in 34.20 (45 ^th) with Darren Billing nipping at his heels in 36.11 (63 ^rd). 

  

The event was won by Thomas Millard of South Kent Harriers in 25.38. 

  

Strider results: 

Kevin  Rye 28:30 

Liz Weeks 29:14 

Richard Valenti 33.25 

James   Topham 34:20 

Darren Billing 36:11 

Andrew Patching 36:47 

Paul Valenti 40:54 

Teresa  Watson 42:01 

Annette Lebreton 48.45 

Sally Patching 50:58 

Vanessa Patching 50:58 

Katrina Potter 51.34 

Gina Woodfine 42.00 (short course version) 

Marriane Seaward 42.00 (short course version) 

  

North Downs Way 50-mile 

Endurance specialist Craig Eccleston took on the North Downs Way 50m race on Saturday 19 May. Known as an ‘ultra-marathon’ he completed to epic course in 11hrs 40-mins 47-secs. This saw him placed 178 ^th out of 251 with 17 athletes unable to finish the gruelling event. 

  

Chislehurst half marathon 

Natalie Jimenez travelled to Chislehurst to take on the half-marathon. The strider completed the 13.1-miles in 2.47.23. 

  

Canterbury 10km, Sunday 20 May 

Dionne Grant and Sam Gillham both took part in the Canterbury 10km. Dionne finished the 6.2-miles in 1.18 and Sam 58.30. Great efforts from both runners. 

  

Bedgebury buggy run, Sunday 20 May 

Sally Smith travelled to Bedgebury National Pinetum in Goudhurst with her 1-year-old daughter Sophie to take place in the buggy running events 3.2-mile race. The course begins with a lumpy 1-mile climb followed by a rolling 1.5-miles before a leg screaming uphill finish. It was certainly a challenge for all the parents running with their children. 

  

Sally managed to knock 45-seconds off of her previous race time over the same course to come home in 27.02.