Kempston Night Race draws hundred
THE annual Kempston Ladies Nite Race took place at the weekend and saw race favourite Hanlie Botha set a new course record, finishing the 10km race in 36 minutes 51 seconds.
Botha’s record of 36.52 has been standing since 2016. Starting out with 34 ladies in 1983 by the Border Marathon Runners’ Association, the Ladies Nite Race has steadily grown every year.
In 1989 it was handed over to Oxford Striders in an attempt to boost numbers. It was first sponsored by Shooz and won by Lizanne Holmes.
Numbers soon escalated and reached the 100-mark in 1990. This year the community favourite attracted more than 2800 participants across both the 10km and 5km distances.
Organised by the Oxford Striders Running Club for the past 29-years, and sponsored by the Kempston Group for 15 years, the event is one of the most fun-filled road races of the running calendar, celebrating women and inviting men to dress for the “ocassion”.
The dynamic 10km race calls for only women to take part. However the 5km fun run/walk encourages all husbands, boyfriends and brothers to join in on the fun and dress in drag with a prize for best-dressed drag entrant.
Top results for the 10km Kempston Ladies Night race: First – Hanlie Botha from Born 2 Run Athletics Club in 36.51 minutes; Second – Cindy Schwulst from Born 2 Run Athletics Club in 41.34 and third – Andrea Ranger from Old Selbornians Road Runners in 41.47.