Marathons bring out the best

Athletics

Ashford & District Road Running Club were represented in both the Brighton and Paris Marathons at the weekend.

At Brighton there were some impressive performances and two debutants at the distance, in a race staged in hot conditions, not ideal for fast times.

Julius Samson was first back for the club in 3hr 23min 07sec, followed home by Ian Harrington, in a personal best 3:40.22.

Danyel Carter trimmed four minutes off her own pb (3:44.58) to qualify for a good-for-age place in the 2018 London race.

Paul Brasington, running the first of two marathons in as many weeks, finished in 3:54.14, with Glen Holiday crossing the line in 3:58.18.

Mark Carlton came home in 4:16.54 – one hour quicker than his previous best, while Claire Green finished in 4:18.38.

Frances Hunt finished in 4:25.40, while Stu Nunn (4:28.13) took 32 minutes off his pb.

First timer Terry Sellen clocked 4:31.44, Neil Buckley 4:34.32, Steve Hickman 4:39.44, Rod Kessack 4:57.08, Sue Reader, another debutant, 5:00.54, Andrew Smith 5:25.37, Steve Wellsted 5:48.28 and Paul Bailey 5:54.24.

Three other club members travelled to Paris, with the conditions in the French capital the same as on the south coast.

Anthony Brown was first home, shrugging off a thigh injury to finish in 3:43.56. Rik Holden clocked 4:17.13 and Helen Weeden came home in 5:09.16.

Jon Wells raced in the Titanic 10k in Belfast on Sunday, covering the flat fast course in windy conditions in 39.59.

Ashford AC junior Adam Heath marked his debut in the town’s latest parkrun on Saturday, with victory in 17.59.

Dan Green was first A&DRRC man home, finishing third in 18.15. Mark Attenborough ran a personal best, coming home sixth in 19.39, one place ahead of Ryan Edwards (19.41).

Paul Moses was eighth in 19.42, Robert Carpenter was 10th in 20.30, Richard Baker 11th (20.34) and Pat Butler 12th (20.37).

Hazel Turner was second lady home in a PB of 21.45, William Whittington was 47th (24.31).

John Fidge was first MV65 (25.58) and Julie Foster ran 31.23.

The North School Lions squad who are through to the semi-finals of the National Schools under-19 competition

Rik Holden and Helen Weeden ran the Paris Marathon at the weekend