Forbes leads way again

Ashford Striders

Many of the runners from Ashford Striders were competing in half-marathon and 20 mile races at the weekend, but that didn’t stop them from being out in force at Victoria Park for Saturday’s parkrun in the town.

Duncan Forbes was again the first home for the club, in 14th position and second in his category in a time of 20min 20sec.

He was followed by Justin Burden who was 52nd overall in 23.57 and Cris Francis, 68th overall in 24.44. Alison Waters was next to finish in 73rd overall and seventh female in 25.04. Nicola Crawley came home in 88th position and 13th female in a time of 25.39.

Jason Sanders, Kath Atkinson, Lee Standen and Mark Archer were all volunteers at this week’s event.

Other Striders times: Tamsin Ritchie 27.01, Josh Whiten 27.29, Rachel Forrester 27.40, Rachel Theobald 29.45, Kevin York 25.46, Stephen Rumsey 28.47, Martin Whittingham 29.47, Mel Cox 30.15, Rachel Oliver 31.21, Hazel Forrester 31.53, Brian Forrester 32.05, Libby Matthews 32.27, Tyree Spicer 32.27, Simon Jackson 32.29 and Toyah Bicker 37.56. A small number of Ashford Striders took part in the Vitality Big Half on Sunday in London, having the privilege to run in a field containing elite UK athletes and taking in some of the sights of the London Marathon route.

Despite the strong winds, some of the team set fastest times with many finishing under the two-hour mark.

Francis ran a personal best time of 1:44.15 for the 13.1 mile distance, with Forbes being the next Strider to finish, achieving a time of 1:53.18. Waters, running for charity, also ran a half-marathon personal best in 1:54.21, and Crawley too came home under two hours in 1:58.21. Simon Jackson posted a time of 2:01.47 with Katie Iggulden Exon finishing the race in 2:34.42.

A wild and windy Lydd was the venue for Sunday’s other big races, where many club members took part to build up to their spring marathons. In the half-marathon, LindaJean Delport finished strongly for a time of 1:42.15. Tyree Spicer set a PB of 2:07.51, followed by Rebecca Hurley in 2:10.54. Toyah Bicker, running her first half-marathon, completed the race in 2:32.36. In the 20-mile race, Jake Davison set an impressive time of 2:39:52. Christopher Sardo was next for the club in 2:51:37. Other Striders times in the 20-mile race: Kyleigh Austen 3:01.36, Jason Sanders 3:05.03, Greg Johnson 3:09.44, Justin Burden 3:12.44, Corrie Shackle 3:20.25,Vicky Stevenson 3:21.33, Reece Corner 3:33.52, Gemma Wicks 3:35.20, Charlotte Butler 3:36.25, Carly James 4:31.03, Danielle MacKenzie 4:42.33, Kirsty Theobald 4:43.25.