Kentish Express Ashford & District
Striders brave elements
Ashford Striders negotiated brutal conditions at the Lydd Half-Marathon and 20-miler on Sunday.
Undeterred by the cold and wind, every Strider gave their all with James Lynch completing the half-marathon in 1hr56min31sec, followed by Katie Stroud in a PB of 2:00.58.
First Strider home in the 20-mile race was Christopher Sardo in an impressive 2:43.56.
Other times: Fabio Baiardo 3:01.30 PB; Richard Randle 3:05.44; Justine Wearn 3:22.03 PB; Jason Wearn 3:22.05; Chloe Darling 3:29.23 (first race for Striders); David Helme 3:32.25 PB; Danielle McKenzie 3:41.09; Peter Broom 3:50.00 PB; Mike Mason 3:53.11 PB.
Martin Whittingham was the lone Strider at the Eastbourne Half-Marathon, shaving 7.21 off his personal best to cross the line in 2:24.43.
Jason Wearn was first Strider home at Saturday’s Ashford parkrun, his time of 22.00 pipping Kevan Strand, who recorded a new PB of 22.23.
Other times: Justin Burden 23.24; Tamsin Ritchie (150th parkrun) 25.36; Amanda James 29.29; David Gadsby 30.15; Hazel Forrester 31.23; Brain Forrester 31.26; Kirtsty Theobald 31.58; Rachel Theobald 32.07; Kevin York 32.09; Jayne Hatton (tailwalker) 53.21.
Nicola Crawley finished the Charlton Park event in 26.58, while Lisa Fulcher clocked 34.43 at Bexley.
There were personal bests all round for Ashford & District Road Running Club at Lydd.
First home in the 20-miler was Alex Francis in 2:21.24, Mark Harrison was hot on his heels in 2:24.56 and men’s captain Adrian Beresford took third 2:28.37, while sole woman Alison Waters finished in 2:32.37.
Steve Hodges (2:32.46) set a 26-minute PB as third vet 55, and Keith Haynes, in his first road race for seven months, ran 2:34.05, a four-minute PB. Other times: Stuart Nunn 2:47.25; Peter Buckley 3:22.36; Trevor Sparkes 3:39.52.
Paul Moses ran 1:26.35 to finish first vet 55 in the half-marathon, followed by the ever-improving Cris Francis (1:27.34) and Naomi Attenborough (1:49.50).
Steve Hickman ran his 171st marathon and 19th Steyning Stinger in 5:44.59, despite losing time after a fall, while Lucy Johnstone ran 6:13.27.
Alice Cook recorded a PB of 1:36.08 at the Berkhamsted Half-Marathon in Hertfordshire.
Moses warmed up for Lydd by running the Maidstone parkrun in 20.40.
Will Whittington ran 28.22 and Emma Jenkins a three-minute PB of 39.29 at Shorne Woods.
Jack Hodges (19.23) was fifth overall and second in age group at Ashford, while Linda-Jean Delport (21.00) pipped Christine Costiff to finish second female. Holly Forrest came home in 33.17, a new PB.