Kentish Express Ashford & District
Burden finds his rhythm
Justin Burden ran a superb time at the Folkestone 10-miler to be first home for Ashford Striders.
Racing on a flat, fast course on a sunny Good Friday morning, Burden crossed the finish line in 1hr28mins36sec.
Next for the Striders was David Helme in 1:33.43 personal best ahead of Katie Stroud (1:36.03), Richard Coles (1:39.23), Darren Laker (1:40.38, PB), Karen Edwards (1:41.43, PB), Angie Craffey (1:50.05), Lisa Fulcher (1:51.00) and Siobhan Hagan (1:51.56, PB).
At the Ashford parkrun, Hazel Turner stormed into first for Striders with 23.55, followed by Steve Rumsey (25.54), Darren Laker (26.49), Aimee Donohue (27.31, PB), Amanda James (29.13), Leigh Freeman (29.58, PB), Carole Thomas (30.54), Daniel Forbes (30.24), Brian Forrester (30.32), Michelle Bryant (31.11), Hazel Forrester (31.46), Clare Maxlow (34.04), Rachel Theobald
(35.09) and Kevin York (35.11).
Martin Whittingham knocked two minutes and five seconds off of his personal best at the Folkestone parkrun with 28.35.
First Strider home was Jason Wearn in an impressive time of 22.32, followed by Justin Burden (24.35), Tamsin Ritchie (25.30), Andy Found (26.01, PB), Nicola
Crawley (26.24), Richard Randle (26.49), Justine Wearn (27.56), Peter Broom (29.50), Amanda Cooper (31.27) and Danielle Moss (42.59).
Rachel Tomsett ran the Bartley parkrun in Southampton in 37.58, and Lee Standen timed 29.49 at the Eden Project.
■ Ashford & District Road
Running Club’s Cris Frances shattered his best at the Boston Marathon in Lincolnshire.
Racing on a super-flat course, Frances’ 2:34.37 was good enough to slice more than 14 minutes off his previous best.
David Tomlinson was also on form at the Folkestone 10-miler, beating his personal best by six minutes to finish in 1:10.23. Richard Baker, meanwhile, took the long way round, beginning his day with a 15-mile warm-up before the race which he completed in 1:21.03.
Other times: Paul Crisp 1:02.56, Paul Moses1:04.28, Scotty Lynch 1:05.07, Julius Samson 1:05.25, Linda Delport 1:12.31, Alice Cook 1:13.49, Gill O’Connor 1:17.46, Mark Attenborough 1:19.20, Tracy Calnan 1:20.47, Peter Buckley 1:33.47, Trevor Sparkes 1:35.20, Sandra Gooding 1:53:28.
At Ashford, Helen Weeden ran her third-fastest parkrun since 2017 with a time of 26.02 to finish in third for her age category. Holly Forrest timed 32.56.
Emma Jenkins ran the Swanley parkrun in a PB of 39.18, with Will Whittington clocking 28.15. Dan Green was 11th at the Folkestone parkrun in 19,05.
At Houghton Hall in Dunstable, Ann and John Fidge ran excellent times. Ann was second in her age category in her fastest time over the course by two minutes with 28.55, and John finished in 27.06.