Harriers produce show of strength in Givaudan 10k

Athletics

Canterbury Harriers won both the men’s and women’s team prizes in the Givaudan Ashford 10k road race on Sunday.

Harriers used the event as their 10k club championships and saw a record turnout of 58 members including seven debutants.

Leading the way for the men was recent recruit from Sittingbourne, Rhys Goddard, who came home in third, clocking 33minutes 40seconds.

Clubmate Simon Jones (34.09) was fourth and first male vet-40 – securing the county title in that age group – with the winning three-man team completed by Robbie Higgins, who was seventh in 35.31.

Paul Knight was 12th in 36.17 and Yiannis Christodoulou 22nd in 37.35 while Wim Van Vuuren (60th in 39.47) dipped under the 40-minute mark for the first time – one of 18 personal best registered by Harriers. Jenny Benson was defending champion in the women’s race and produced another fine time of 39.28, to finish third behind Dartford’s Hazel Behagg (38.03) and Deal Tri’s Renata Mcdonnell who ran a new personal best of 39.25.

The triumphant Harriers women’s line-up was completed by Jo Norrington, who was seventh female in 41.14 and Claire Pluckrose, two places further back in 41.44. Fiona Tester was 12th woman in 42.59.

The race, which had 985 finishers, was won by Folkestone Running Club member Lloyd Worsley who pipped 16-year-old Ashford AC runner Oliver Prior by four seconds after crossing the line in 33.03.

At the Chester Marathon, Mike Mawby ran a personal best time of 2:40:50 to finish 25th.

Pictures: Gary Browne FM4951559 Canterbury Harriers had a bumper turnout for Sunday’s Givaudan Ashford 10k road race which incorporated their own club championships

Picture: Andy Jones FM4729085 Invicta’s Sarah Gruber won two gold medals running at Chester