Some Like it Hot!

I apologise if I have missed anyone from this report over the last couple of weeks. I have not been firing on all cylinders unlike the runners in this report!!

Friday 5 Series- 4^th July Great Bentley

Thankfully this year’s weather was the total opposite to last year and we saw beautiful warm and sunny conditions, great for our marshals not so good for our runners!

Another fantastic final race of this series was put on by Matt Laverack (RD Senior race) and Meera Rajoo- Oakley (RD Junior race) with no reported incidents and issues and more importantly the water station was not interfered with this year!! Well done to all the marshals and of course are amazing Bentley runners.

Gavin Byrne- 28:40- 3^rd overall in MS

Flynn Eyre- 30:38

Craig Mitchell- 31:25 Bentley Friday 5 1^st V50 and 42^nd overall.

Chris Smith- 32:50

Gerry Gladden- 33:54

Paul Hughes- 35:50

Dean Pepper- 39:22

Kelly Hayhoe- 39:37- 4^th overall

Inga Hayden- Cooper- 41:48

Martin Cotton- 42:01 (PB)

Zoe Wolff- 43:11

Jess Gould- 44:17

Sammy Cotton- 50:38

Gary Cooper- 58:57

Stephen Bullen Friday 5 series 1^st M50 overall

ParkRuns

Swidwin

Mags did a spot of Parkrun tourism in Swidwin which is South of Koszalin (her hometown) This was Mags first time doing this one which consisted of 3 laps on gravel paths passing through a stunning park. Mags finished in 23:52 (8^th finisher and 2^nd female).

Kosalin

The following week Mags completed Parkrun in her hometown Kosalin where she finished 1^st female running 2 laps on gravel paths around a lake.

Hornchurch

Craig Mitchell and Sarah Evans decided to do their warmup for the Spitfire with a park run at Hornchurch ( as you do!!) Sarah had another fantastic run finishing 2^nd lady and 7^th overall in 20:24 out of 290 runners. Well done, Sarah.

Sarah Evans and Craig Mitchell

Clacton on Sea

This month’s GBRC Parkrun tourism was at sunny Clacton where a large amount of blue’s were seen matching with the blue skies and the blue sea! Well done everyone.

GBRC Clacton on Sea

Blyth Links

Donna Parker- Evans and husband David

Highwoods

The amazing Angel Jasper ran her fastest Parkrun at Highwoods and everyone that has ever ran this course knows how difficult that route is. Angel secured a PB of 24:05 and was first female in an overall position of 23^rd out of 106^th runners. This is Angel’s 6^th different Parkrun locations where she has achieved a 1^st female finisher. Well done Angel you thoroughly deserve all these amazing achievements as I know personally the hard work and dedication you put into every training session and race you compete in.

Spitfire Scramble- London’s ONLY 24 -hour trail race!

The Spitfire Scramble is a 24-hour multi terrain relay located at Hornchurch Country Park the former home of RAF Hornchurch and a squadron of Spitfire fighter planes during World War 2. You can either run solo or in teams of two to eight runners. As they run through the night this event puts their speed, endurance and torch batteries to the test!

The event started at Midday on Saturday where you begin your first 5.75 mile lap and the teams did not stop again until Midday on Sunday (I am exhausted just writing this!) Each team can always have a maximum of one runner on the course and the runners must complete a full circuit before handing over to the next teammate.

What a truly amazing performance from Team GB!

1st Men’s pair Rob Dyer and Paul Davison

2nd Men’s pair Matt Illsley and James Eyre

1st Men’s Team- David Wright, Charlie Keitch, Jon Mann, Craig Slocombe and Tim Ballard

1st Mixed Team- Craig Mitchell, Mike Deed, Sarah Davison, Amy Young and Dave Allen

The A Team- coming 17th out of 34 teams. Scott Young, Claudia Keitch, Caroline Searle, Donna Harris, Mark Harris and Claudia’s husband!

Ekiden

This event is now a well-established fixture in the local race calendar held at Ipswich High School, Woolverstone. The 26.2-mile race is run by teams of six as a relay, with all teams having to complete the race in 4hours and 30 mins which is mainly on mowed lawn and with some undulation.

Leg 1 7.2k (3 laps)

Leg 2- 5k (2 laps)

Leg 3- 10k (4 laps)

Leg 4- 5k (2 laps)

Leg 5 -10k (4 laps)

Leg 6 – 5k (2 laps)

Despite the challenging weather conditions at times (rain, sun, rain and more rain!!) everyone had a fantastic event. Huge congratulations to the “Yellow Team, Tom K , Helen C, Rosie Y, Ella H and Cheryl C who took home the Ekiden cup this year. Congratulations guys, fantastic achievement.

The “Blue Team! Andrea, Gavin, Flynn, Paul H, Paul B and Lisa B placed 3^rd overall in the mixed open category and also took home a trophy.

Team GBRC- Ekiden

The Yellow Team- Tom K, Justin, Ella , Rosie, Cheryl and Helen C

3rd Overall- The Blue Team- Paul B, Flynn, Gavin, Lisa, Paul H and Andrea.

Great North 10km – Newcastle

Donna Parker Evans braved the rainy conditions and completed the Great North 10km.

Brantham 5 miler

Lisa Briggs with her well deserved 3rd Female place.

It was a very hot, humid and hilly night as usual for the Brantham 5 “Fun” run. Well done everyone fantastic results as below and massive congratulations to Lisa Briggs who was 3rd female finisher.

Gerry Gladden -34:02

Richard Hudd-34:50

Lisa Briggs- 35:01 (3^rd lady)

Rick Robinson- 36:30

Malcolm Statham- 38:23

Ash Coles- 38:28

Ellie Moor- 42:25

Dave Jones- 56:19

Arthur Whiston Memorial 5 mile.

This inaugural race is a new 5-mile race addition to the local running calendar and was organised and hosted by Colchester Harrier AC, raising funds for Arthur’s favourite charity Essex Wildlife. The event celebrates and honours Arthur Whiston on the 1^st anniversary of his sudden passing in July 2024. Arthur was integral to the Colchester Harriers and was a long-term member of the club and the wider running community of Colchester and beyond. He influenced many generations of runners and was loved by all.

The route started at Abbeygate Colchester and finished behind the Garrison track and was multi terrain mainly tarmac with some track and very flat!

There was a great turnout of blue’s representing the club and huge congratulations to Gavin Byrne who achieved a massive PB of 27:52 and came 4^th overall.

GBRC- Arthur Whiston memorial race

Gavin Byrne who missed the picture!

Magdalena Komorowska- 2nd Female Finisher

The Amber track half marathon- Koszalin

Mags completed her holiday in Poland by running the Amber track half marathon in her hometown of Koszalin. The route was 2 laps on tarmac but also through a lovely, picturesque woodland. Mags finished as 2^nd lady and first in her age category and was well rewarded with some money to spend in Decathlon and a lovely goody bag. Congratulations Mags and we look forward to hearing all about it when you are home.

Rebecca Bottrell ( centre) and Zoe Wolff (sisters) in the funky shorts!

Brandon SunTime RunTime

Our 2 lovely new members Zoe Wolff and Rebecca Bottrell (sisters) took part in this 6-hour event organised by Zig Zig running. The course is described as multi terrain consisting of gravel footpaths and some grass areas which takes you through the heart of Thetford Forest.

Zoe completed 16.43 miles and Rebecca I am reliably informed completed an Ultra!! Well done Ladies fantastic running.

Katie Collin with her medal

St Neots Sprint Triathlon

Katie Collin competed in this race (apparently a last-minute decision, as you do!!) The event was a 750m river swim, 24km bike ride and 5km run and what a performance she gave, considering that it was also the Cambridge Triathlon championships she knew it was going to be a tough field however she finished 13^th Female and 1^st in her age category. Katie had completed this distance last year and managed to not only knock 14 minutes off her time, but she also got a PB on her 5k run in 25:17! Wow Katie huge congratulations!