RACE REPORT 05/10/2026-18/10/2026

On the surface of things the number 17 appears to be fairly benign but after some searching it has deeper meanings. It symbolises personal growth, intuition, and inner wisdom, victory after challenges and much more.

The number 17 is also the number of newsletters I have written since April 2024 and this one will also sadly be my last. So before I reach for the tissues lets see for one last time what you lot have been up to.

TIPTREE 10 MILER

This is an incredibly popular 10 mile race with a lovely scenic route round the local villages, anyone that speaks of this race will happily point out the hill that sits somewhere around mile nine, I would just like to say that it is more like three hill’s piled onto of each other so you definitely need to preserve some energy for the end (jam joke). We were there in force with a total of 19 Bentley runners racing on the day, all of you put in some impressive times with a special shout out to Lou Balfour who I believe shaved about 13 mins off her previous course record, fabulous stuff. I would also like to point out that the Tiptree 10 was the last race of the Essex Grand Prix and some of our members who entered the series have walked away with some medals in their age categories, well done to

Deb’s Hollidge: Silver Medal

Magdalena Komorowska: Bronze medal

Jon Mann: Silver medal

For all the other results please click the link Tiptree 10 Mile

CAPEL 5 MILER

Going from many Bentleys to not so many Bentleys Toni Wilson was the only runner representing GBRC at the Capel 5 miler, despite being the only Bentley there she looked like she had a great time

CHELMSFORD MARATHON

After 10 years of avoiding the distance Richard Hudd came out of long distance running retirement and took on the Chelmsford marathon. He got an amazing PB of 3hr 35mins 46secs chopping a whopping 1hr 15mins of his previous best time. Richard put his time down to the delightful scenery offering a welcome distraction, but I wager it was more down to hard work and a lot of dedicated training.

HAMPTON COURT HALF

Bee Harris risked losing her head at the Hampton Court half marathon, but instead she kept her cool and went there with only one goal in mind, and that was to have fun. According to Bee her mission was accomplished, I’m not convinced Bee didn’t just clock up a half marathon distance running round the maze, either way she completed the distance in a time of 2hrs 57mins.

WHOLE HOG OCR

Firstly, I had to look up what a Whole Hog OCR was, turns out it’s basically 5 miles of mud and obstacles which looks like a whole lot of fun, Leoni Harvey dragged her son along to join her in this mudfest and by the looks of things they had a muddy good time.

ESSEX LAUGE XC

Lisa was out all day to get muddy at Hylands Park for the first Essex league fixture of the season. This course is Lisa’s favourite one, and you tell this by the smile on her face, she also put in a sterling performance finishing 43^rd out of 152 ladies.

SOMMERSET NOT LEVELS

The fantastic Fiona Gosling found herself down in the West Country taking on the Sommerset Not so Levels which is a whopping 51 mile yomp. I’m sure Fiona was under no illusion that the title of the course was a complete red herring as it turns out there was a total of 8400 ft of assent. Congratulations completing yet another unbelievable challenge.

AMSTERDAM MARATHON

No tulips for Tim Clifton but a nice shiny well-earned medal from Amsterdam marathon. The course takes you round the city and out and along the river Amstel and back again and unsurprisingly its rather flat, Tim windmilled round in a tome 4hrs 57mins.

PARKRUN ROUND UP

Donna-Parker Evens and Lorraine Adams both did some Parkrun tourism on their return from Scotland, they went to Shrewsbury and Sutton Park in Birmingham respectively.

Far, far away, well Italy Mag’s ran at the Farfalle Parkrun a beautiful looking location with a butterfly theme and great coffee afterwards.

Inspired by our dominating win at the Harwich V’s Great Bentley Donna Harris organised a GBRC meet up at the Harwich parkrun. It looks like a fair few of you went and a great time and some new PB’s were had for Daniel Harris and Martin Cotton.