Neil Jeffries
15 April, 2025
Sport

Hastings Runners clock rapid marathons on both sides of the Channel

Hastings Runners enjoyed a number of personal triumphs across last weekend – in events ranging from a 10k in Canterbury to a 50-miler over the South Downs, and locations as far apart as Ashford and Paris.

Hastings Runners ahead of the Kent Spring Half Marathon at Ashford – together with Sam Davies (on right) who finished third in the full Marathon event.

In the Paris Marathon on Sunday, Danny Firth was the club’s fastest male – competing the 26.2-mile route in three hours 13 minutes and seven seconds – while Rachael Inns was the fastest HR female in 4:15:15. Also taking part were Col Turner (3:53:54) and sisters Grace Sheppard and Alice Sheppard in 4:34:05 and 4:34:06, respectively.

The club’s quickest marathon time, however, was achieved a little closer to home – in the Kent Spring Marathon at Ashford – where Sam Davies produced an epic sprint finish to cross the line 3:12:35 to clinch joint third after two laps of an undulating course following the roads surrounding Ashford, Westwell and Charing.

Eleven of Davies’ club-mates were running the Half Marathon distance on the same course, so could cheer him home. The quickest of these was Lewis Parsons (in 1:27:41) with Sarah Bendle first HR woman home in an excellent 1:43:42. 

Well done, also, to Hannah Hayler (2:07:03), Leanne Spring (2:07:04), Nick Webb (2:16:53), Louise Faulkner (2:16:54), Michelle Fox (2:16:55), Katy Harrison (2:18:31), Mandy Ward (2:34:51), Sarah Heasman (2:38:47) and Chrissie Morgan (2:52:44).

Hastings Runners Jacqueline Mannering, Darren Kilby and Pete Heasman completed the epic South Downs Way 50-miler.
Hastings Runners Jacqueline Mannering, Darren Kilby and Pete Heasman completed the epic South Downs Way 50-miler. Credit: Contributed

Saturday saw three of the club’s ultra specialists – Jacqueline Mannering, Darren Kilby and Pete Heasman – tackle the epic South Downs Way 50 Miler. A formidable route that the trio completed, together, in 11 hours and 51 minutes.

Finally, moving rather faster over the much more amenable distance of the Canterbury Riverside 10k were Heidi Rossetter (56:15) and Andrew Fleming (61:13).

Hastings Runners welcomes new members of all abilities aged 12 and over for fun, training and competitive running visit https://hastingsrunners.co.uk

Rachael Inns was Hastings  Runners’ fastest female at the Paris Marathon.
Rachael Inns was Hastings Runners’ fastest female at the Paris Marathon. Credit: Contributed
Andrew Fleming and Heidi Rossiter ran the Canterbury Riverside 10k in Hastings Runners colours.
Andrew Fleming and Heidi Rossiter ran the Canterbury Riverside 10k in Hastings Runners colours. Credit: Contributed