It was a perfect morning by the sea for the celebrations with sunshine, blue skies and a cool breeze.Hailsham’s run leaders, Julie Lewis-Clements, Mark Pope and Michelle Hollands together with members Lord Norman Harris and Darren Gillett have enjoyed guiding, coaching and encouraging their recruits over the past nine weeks which has involved setting fun challenges and tasks on Monday evenings. The celebrations finished with coffee and cake on the beach with each recruit presented with a medal and a huge-cheers from team Hailsham. Sadly, one recruit couldn’t make the final 5K but has successfully completed the program.
Whilst team Hailsham were celebrating at Seaford Beach, one of the club’s members, Sarah Day began her first taste of ultra marathons as she took part in the ‘Run to the Sea 50K’, starting at Christ’s Hospital, Horsham and finishing at Hove Lawns, Brighton.Sarah had this to say ‘I’m extremely proud of myself: 5 hours 41 minutes 41 seconds, finished 5th female overall and 30th out of 444 runners. It was hot! I will take this as a massive success and enjoy this incredible moment’.
Continuing another weekend of Hailsham performances, on Sunday 11th May Jo Davis and Men’s Captain Carl Barton, headed back to the coast to run the Seaford 10K, where Jo ran a sensational personal best, breaking the sub-60-minute barrier to finish in 59:45, twenty-minutes quicker than her time last year. Carl Barton flew round in 41:31 finishing in 29th place. The out and back route starts and finishes on the prom beside Seaford’s Martello Tower and runners enjoyed warm conditions with a cool sea breeze.
Whilst Harriers Jo and Carl enjoyed Seaford’s scenic sea views, twenty-three Harriers basked in the sunshine at the Horsham 10K, race two in the Sussex Grand Prix League of twelve races held between February and November where Sussex clubs compete against each for individual and team prizes. Despite the tropical conditions with the start time at 11am, Hailsham stormed to victory with Chris Doherty winning the race, whilst Harrier’s ladies, Claire Keith and Audrey Haddon finished 2nd and 3rd respectively. Claire Keith and Lady Frances Delves achieved first place in their age categories with many Harriers running course personal bests on this multi-terrain route. Full results for team Hailsham were: Chris Doherty 35:38, Claire Keith 43:15, Oli Paterson 43:56, Audrey Haddon 45:28, Graham Woolley 45:39, Tom Price 47:35, Simon Haddon 48:15, Graham Purdye 48:24, Ladies Captain Helen O’Sullivan 48:32, Vinny Thrower 50:16, Belinda Cramp 50:31, Steph Bassett 50:43, Club Chairman Andy Ruffell 51:16, Andrew Moore 52:21, Claire Shilling 52:20, Arthur Collins 54:02, Frances Delves 59:16, Victoria Little 59:48, Ros Daintree 1:00:06, Gary Smith 1:00:40, Ian Cant 1:03:48 and Roberto Proietti 1:24:23
The next race in the Sussex Grand Prix league will be the Rye 10-mile race on Sunday 18th May.Hailsham Harriers will also have plenty of runners taking part and supporting the fabulous 2025 Hailsham Community Run taking place on the same day and wish the event organisers and all involved a wonderful day ahead.