Club events – Tunbridge Wells Harriers

There are a number of club races held each year, with the Club Road Championship and the Club Cross Country Championship sorting out the men from the boys and the ladies from the girls. To keep the legs ticking over on those long summer evenings, the Summer 10K Handicap Series is always a favourite, with the winner being awarded the much sought after Speldhurst trophy. Throughout the year, results of all Kent Grand Prix events are collated to award an age and gender graded Club Grand Prix Champion.

But it’s not all about competing, with many social runs and social events held throughout the year. The annual club dinner gives the chance to see your fellow Harriers scrubbed up and a chance to acknowledge the achievements of the year. There are a number of hash runs, on Ashdown forest and further afield. Summer BBQs, winter fish and chips and curry nights all make sure that it’s not all work and no play.

Club Road Handicap 10k Series

The Harriers organise a four race handicap series each summer over a course of 10 kilometres on the roads near the clubhouse.

Each member is given a handicap time — faster runners have a bigger handicap, meaning that everyone is running more or less on equal terms. The best handicap results over at least three races decide the series winner, who wins a trophy donated by Paul Eames, Peter Gander, Eddie Lyons and past-Chairman Jacques Courivaud – a group of Club members living in Speldhurst. Handicaps will be adjusted each month to reflect runners’ current performance. The first runners go off at 7:20pm.

As roads are not closed during these races, for their own safety and out of respect to other road users, runners need to:
– wear bright clothes
– be careful with the traffic
– run in single file
– turn up at the start on time
– listen to the marshals
– be responsible for their own safety

The course

The start for the 10K course is on Forest Road at the junction with Forest Way (turn left at the top of Warwick Park, and it’s the first turning on the right).

From there, the course route goes down Hawkenbury Road towards Bells Yew Green.

After Rushlye Farm take the left turn and proceed clockwise round the “Bells Yew Green triangle” (face oncoming traffic on main road) and back on to the Hawkenbury Road.

Return to Hawkenbury and Forest Road (as per the Club Road Champs).

Turn left on to Forest Road and cross over when safe to do so before Warwick Park.

Turn right down Warwick Park and into Nevill Gate.

Enter car park, turn right and then follow flags behind cricket nets to finish.

Start times

Each race has an official start time of 7.20pm. Individual runners start at pre-announced times calculated from their expected times to run the course and an anticipated finish time of 8.30pm. For example, if a runner is expected to take 48 minutes to run the course, their start time will be 48 minutes in advance of 8.30pm, ie 7.42pm.

If the handicapper has rated everyone accurately, and everyone runs to their expected time, the whole field will cross the line in a blanket finish!

The handicap organiser will send out a list of start times a few days in advance of each race through the club email group, and we will endeavour to publish that list here too.

If you are a newcomer to the Harriers and have not run the race before, then please contact the handicap organiser who will give you your handicap and start times.

Results

Year	Winner	Full Results
2021	Stuart Corke
2020	Carol Tsang
2019	Phil Long
2018	Dominic Taylor-Langley
2017	Dominic Taylor-Langley
2016	Ana-Maria Green
2015	Sam Ricketts
2014	Nicola Morris	Handicap2014Results
2013	Will O’Shea
2012	Jamie White
2011	Rosa Britton
2010	Zara Bloomfield
2009	Oliver Chappatte
2008	Jane Johnstone
2007	Peter Burns
2006	Nick Marceta
2005	Jonathan Rickards
2004	Peter Nutall
2003	Gavin Stapleton
2002	Peter Tullet
2001	Jeannette White
2000	Sue Radford
1999	Sian Roberts
1998	Rowena Lenox
1997	Liz Laury

Club Road Grand Prix

The club road grand prix is designed to encourage Harriers to race more often, and on equal terms with all other members as the results are adjusted for age and gender.

How it works

Each race of the Kent Grand Prix counts towards our club road grand prix. Every time you race, you are awarded a percentage result based on your finishing time, your age and your gender. This percentage is calculated according to the WAVA scale. At the end of the season, your final score is the average of your best five percentages over the series.

Contact Geoff Turner if you have any queries about the Club Road Grand Prix.

Previous winners

2021	Dillon Hobbs
2020	not awarded
2019	Andy Howey
2018	Andy Howey
2017	Pru Clements
2016	Craig Chapman
2015	Mark Gamage
2014	Stephen Woodruffe
2013	Alice Heather-Hayes
2012	Craig Chapman
2011	Des O’Donnell
2010	Nick Leech
2009	Nick Leech
2008	Tara Taylor

Club Road Championship

The Club Road Championship is run over a set route around a 5.5 mile loop, from the Frant Road end of Forest Road, via Bells Yew Green and Hawkenbury.

The club event is open to all Harriers – you don’t have to be in contention to win it to run it. Just turn up on the morning and enjoy the annual club road run.

Age category winners enter the TWH history books (see below for previous champions), with trophies awarded at the Club Dinner and Awards evening.

Senior Men’s and Women’s Champions & Full Results

Year	Senior Men	Time	Senior Women	Time	Full Results
2022	Dillon Hobbs	29:53	Nicola Morris	41:42
2021	Dillon Hobbs	30:55	Harriet Woolley	35:00
2020	Dillon Hobbs	32:15	Harriet Woolley	35:28
2019	Alex Jeffreys	32:31	Harriet Woolley	37:18
2018	Billy Hobbs	30:40	Harriet Woolley	36:22	Road Champs 2018
2017	Craig Chapman	32:16	Harriet Woolley	37:27	Road Champs 2017
2016	Sam Begg	30:42	Harriet Woolley	40:04	Road Champs 2016
2015	Andy Howey	31:44	Nicola Morris	39:33	Road Champs 2015
2014	Andy Howey	31:37	Pru Clements	37:04	Road Champs 2014
2013	Dan Watt	31:35	Pru Clements	39:13	Road Champs 2013
2012	Will Levitt	30:25	Alice Heather-Hayes	33:25	Road Champs 2012
2011	Chris Wolton	31:29	Alice Heather-Hayes	34:07
2010	Chris Wolton	32:16	Tara Taylor	38:15
2009	Nick Leech	31:36	Tara Taylor	39:19
2008	Nick Leech	32:09	Tara Taylor	37:22
2007	Andy Howey	30:59	Tara Taylor	36:58
2006	Andy Howey	31:45	Tara Taylor	36:22
2005	Terry Everest	32:51	Tara Taylor	39:03
2004	Andy Howey	32:53	Tara Taylor	38:35
2003	Andy Howey	33:13	Tracy Driver	41:55
2002	Peter Taylor	34:28	Lindsay Turner	43:29
2001	Adam Styles	31:27	Ruth Brannan	37:18
2000	Adam Styles	31:23	Siân Roberts	37:50
1999	Mark Taylor	31:15	Jeannette White	37:18
1998	Steve Brooks	31:30	Ruth Branson	36:30
1997	Mark Taylor	31:19	Claire Thomas	38:30
1996	Andy Howey	30:48	Jeannette Bowles	37:56
1995	Tony Lavender	31:35	Julia Verrall	35:10
1994	Andy Howey	30:04	Julia McNulty	36:09
1993	Andy Howey	29:23	Julia McNulty	35:25
1992	Tony Lavender	30:50	Julia McNulty	36:39
1991	Andy Howey	30:16	Julia McNulty	36:21
1990	Tony Baldock	28:50	Julia McNulty	37:37
1989	Andy Howey		Rosemary Dunford
1988	Tony Baldock	28:57	Hilary Newton	38:44
1987	Tony Baldock	29:45	Jo Johnson	39:07
1986	Phillipe Binetruy	30:24	Jo Johnson	41:16

Veteran Men’s Champions

Year	M40-49	Time	M50-59	Time	M60	Time	M70	Time
2022	R.Carter	35:35	S.Corke	36:21	D.O’Donnell	37:34	not awarded
2021	K Mitchell	33:07	S Howden	37:49	M Taylor	44:28	B Taylor	1:21:24
2020	T Woolley	32:23	A Howey	33:00	P Long	50:34	I Bracken	1:10:25
2019	K Mitchell	34:09	A Howey	33:38	P Long	50:12	I Bracken	1:09:56
2018	S Howden	35:47	A Howey	32:20	P Richardson	43:23	not awarded
2017	C Chapman	32:16	A Howey	33:55	M Taylor	39:38	I Bracken	63:41
2016	S.Harris	35:56	M Sutherland	39:27	N Pierce	42:43	B Taylor	1:09:54
2015	C Chapman	32:31	A Howey	31:44	M Taylor	38:46	B Taylor	1:12:57
2014	S.Harris	38:19	A Howey	31:37	M Taylor	38:38	E Schofield	46:38
2013	C Chapman	31:41	A Howey	32:48	P.Richardson	42:49	E Schofield	46:31
2012	D Langridge	34:09	D O’Donnell	33:25	P Richardson	41:29	J Dyson	46:37
2011	A Steger	35:07	M Taylor	38:42	P Richardson	39:56	E Schofield	42:59
2010	A Howey	33:38	D Harrison	38:27	B Bass	43:30	G Brooks	65:08
2009	M Clark	35:07	A Cheek	40:21	P Burns	43:58	B Taylor	63:22
2008	A Howey	32:49	M Taylor	36:20	P Burns	39:10	G Brooks	64:20
2007	A Howey	30:59	A Lavender	35:01	M Jarvis	39:24	G Brooks	64:24
2006	A Howey	31:45	D Harrison	36:31	M Jarvis	39:05
2005	A Howey	33:44:	D Harrison	39:03	M Jarvis	39:08
2004	A Howey	32:53	M Taylor	34:00	M Jarvis	36:47
2003	A Howey	33:13	M Jarvis	38:00	M Jarvis	38:00
2002	P Taylor	34:24	P Burns	38:02	M Jarvis	37:22
2001	P Taylor	34:28	A Cheek	35:18	not awarded
2000	A Lavender	31:52	J Fuller	36:04	J Courivaud	42:54
1999	M Taylor	31:15	J Hepner	36:31	B Taylor	43:12
1998	P Taylor	34:00	J Hepner	34:36	K Wynne	40:42
1997	M Taylor	31:19	J Hepner	35:21	G Hurst	42:45
1996	M Taylor	30:51	I Wylie	35:26	J Courivaud	41:27
1995	P Smith	32:42	J Hepner	34:07	J Courivaud	40:43
1994	M Taylor	30:29	I Wylie	34:25	G Hurst	40:19
1993	Al Watson	31:28	P Mills	36:28	D Abbott	40:08
1992	Al Watson	32:09	M Thurgood	34:53
1991	Al Watson	30:29	E Schofield	33:04
1990	Al Watson	31:02	M Thurgood	35:20	D Abbott	38:34
1989	Al Watson		B Taylor
1988	J Hepner	31:56	E Schofield	32:11
1987	B Lawrence	31:56	P Howey	35:50
1986	E Schofield	34:17	G Hurst	38:01

Veteran Women’s Champions

Year	F35-44	Time	F45-54	Time	F55+	Time
2022	H.Larkin	45:15	N.Morris	41:42	not awarded
2021	not awarded		J Holford	40:28	L Joannes	49:17
2020	not awarded		A Green	44:29	L Joannes	51:37
2019	C Tsang	49:45	J Holford	39:00	L Joannes	52:27
2018	S King	41:17	N Morris	40:00	S Richardson	43:55
2017	P Clements	38:24	N Morris	39:28	S Richardson	44:44
2016	C Tsang	46:27	not awarded		not awarded
2015	N Morris	39:33	not awarded		S Richardson	46:00
2014	P Clements	37:04	T Taylor	38:29	S Richardson	44:23
2013	P Clements	39:13	not awarded		S Richardson	45:27
2012	A Heather-Hayes	33:36	T Taylor	38:50	L Joannes	46:38
2011	A Heather-Hayes	34:07	N White	42:48	S Richardson	42:58
2010	T Saunders	42:23	T Taylor	38:15
2009	A Fleming	41:26	T Taylor	39:19
2008	T Taylor	37:22	L Joannes	45:01
2007	T Taylor	36:58	L Joannes	48:30
2006	T Taylor	36:22	L Joannes	45:23
2005	T Taylor	39:03	L Joannes	46:48
2004	T Taylor	38:35	L Joannes	44:38
2003	L Turner	43:16	L Joannes	47:00
2002	L Turner	43:29
2001	S Radford	43:32	S Radford	43:32
2000	T Taylor	38:43	S Radford
1999	F Eustace	49:02
1998	E Laury	46:03
1997	E Laury	44:42
1996	F Eustace	43:12
1995	A Sankey	44:13
1994	F Eustace	44:54
1993	S Radford	42:46
1992	N Foord	45:53
1991	F Eustace	44:37
1990	H Newton	40:04
1989	N Foord
1988	D Russell	43:14
1987	J Johnson	39:07
1986	J Johnson	41:16

Club Cross Country Championship

The Club Cross Country Championship race is held annually in Hargate Forest towards the end of the traditional cross country season around March.

The Course

The event is held over 3 laps of a testing 1.8 mile circuit, giving a total race distance of about 5.4 miles and plenty of opportunity for spectators to see the race. The hilly route takes in areas of heathland and mature coniferous forest, and includes a stream crossing — Sprat’s Brook — and several very muddy areas. One part of the course where the long straight of Broadview meets the Old Carriage Way is usually so waterlogged in early spring that it has become known as the ‘Canal Turn’.

The nature of the terrain is such that shoes with decent grip are recommended, with fell shoes or spikes being most widely used by competitors. The route is always clearly marked with yellow flags for the entire distance, and with arrow markers at each turn there is little opportunity to lose your way and go off-course.

How to get there

The main entrance to Hargate Forest is at the western end of Broadwater Down close to the junction with the A26 Eridge Road. There is ample parking in Broadwater Down, but please park as close as you can to the entrance to avoid the wrath of local residents. From the entrance, the start area is located in a large turning circle about 400 metres southwards along the forest track.

See a map showing the entrance to the forest and the route

Age Categories

All age categories take part in the one race, these being:

Men: Senior, M40, M50, M60 & M70

Women: Senior, F35, F45 & F55

Silver salvers are awarded for each of these categories at the Club Annual Dinner Dance and Prize Presentation.

Event History

The first Club Cross Country Championships were held at the end of the 1999-2000 season. In 2001, the race was postponed due to the outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease, but restrictions that had been imposed on access to the countryside were lifted in time for the event to be held in the autumn.

The course records are held by Mark Taylor (men) and Alice Heather-Hayes (women).

Hargate Forest and The Woodland Trust

Hargate Forest is used for our annual championship race with the kind permission of the The Woodland Trust. The site was acquired by The Woodland Trust in October 1996, having previously been part of the Nevill Estate. The purchase was assisted by a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund and a very successful local fund-raising campaign organised by the Friends of Hargate Forest. The Forest is owned and managed by The Trust — details of their management plan and the forest in general may be found at the Hargate Forest website.

Results

Year	Male winner	Female Winner	Results
2022	Dillon Hobbs	Cathy Gill
2021	Dillon Hobbs	Jillian Holford
2020	Not awarded	Not awarded
2019	Andy Howey	Jillian Holford
2018	James Sarre	Jillian Holford	2018 club xc champs
2017	Andy Howey	Lesley Mercer	2017 club xc champs
2016	Sam Begg	Jillian Holford	2016 club xc champs
2015	Andy Howey	Carol Tsang	2015 club xc champs
2014	Andy Howey	Lucille Joannes	2014 club xc champs
2013	Will Levett	Alice Heather-Hayes	2013 Club XC results
2012	Chris Wolton	Alice Heather-Hayes	2012 Club XC results
2011	Andy Howey	Siân Roberts	2011 Club XC results
2010	Matt Clark	Tara Taylor	2010 Club XC results
2009	Andy Howey	Tara Taylor	2009 Club XC results
2008	Ed Peltor	Jane Johnstone	2008 Club XC results

Social events

Spring Party

The Annual Spring Party is a not to be missed event. Open to all Harriers and their partners, it’s a chance to socialise, eat, drink and dance without wearing the usual lycra! New Harriers are most welcome. The club’s awards are also made on this night, the ‘Man versus Horse’ award, the Club’s road and cross country champs and the prestigious ‘Cornel Medal’, to name but a few.

Summer BBQ and Hash

Start with a hash through the beautiful countryside with off-road distances to suit everyone, including walkers, followed by a delicious BBQ relaxing in a garden. A lovely day out in the Harriers calendar, families welcome.

Curry Night

Join your fellow Harriers for a night of delicious Indian food & fun. After pre-drinks we’ll take over a local restaurant, who knows after that. Partners welcome.

Run Out Lunch

Always at the beginning of December, a superbly organised long and short run starting from a location revealed close to the day and ending up at a secret and well-researched hostelry for lunch. Partners & families welcome, as are walkers.

Christmas Pressie Night

The usual Wednesday club night and run are transformed for one night only for Christmas!

The ‘Christmas Lights Run’ takes in the best of the festive lights of Tunbridge Wells, followed by a festive fish & chip supper in the Club House. We have a secret Santa pressie giving – bring a wrapped gift (suitable for male or female, £5-£10) for Santa to give out. And it that’s not enough, the Club’s London Marathon place ballot also takes place on this night.

Boxing Day run

The perfect way to get rid of the over indulgence from Christmas day. See the events page for details.

Christmas Hash

A post Christmas hash on the Ashdown forest. See the events page for details.

New Year’s Day run

Start the year as you mean to go on – running and socialising with your fellow Harriers. See the events page for details.

Club Tour

Each year the club undertakes a tour of the most outstanding scenery our country has to offer. A different National Park is selected with a well chosen base, and a long weekend made of it.

Most Harriers start out on the Friday with a leisurely journey to the accommodation, perhaps with a meeting at a select pub on route. A short late afternoon run takes place to gain the necessary bearings, with a long run on the Saturday, and a farewell Sunday morning trip out before the journey home.

Extensionists add a day or two on either side of the main trip, as usually there’s much to see. Each run is carefully researched by a team of willing helpers in the weeks and months prior to the tour, so various lengths and walking options are available. The refreshment venues are thoroughly researched to ensure they are up to standard, as the pub meals in the evenings play a vital role in immersing the club in the local hospitality.

2022	Snowdonia II
2019	Isle of Wight
2018	Exmoor II
2017	Cotswolds
2016	Dartmoor II
2015	Brecon Beacons II
2014	Yorkshire Dales II
2013	Dorset
2012	Derbyshire Peak District II
2011	North York Moors
2010	New Forest
2009	Northumberland
2008	Dartmoor
2007	Norfolk Broads
2006	Snowdonia
2005	Exmoor
2004	Brecon Beacons
2003	Cornwall Coast Path
2002	Lake District
2001	Foot and mouth (cancelled)
2000	Beer/East Devon
1999	Derbyshire Peak District
1998	Pembrokeshire Coast Path
1997	Yorkshire Dales

Marathon Tours

2019 – Marathon du Medoc

Oh no, not again..

Full Report

2018 – Porto Marathon

All the joys of a beautiful city marathon, weather wasn’t the best.

Full Report

2017 – Florence Marathon

A wet and windy jaunt in Italy and the first marathon for some.

See the report

2016 – Marathon du Medoc

Dubbed the greatest marathon in the world and the one with the most medical staff per runner, this is the most French race you will ever visit in your life and one that all should experience at least once. 24 wine stops over 26.2 miles through some of the most expensive land and estates in the world, 4500 people in fancy dress, live music and stonkingly hot weather. What more could you want? Enjoying every stop and finishing in exactly the 6.5 hour time limit is a must!

Full Report

2015 – Brussels

After a successful trip to Amsterdam and after a much debated and closely run vote, the Brussels Marathon (and half marathon) was selected for the 2015 Marathon Tour.

What this smaller city marathon lacks in crowd support and PB potential (it’s a hilly course) is made up for by the convenient location, strong beer and plentiful chocolate.

Full Report

2014 – Amsterdam

Our second international marathon and half marathon tour have come to an end and I ‎would like to thank the 28 Harriers who made it so successful. Also thanks goes to our supporters, those in person and those virtually via ‎Facebook with lots of likes and postings, I hope you have all enjoyed them and of course the photos!

Even though the course was flat, it was windy and very narrow in places, and the organisation could have been better at the start and at the drinks stations. For some this was a tough course, but the rest had a good run and there were lots of achievements!

For the marathon first Harrier home in a sub 3:10 was James Absolon and only a minute behind was Ed Steele in a PB time, followed by Craig Chapman to make up the first three. For the ladies first home was Nicola Morris in yet another great PB time, definitely her year, followed by Carol Tsang, the marathon virgin so a PB and then Maddy Doherty.

For the half marathon, Jillian Holford was first home in a PB 1:40 followed by Cathy Rawling and then the men, Eric and John Rawlings.

As the saying goes what happens on tour stays on tour (well not everything), so if you have enjoyed what you have seen, heard and accomplished, maybe we can do this all again next year.

Full report

2013 – Berlin

Harriers run in “record breaking” marathon!

15 Harriers went on the first international marathon tour and took on the renowned flat and record breaking marathon course at Berlin. The race was won by Wilson Kipsang (Kenya) in a new world record time of 2:03:23.

The Harriers, some running their first marathon did the club proud producing their own impressive times including Guy Jenner’s imppressive 14th Brit home!

Full report