Morning Harriers,
I hope you all enjoyed the Easter Weekend!
On a windy Good Friday in Hythe, 16 Harriers (8 Males and 8 Females) competed in the 40th Folkestone 10 mile and the latest Kent Grand Prix event.
The Folkestone 10 mile is a fast course when not blowing a hooley and is mainly on the traffic free seafront promenade from Hythe to Folkestone and back. The 10:00am start was delayed by 10 minutes due to portaloo queues and pre-race announcements. Once underway, runners completed a lap and a half of The Green on grass, before heading out along the Kent coast encountering a strong headwind on the way back (37.7 km/h from SSW according to Strava). A special mention to the spectator who caught and kindly returned Rose Sawyer’s cap to HQ which flew off at mile 7.
All 16 windswept Harriers returned safe and sound, where we received our medal and refuled on Cadbury Creme Eggs and Geoff Turner’s gluten free Anzacs biscuits and vegan Rocky Road cakes.
Folkestone 10 mile results are as follows:
Overall & Male Winner: Josh Carr (Cambridge and Coleridge) Chip Time 53:12.
Female Winner: Charlotte Johnston (Maidstone Harriers) Chip Time 1:05:07.v
Congratulations to Ali Farrall as F 50-54 Winner and Amelie Karlsson, Ali Farrall and Jillian Holford Team Winners (see attached photos). Colin Ricketts and I both ran 10 mile PB’s, and I apologise if I have missed any other PB’s. A kudos to all Harriers who competed in the blustery conditions.
There was also a Junior Fun Run on The Green, School Year 4 and below – 500m distance and School Year 5 up to age 16 – 1500m distance.
Following the presentations in the school, Geoff, Ali and I made our way down to Park Road Fish Bar to join Ed Steele and Richard Bysouth who had cycled down to Hythe to support.
A big thank you to Folkestone Running & Athletics Club, volunteers, marshals, supporters and Geoff Turner for the gluten free biscuits and vegan cakes.
Mark Godsalve
