On Sunday I adjudicated the Rye 10 which I ran and enjoyed last year so this year I entered the race as well.
This year it was a Sussex Grand Prix event so the field was about double of that of last year with some class runners from Sussex taking part.
The race is not really in Rye and the start and finish is from Jempson’s Supermarket car park in Peasmarsh. The course takes you via an uphill start in simple terms out towards Beckley, you go round Beckley Woods returning to Peasmarsh. The course is very undulating verging on hilly, with a lovely hill at about 8 miles which you go down on the way out but climb on the way back and which I call Paul McCartney’s Hill as his drive leads off it. The weather wasn’t too bad, a touch warm but there was a moderate breeze which gave welcome cooling in places.
The race was won by Simon Heath SM – Brighton Phoenix in a time of 54:45 which was a new course record by some 2 mins.
The 1st Lady was Amelia Culshaw F45 – Brighton Phoenix in a time of 1:12:04.
I completed the race in 1:24:22 (with a niggling achilles – excuse) in 92nd place but still secured the M65 bottle.
Interesting the both the male and female team prizes where claimed by Wadhurst Runners. There were 226 finishers. A lovely run and I would recommend it despite it being quite challenging !
Mark Taylor