This Good Friday sees the latest Kent Grand Prix event, the Folkestone 10 Mile race.
While slightly younger than both our club and half marathon, it’s nevertheless celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and the results from every race have been posted on www.folkestone10mile.co.uk if anyone wants to check out any of their previous attempts.
Given the anniversary it felt worthwhile delving into Bobs historical stats to have a look at the history of the Harriers in the race over the last forty years.
The first ever ‘harrier’ to run the race was actually a Tunbridge Wells Runner, as Michael Maltby finished 75th in the 1986 race in a time of 59.32 (a time that would have placed him in the top 20 last year) and he was followed in 1988 by Stephen Watts, also running for TWR, who finished 70th in 60.28.
While there are no current womens club 10 mile records that were set at Folkestone (all bar one were set at Canterbury), previous records were set there by Harriet Woolley (SW in 2018), Carol Dyke (F50 in 1995) and Lucille Joannes (F65 last year).
There are four current mens club 10 mile records from the race, all held by current members.
In 1997, Mark Taylor set the current M40 record of 56.23 and in 2015 Eric Schofield set the M75 record with a time of 1:27:20.
2018 saw Andy Howey set a new M55 record of 58.43, when Billy Hobbs was the race winner in 54:23.
Finally, Des O’Donnell posted a new M60 record of 1:05:33 in the 2022 race and last year Dillon Hobbs finished 3rd but pipped his brothers time, clocking 54:20.