Ashford & District running club members had some impressive performances in the two races held on the fast and flat courses at Lydd on Sunday. In the Brett Lydd half marathon, Robin Butler was first home for the club with an excellent 17th place finish and the VM45 age category winner in a time of 1:24:56, followed home by Paul Moses in 21st place in a new personal best of 1:26:40. Also running personal bests were Jonny Wells, who finished 23rd in 1:27:04 and Mark Attenborough who placed 34th in 1:29:27, with Kevan James winning the MV55 age category with his 36th place finish in 1:30:12. Paul Brasington finished 63rd in 1:41:26, Gill O’Connor won the FV55 category in 1:42:18, Hazel Turner finished 69th with a new personal best of 1:41:38 and Mark Carlton also ran a personal best, finishing 87th in 1:45:03.
Held at the same time as the half marathon, the Lydd 20 mile race is used as a warm up for the forthcoming spring marathons next month. Richard Baker was the first of the club’s runners home, as he finished 116th in 2:38:09, with Danyel Carter 177th in 2:45:36 (PB), Rod Kessack in his first race for the club coming home in a personal best time of 3:11:15, Edward Rodger finishing in 3:17:19, Helen Weeden in 3:26:00,Sue Reader in 3:27:43, Paul Bailey in 3:31:05 and Andrew Smith in 3:48:36.
In other events Trevor Kay produced an excellent performance overseas at the Barcelona marathon on Sunday, finishing in a time of 3:03:09.
Dave Hunt and Stu Nunn ran on the iconic Silverstone Race track in the Silverstone Half marathon on Sunday, as they prepared for their marathons next month at London and Brighton respectively. Dave Hunt ran a personal best with his 1:41:26 and Stu Nunn came home in 1:47:20.
Rhian Shrimplin ran a new personal best at the Bath Half marathon as she finished in 1:45:21, with Anthony Brown finishing in 1:35:04.
Orla Quearney completed the North London marathon in a time of 1:57:04.
Steve Hickman completed another tough off road marathon at the Larmer Tree marathon, finishing in a time of 5:42:20.
A big well done to all our club runners with great prospects ahead for the forthcoming spring marathons!