Summer made something of a reappearance this weekend meaning that the conditions that greeted runners at the Larkfield 10k were slightly warmer than is ideal. Three Folkestone members took part on the fast and largely flat course. Nick Steele was first back for the club in a time of 37:41. Next was Stuart Erskine in a time of 42:52 while Vicky Scott completed the race in 53:22.
Down on the south coast it was the Purbeck Running Festival with a variety of races run over the course of the weekend. Tina and Grahame Eke took part in the 16 mile event which is a tough trail race described as challenging but rewarding. They finished in a time of 4 hours and 32 minutes.
The parkrun cups continue with the aim of getting them completed in time for the Christmas awards night. In the main cup, Lisa Smith scored 99.7 to beat Phil Mauls 91.8 meaning that she will now meet husband Andy Smith in the next round. Luke Philips has unfortunately had to retire due to injury meaning that Jody Stoakes goes through.
In the B cup, Gary Brazier took on Kayleigh Cumber in what turned out to be a very tight affair with Kayleigh posting 96.5 but squeezing through to the 1/4 finals was Gary, as he scored 96.6. Darren Crew was up against Marie Brazier. His 96.1 was no match for her 99.2 so Marie goes through.
There were a large number of FRC runners taking part in Folkestone parkrun. Full results were: Andy Fletcher, 2nd in a time of 17:25 followed by Darren Crew (20:21), Rob Hill (21:05), Ian Merrick (21:07), Chris Addison (21:22), Clive Allon (24:01), Anthony Scott (24:10), Vicky Scott (24:30), John O’Hara (24:31), David Gillett (24:32), Louis Blacktop-Wales (24:35), Jody Stoakes (25:01), Andrew Richardson (25:12), Aldous Hosking (25:15), Stuart Erskine (25:22), Richard Fowles (25:42), Philip Maull (25:58), Linda Robson (26:47), Gary Brazier (26:49), Richard Dyer (26:59), Nikki Goodwin (27:25), Jacob Burvill (28:52), Angela Warren (29:25), Lisa Smith (30:42), Claire Yates (30:48), Louise Fowler (33:04), Kayleigh Cumber (33:46), Catherine-Anne Curtis (33:56), Kate Lancefield (34:53), Nicola James (38:38), Paul James (38:39).
There were also a number of Folkestone runners at other parkruns across Kent, in Ashford, Dave Walbrook ran 23:19. In Deal, Dan Voller came second in 17:47, making his return from injury. In Tunbridge Wells, Steve Male came home first in a time of 18:01 on a tough, hilly course. At the Kingdom parkrun (near Tonbridge) Caroline Curtis ran 24:53.
Prize for most exotic parkrun this week goes to Lynsey Tighy who took part in the Futakotamagawa event in Tokyo finishing in 31:28 in hot and humid conditions.