It was all about the parkrun this week as the parkrun cup (s) finally reached their climax with both finals taking place on the Leas on Saturday morning. Catherine O’Connor took on Lisa Smith in the A cup and Gary Brazier was against Helen Francis in the B cup. Results will be announced at the Christmas awards night.
Taking the honours on the day though was Dave Tyler who, continuing his current, hugely impressive run of form, came home first and smashed through the 17 minute barrier to finish in 16:53. Lisa Smith also had an amazing run, setting a new PB and running below 28 minutes for the first time. Behind Dave, improving every week as he makes his come back from injury, was Phil Hoyland (18:56) ahead of David Gillett (19:02), Stuart Erskine (20:33), Ian Merrick (20:46), Darren Crew (21:11), Richard Fowles (21:14), Deborah Jeffery (21:25), Chris Addison (21:45), Caroline Curtis (22:22), Anthony Scott (22:47), Catherine O’Connor (22:49), Paul Bartlett (22:50), Torben Jessen (22:52), Clive Allon (24:00), David Walbrook (24:06), Jody Stoakes (24:40), Diane Parsons (25:05), Gary Brazier (25:14), Liam Cumber (25:15), Malcolm Gibbs (25:32), Catriona Watts (25:43), Richard Dyer (26:05), Lisa Smith (27:56 – PB), Trudi Curd ( 28:21), Julie Gibbs (28:54), Jacob Burvill (29:07), Deirdre Coombs (30:59), Catherine-Anne Curtis (33:58) and Kayleigh Cumber (34:21).
Ian McGilloway and Stephen Male took a trip down to Maidstone but a catalogue of errors meant they ended up running off the course and then when they did make it back, a scanner issue meant they neither had times recorded. But they had a nice time.
On Sunday, Tony Scott and Clive Allon took part in the Pilgrim’s Hospices Santa Run aong with 500 or so other runners all dressed as Santa. As a fun run there were no times recorded, but Tony finished near the front.