FR&AC Race Reports: 21st – 27th September

If you’re a fan of half marathons then this is the report for you, but there’s also so much more with a particularly special full one too.

We’ve got trophies, medals and PBs all the way across the board this weekend, and I’m looking forward to telling everyone about them.

Blue vests have been out in force this weekend, so let’s get into the action and the details…

Saturday 26^th September – Parkrun

Folkestone

This Saturday’s Parkrun saw a few Cup Quarter Finals take place, with Rebecca Stevenson and Amy Axon both going through in the A cup, and Jacob Henwood and Caron Inder went through in the B Cup.

Joe Carroll also ran but his time and result will be stored until Andy Hadlow runs.

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Time
2	2	David GILLETT	00:18:26
4	4	Jason BRETT	00:18:45
5	5	Krzysztof KLIDZIA	00:18:57
8	8	Dan MCCARTHY	00:19:07
9	9	Jacob HENWOOD	00:19:27
19	18	Elliot CHAPMAN-JONES	00:20:48
22	20	Joseph CARROLL	00:21:18
26	24	Jason O’CALLAGHAN	00:21:35
36	34	James SPRINGETT	00:22:20
41	39	Stuart ERSKINE	00:22:44
49	46	Stephen DEEMING	00:23:13
61	54	Casey JEFFRIES	00:23:55
62	6	Amy AXON	00:23:58
63	55	Henry AXON	00:23:58
66	58	Simon COFFEY	00:24:01
69	61	James COOMBS	00:24:13
83	73	Anthony SCOTT	00:24:45
86	9	Nicole DODD	00:24:49
87	10	Rebecca STEVENSON	00:24:51
88	11	Pamela ALLON	00:24:53
105	89	John O’HARA	00:25:57
112	17	Louisa EEDE	00:26:10
113	18	Kirsty WILSON	00:26:11
119	97	Clive ALLON	00:26:34
125	21	Diane PARSONS	00:26:43
139	108	Jason HERRIDGE	00:27:09
140	109	Miles GAWTHORP	00:27:12
142	111	Paul WALSH	00:27:20
150	116	Phil HAINES	00:27:33
151	117	Ian VOUSDEN	00:27:34
152	30	Agata DASZUTA	00:27:36
158	31	Anh-Van WHITBY	00:27:53
170	125	Brian AUSTIN	00:28:41
171	126	Kevin WHITBY	00:28:41
184	46	Deirdre COOMBS	00:29:10
192	135	Ian MERRICK	00:29:24
204	54	Caron INDER	00:29:54
205	143	Ron BELL	00:29:54
208	145	Christopher WOOLGAR	00:29:58
220	60	Rachel THOMPSON	00:30:53
221	61	Rachel YORKE	00:30:57
235	74	Hannah TAYLOR	00:31:59
237	76	Hilary COLLINS	00:32:05
239	77	Maria FELICETTI	00:32:16
285	172	Malcolm GIBBS	00:35:07
292	105	Roisin BUNT	00:36:02
301	111	Meg MORRISON	00:36:26
310	114	Beth GOODCHILD	00:38:20
326	188	Neil ADAMS	00:40:09
339	136	Lauren HART	00:45:05
346	143	Kate LANCEFIELD	00:49:59

Edenbrook Country

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Time
25	22	Andrew NOBLE	00:22:32

Dartford Heath

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Time
60	12	Caroline CURTIS	00:28:03

Tempelhofer Feld

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Time
155	131	Martin SALMON	00:23:39

Stevenage

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Time
248	188	Alan RANDALL	00:29:47
421	152	Jane WREN	00:38:30

Netley Abbey

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Time
15	15	Darren CREW	00:20:17
93	22	Jody STOAKES	00:26:42

Torvean

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Time
217	159	Greg DIXON	00:30:23
218	160	Paul HANNAY	00:30:23

Dover Waterfront

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Time
122	94	Michaelangelo SIRACUSA	00:28:42
126	97	Philip BRIDGES	00:29:29

Bug Hunter Waters

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Time
5	5	Nick STEELE	00:18:19

Barnstaple

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Time
75	17	Kate EVANS	00:26:06

Norwich

Position	Gender Position	parkrunner	Time
190	38	Lara PARSONS	00:24:55

Saturday 26^th September – Dorney Lake Triathlon

Whilst a lot of us were just running on Saturday morning, Marie Brazier was swimming and cycling as well, as she took part in the Dorney Lake Triathlon.

This is what she had to say about the event:

‘Yesterday I took part in a standard distance triathlon up in Dorney, Windsor.

I completed the 1500m swim, 40K bike ride and 10K run in a time of 03.02.50 taking 13 minutes off my time from last year, I was very happy with that and next time I will try for sub-3.’

A year ago, I wrote about Marie taking part in this same event, so I look forward to potentially writing about her smashing her target in a year’s time.

Sunday 27^th September – Folkestone Rotary Club Half Marathon

It doesn’t matter where we go as a club, we always do well, but home advantage really does make a difference when running as we got results galore yet again at one of the home events, organised by long term club member Ray Johnson.

Even though I knew I wasn’t ready to race a half marathon and sensibly made the decision not to take part, I still felt some massive FOMO before the event as I was there soaking up the atmosphere in my blue suit.

I was quite surprised by the amount of tired, sweaty runners walking up the hill that actually asked me if I was ok in the suit in the heat, I didn’t want to say it in case I sounded smug but I was absolutely fine and having  a great time trying to encourage people up to the top, and I think judging by the amount of smiles I put on people’s faces that I was doing the job.

But enough about me, lets dive into the results and see just how well we did as a club:

Position	First Name	Last Name	Gen Pos	Cat Pos	Age Category	Time
9	Ian	Merrick	9	6	Senior Male	01:23:04
12	Phil	Hayes	12	9	Senior Male	01:25:36
23	Krzysztof	Klidzia	22	1	Male Vet 60	01:27:51
30	Nick	Bryant	29	5	Male Vet 40	01:30:14
31	James	Barney	30	22	Senior Male	01:31:24
38	Thierry	Bal	37	1	Male Vet 50	01:32:40
45	Torben	Jessen	44	3	Male Vet 60	01:33:37
60	Baver	Dag	58	38	Senior Male	01:36:36
70	Peter	Sheridan	67	4	Male Vet 60	01:37:59
80	Gaurav	Khatri	76	50	Senior Male	01:38:43
89	Miles	Gawthorp	84	5	Male Vet 50	01:39:42
95	Nicole	Dodd	6	1	Female Vet 45	01:40:24
109	Jon	Thompson	102	3	Male Vet 55	01:42:35
118	Jason	O’Callaghan	109	16	Male Vet 40	01:43:40
145	Vicky	Scott	12	1	Female Vet 40	01:46:16
146	ANDY	GARDINER	134	4	Male Vet 55	01:46:22
176	Clive	Allon	161	4	Male Vet 65	01:48:32
201	Don	Gilliland	182	15	Male Vet 45	01:50:39
225	Sarah	Nunn	22	3	Female Vet 50	01:52:15
233	Ian	Vousden	210	22	Male Vet 45	01:52:43
235	Darren	Philip	212	17	Male Vet 50	01:52:51
282	Roy	Page	245	13	Male Vet 60	01:55:45
283	Louisa	Eede	38	4	Female Vet 50	01:56:52
284	Kellie	Williams	39	14	Senior Female	01:56:51
328	Karl	Letchford	277	26	Male Vet 50	01:58:03
347	John	O’Hara	291	5	Male Vet 65	02:00:06
353	Julie	Apps	58	7	Female Vet 45	02:00:31
355	Rebecca	Stevenson	59	6	Female Vet 50	02:00:32
391	Layla	Dmonte	74	14	Female Vet 35	02:02:23
404	David	Tetlow	325	29	Male Vet 45	02:03:35
411	Claire	Tetlow	82	10	Female Vet 45	02:03:54
419	Anthony	Scott	334	17	Male Vet 55	02:04:27
467	Diane	Parsons	102	10	Female Vet 50	02:07:54
476	Hilary	Collins	105	1	Female Vet 65	02:08:09
492	Amir	Muhammad	382	54	Male Vet 40	02:11:07
493	Jason	King	383	36	Male Vet 45	02:11:24
651	Dominic	Shepherd	464	253	Senior Male	02:27:16
661	Katrina	Peak	194	33	Female Vet 35	02:28:23
715	Julie	Gibbs	220	3	Female Vet 65	02:38:25
722	Victoria	Edwards	224	39	Female Vet 35	02:40:07
780	Lauren	Hart	262	115	Senior Female	03:10:21

Trophies were rewarded to Ian Merrick, Phil Hayes and Krzysztof Klidzia for the Men’s Team Prize, Nicole Dodd, Vicky Scott and Sarah Nunn brought home the Women’s Team Prize for us.

Krzysztof, Thierry, Nicole, Vicky and Hilary also won their respective individual age category trophies.

We should all be proud for creating such a big blue turnout as usual, and some special mentions go to Bec Powney for providing everybody’s favourite pig shaped sweets when they needed them most, FRAC’s number 1 cheerleader Beth Goodchild for providing support down in Sandgate at the most exciting part of the route to run through, and Louisa Eede for planning her whole run around supporting others to get times around or under the 2 hour mark, and not only that but also helping club mate Kellie Williams up the hill and carrying her across the finish line, what a hero!

Sunday 27^th September – BMW Berlin Marathon

On Sunday three of our members created an allied force with one mission in mind: Storm Berlin!

All three runners came away with smashing results and ticked off another major from their respective lists in the process, with Paul Bartlett coming home first with a time of 02:55:35 and once again proving that he has incredibly appropriate initials.

Next up was Nikki Goodwin with a PB time of 03:22:40 and no matter what the distance this lady just keeps on getting stronger and faster, with plenty more PBs on the cards soon no doubt.

After Nikki was Coach Catherine O’Connor, running as well as she always does and bringing home a sub 3:30 time of 03:29:17, and below is what she had to say about the event:

We both had great runs , we loved the course and the great support. 

This was my 16th marathon, very pleased to get in under the 3.30. 

Paul smashed it with another PB!!! He was strong throughout and had a great finish. 

The Brandenburg Gate was just before the finish and wow what a finish, the sights and atmosphere were amazing. 

Sunday 27^th September – Loch Ness Marathon

Sticking to the theme of marathons we move back to the UK for a trip to Scotland, where two of our runners went monster hunting on their way to claiming medals.

Below is what Greg Dixon had to say about the event:

Did Loch Ness marathon today in 3.54.48. Much quicker than expected. Early start bused to the top of the Highlands and left in the freezing wind and rain…. Undulating course was amazing with really spectacular views, but no monster. Fantastic race 🙂

I’m sure any South Park fans reading the report will appreciate and enjoy how poetic it is to run around the 3:50 region in the home of the Loch Ness Monster.

Also running and taking in the views of questionably blurry snake like creatures in the water was Paul Hannay who finished the run in a time of 04:09:55.

Sunday 27^th September – Windsor Half Marathon

Returning to half marathon action now is a trip to royal territory, Windsor, to see how Jane Wren and Alan Randall did at their event.

Jane described the course as undulating, but was reassured by the fact that what goes up must come down, and she was impressed by the stunning scenery.

Jane came back in a time of 01:56:28 and Alan finished with a time of 02:08:27.

This time resulted in Jane finishing third in the V60 Ladies category out of 65 places, a great result that she was very pleased with.

Sunday 27^th September – Marbella Half Marathon

Also on Sunday Helen and Matthew Webb took part in the Marbella Half Marathon, described as a flat athletic endurance challenge which provides you with great local support and spectacular views of Marbella’s Old Town, an impressive waterfront and the dramatic Sierra Blanca mountains.

Below is what Helen had to say about the event:

Me and Matthew Webb ran the Marbella Half Marathon in Spain. It was very hot so we didn’t go full-beans and decided to enjoy the run along the coast, between the mountains and the sea. I completed it in 1:47:00 and Matthew in 1:56:37.

A sensible decision there not to go full beans, as I’m sure we’ve all gone too fast on hot runs before and regretted it when looking back in Heinz-sight.

Sunday 27^th September – Faversham 10k

And lastly on Sunday was the Faversham 10k, which club member and recent parkrun photographer Michaelangelo Siracusa attended.

This is an event which has been a popular fixture in Kent running for over 20 years, and recently joined the line up of Sporting Events UK races in 2024.

Below is what Michaelangelo had to say about the event:

Whilst the majority of club members attended the Folkestone Rotary Half Marathon, I opted for a shorter distance on the 27^th September and headed up to Faversham for a 10k.  After a mediocre performance 3 weeks ago at the Big Half, I was after some redemption today, and boy did I get it!  Still in the midst of a long training block for the Valencia Half Marathon, the added speed work and faster blocks was starting to pay dividends for me, and despite the warm weather I managed 56:22 on the undulating course.  This is the first time I’ve broken the 60 minute mark in an official 10k race, and it even bettered my time trial 10k time.  Very unexpected but everything fell into place and felt good.  Super chuffed, and now looking forward to the Sittingbourne 10 mile on the 4^th October – lets see if I can get another PB!

Lets hope he gets that Sittingbourne PB, and we’ll find out if he does in next week’s report.

That’s a wrap for now, after a marathon of a report, and time to start training those brains as well as bodies because we’ve got some quizzes on the horizon with the man on the mic Kevin Daly making appearances and heaps of great prizes to be won, and important money to be raised for worthy causes.

First up we have Chris Addison’s quiz on Friday 23rd October, followed by Layla D’Monte’s quiz on Friday 13th (Wearing hockey masks on the night is optional), and I will be hosting one myself in January but will send out details for that a little later in the year when the 2 previously mentioned quizzes have taken place.