South Run really was Great for Tone Zone

TONE ZONE had 47 runners at the Great South Run - a record turnout for the club for Europe's fastest flat ten-mile road race.
Tone Zone Runners at the Great South RunTone Zone Runners at the Great South Run
Tone Zone Runners at the Great South Run

Conditions were the big challenge of the day as near gale-force easterly winds battered the runners for the final two miles.

Simon Gill was in good form in his penultimate event before the New York marathon. He finished in an impressive 1hr 3min, finishing first for the club and 135th out of more than 16,000 runners.

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New Tone Zone member Peter Lee ran his first official race in the Bognor club’s colours, coming home in 1.07.

Even in the strong winds, club members still recorded seven personal bests.

First lady home for the club and with a PB was Louisa Proctor. Felicity Paton closely followed here with Amanda Worne the third Tone Zone lady home.

Mandy Evans, Richard Peach and Alison Stead all made phenomenal improvements, knocking impressive chunks off their previous personal-best times at this distance.

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Other PBs were recorded by Gary Pidgeon, Paul Coe and Stuart Thomson. Patricia Argent was rewarded with overall fifth in category after a strong run while veteran runner Derek Winslow logged an amazing third in category.

The club’s head coach, Keith Hardwell, was running his first race since successfully beating cancer. Hardwell put in a strong performance finishing in 1hr 21min.

With a large turnout from the club’s runners it was no surprise to see a good number of loyal followers supporting their fellow runners.

Elsewhere, ultra-distance runner David Butler competed in the Beachy Head marathon. This scenic but tough route is perfect for experienced runners, and Butler completing this year’s event in 5hr 7min.

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Simon Gill broke a club record at the New York marathon. Gill already considered one of the clubs fastest runners broke the club record for a marathon finishing in 2hrs 46mins. This quick time also gives Simon a sixth place finish for runners from the UK with some fourteen hundred in attendance.

In a new ghostly race in Portsmouth for Halloween, four runners from Tone Zone - Dale Stevens, Amanda Shepheard, Jodie Bradbury and Alice Slater - took part.

Competitors ran with a torch and fancy dress was the order of the night with Stevens excelling with his costume.

In other races, Peter Chittenden ran the beautiful Venice marathon in 5.28. He had run more than 30 races this year.

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At the Lordshill ten-miler, experienced runners Tony Hancock and Roy Webb represented the club. Hancock ran 1.13 while veteran Webb mananged 1.35.

Paul Westwood and Jude Bazeley both took part in the Lake District’s Helvelyn 15k races. Because of strong valley winds, organisers shortened the route to 10k for safety reasons.

Tone Zone runners and times (Great South Run): Simon Gill 1.03, Peter Lee 1.07, Jim Simmons 1.10, Gary Pidgeon 1.15, Louisa Proctor 1.16, Chris Gallagher 1.17, Felicity Paton, Paul Coe 1.18, Mark Edwards 1.21, Stuart Thomson 1.21, Ian Coulton 1.21, Keith Hardwell 1.21, Neil Strudwick 1.26, Dan Hughes 1.27, Jack Penfold 1.27, Amanda Worne 1.28, Robert Little 1.29, Glenn Penfold 1.30, Phil Webber 1.30, Grace Natoli 1.31, Richard Peach 1.31, Tom Blackler 1.31, Mandy Evans 1.32, Ginnie Harper 1.32, Neil Pacey 1.32, Jodie Bradbury 1.34, Paul Stevenson 1.34, Viv Baker 1.35, Jenny Randolph 1.35, Pat Argent 1.35, Joan Woolley 1.36, Lisa Robinson 1.36, Alan Argent 1.38, Jacqui Salt 1.40, Deb Patching 1.40, Sarah Spurr 1.41, Alison Stead 1.42, Sarah Macuix 1.43, Dale Stevens 1.45, Jo Langrish 1.48, John Bishop 1.50, Amanda Shepheard 1.50, Nicola King 1.52, Charlotte Seaton 1.53, Gemma Turner 1.57, Patricia Malone 1.57, Derek Winslow 2.12.

IAN BAYLEY

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