Success home and away for Haywards Heath Harriers

The Harriers secured the top six places with some terrific performances in the 86th Clair parkrun this weekend where glorious sunshine attracted another strong turnout.
By Ben Adams
Published 10th Mar 2015, 11:21 BST
Phil Payne and Matt QuintonPhil Payne and Matt Quinton
Phil Payne and Matt Quinton

There was a familiar feel to proceedings with Tom Mullen picking up victory in 17:49 and a top class Paul Cousins cruising to second in 18:30. Rob Watts showed he was returning to form in third in 19:29 and sub-20 times for Barry Tullett (19:41) and Ben Adams (19:49) who finished fourth and fifth, continuing to impress with personal best times.

Simeon Cousins ran well to finish sixth in 20:00 and Carl Bicknell was 12th with one of his best performances on this hilly circuit in 22:24. Verity Coombes was sixth lady with an excellent best time of 25:15.

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Across the UK: In an otherwise quiet weekend of racing in the county, the Harriers, many of whom are training for forthcoming marathons and ultra marathons, sought events across the UK.

Jack ChiversJack Chivers
Jack Chivers

Carl Bicknell took on the second Surrey Half Marathon on undulating roads in the Woking countryside. In favourable mild conditions and having already completed seven training miles, he finished the 13.1 mile distance in 1.45.50.

Kim Lo continued to pick up titles and silverware this weekend where she ran the Broadland Half Marathon in the scenic Norfolk countryside. Kim finished third lady in 1:29.50 securing a bronze county medal. She was also first in her age group and broke the Club’s half marathon record.

Phil Payne and Matt Quinton ran the Lydd 20 mile race in Kent as part of their training. Phil competed the flat course carrying a 6kg rucksack in 2:37 and Matt, in 3.08. Richard Neale ran the same distance in the Milton Keynes Festival of Running in 3:26.

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Mud lover Natalie Chivers charged her way through the two lap Nuts Challenge obstacle course on Saturday. Battered and bruised, yet still smiling, she finished in 3:23 - 12th lady, and fourth in her age category.

Carl BicknellCarl Bicknell
Carl Bicknell

Husband Jack Chivers ran the Sidcup 10 mile race on Sunday, finishing 68th in 1:05:23 - a new best for this distance by two minutes. He also won bronze for his age group in the British Masters 10 Mile Championship and gold in the Southern Counties Vets Championship.