Beachy Head Marathon & 10k

Sittingbourne Striders were out in force at the Beachy Head marathon on 23 October.

The weather was kind with no extremes but a last-minute course change due to flooding meant runners completing two half-marathon laps instead of the usual route.

Club President Ron Smith completed his 30th Beachy Head marathon in a time of 6hr 23min 5sec, quite an achievement at the age of 81 – he is an inspiration to so many.

Other results included David Valenti being the first Strider home in a time of 3:42.40, placing him 66th overall out of a field of 1,560 runners.

Scott Simpson took second in a time of 4:01.21 for 159th overall and Bradley Clayton took an hour off his previous result at Beachy, crossing the line in 4:03.47 for 562nd overall.

First home for the ladies was Karen Seymour in a time of 4:56.49, 710th overall.

Results: Beachy Head marathon:
David Valenti 3:42.40
Scott Simpson 4:01.21
Bradley Clayton 4:03.47
James Topham 4:11.16
Kent Parker 4:28.16
Richard Valenti 4:30.02
Phil Robertson 4:43.00
Ross Campbell 4:54.38
Karen Seymour 4:56.49
Jacqueline Woodhouse 5:05.44
Lucy Tipples 5:13.19
Andrew Howes 5:13.22
Ross Pilcher 5:13.22
Jackie Austin 5:48.26
Ronald Smith 6:23.05
Sheila Malloch 6:48.47
Gavin Malloch 6:48.47

The next day, Sunday 24 October, Michele Topham completed the Beachy Head 10k in a personal best time of 1:28.35.