October Stat Summary

A busy weekend of racing started October, with Dillon Hobbs in the Manchester Half, Geoff Hurrell and Nicola Morris completing their SuperHalfs collection at the Cardiff Half Marathon, where new member Clare Walsh made her deckchair debut and more locally the RunThrough Tonbridge races.

Mike Brann was the only Harrier in the 5k and was 2nd M35.

In the 10k race, LJ Gittings was second female and 1st F35, while Luca Calton was 1st U20, Peter Bell 3rd Senior Man.

Seventeen harriers raced the tough Half Marathon course in unseasonably warm weather, led home by Dave Weston (1st M40) and Katie Baker (with a PB) respectively.

Amongst a number of other fine performances, Mike Armitage was 3rd SM, Eren Muduroglu 2nd M55, Colin Timmins 1st M60 and Janet Bird 2nd F65.

Mark Mellor kicked off the next weekend with 3rd place over 50km in the Kent Downs Trail Ultra before our latest cross country season got underway at Footscray.

This year marked the 40th anniversary since the club - as TW Runners - first took part in the Kent League, with three men taking part, so it was great to have such a strong turnout of over 40 across all three races in this years opening fixture.

Our Super Vets got their season off to a flying start over 5km, with Stella Richardson coming 4th in the womans race and Mike Sharp, Mark Taylor and Nick Pierce coming 5th, 6th & 7th in the mens.

The Senior Womens race saw a welcome return from injury by Hannah Roberts, who finished 8th SW on her first deckchair outing of the year, leading Ali Farrall (6th F45) and Katie Trowsdale (9th F45) to 8th place (of 18) in the 3 to score team event.

Next harrier home, Jillian Holford finished 3rd F55 ahead of a number of strong performances, including a XC debut for Natalie Lange.

In a high quality Senior Mens race, Ed Steele was first harrier home, with Mike Armitage, Andy Eames and Tom Cox putting the Harriers 10th (of 20) in the 4 to score team event.

5th man home was Andy Howey, who finished 2nd M60 on his return to Kent League racing in the deckchair, while again there were strong performances throughout the team.

Sunday saw four harrier debutants - David Williams, Robert Songer , Joe Turpin and Marco Castellan - amongst seven members racing the Treviso Half Marathon in Italy.

Closer to home Louisa Roberts ran the Royal Parks Half and Peter Bell had a strong run at the Ashford 10k.

The following Saturday saw the next Kent XC League meeting, with 50 harriers racing in near perfect conditions at Somerhill School in Tonbridge.

More good performances by the Supervets now puts Mike Sharp, Mark Taylor and Nick Pierce all in the top ten M70s for the season so far.

Another super turnout for the Senior Women, saw Katie Baker place 21st on her season debut and leading home Ali Farrall (6th F45) and LJ Gittings -on her XC debut for the club - in the 3-to-score team event, to now place 6th from 18 in the table.

With Jillian Holford (2nd F55), Vicky Eames and Katie Trowsdale all in the top 50, the 6-to-score team move up to 5th in the table.

In another top class Senior Mens race, Ed Steele again led home the Harriers, just ahead of Andy Eames, followed by a great run by Andy Howey (2nd M60) and Mike Armitage to put the 4-to-score team into 10th place.

There were plenty of strong performances, including Gareth Baker as 7th scorer on his XC debut.

I believe another club record was set by the quality and quantity of post race cakes - we are the envy of our competitor clubs!

On a busy Sunday, there were terrific marathon performances in York and Abingdon.

In York, Sam Bolton (2:43) moved up to 13th quickest ever Harrier at the Yorkshire Marathon, while in Abingdon, Seb Higgs became the 55th male harrier to break 3 hours and go into 40th place all time. Keith Mitchell was also under the 3 hour barrier and within 30 seconds of his PB, while Alex Holmes set a huge PB and Nathan Webster posted a super strong time.

In the Maidstone Half Marathon (last race in the 2026 Kent Grand Prix) Dave Weston was 5th and 1st M40, there were also age group podiums for Eren Muduroglu (2nd M50 with a PB) and Janet Bird (3rd F60) amongst 7 harriers running.

Elsewhere, there was a PB for Stewart McIlwham at the Hove Prom 10k and 8th place at the Lullingstone 10K for Peter Bell.

This years Beachy Head Marathon was missing Harrier mainstay, Derek Harrison, for the first time in 25 years, due to a dog inflicted injury but 8 men took on the challenging course and weather conditions

Mark Mellor was a magnificent 6th overall, in the third fastest time ever by a Harrier, while Geoff Turner was 3rd M60 and Nick Pierce 2nd M70.

Andy Eames took 6th place in the Beachy 10k, while Matt Lee was our sole runner in the 52k Ultra.

The following day in equally challenging conditions at the Worthing Seafront 10K, Stella Richardson posted a new F70 club record in her first race at the distance in nearly ten years.

The same day in much sunnier weather, yours truly, Sam Bridger and Clare Walsh raced the latest SuperHalf in Valencia.

Final racing action of the month was at a sunny Hyde Park, where a bakers dozen harriers ran the Serpentine 5k. It was also a Bakers double, with Katie and Gareth being first female and male harrier home.