RUNNING
Junior Parkrun 2K
At Jubilee Park, there were 3 BRJ’ers in attendance, with Iris Purser taking 1st place, but no Club PB’s were achieved.
Parkrun 5K
BRJ’ers made a return to Holkham, Market Rasen Racecourse, North Walsham, Norwich, Pocket, Stevenage (Parkrun #225 for Claire Few), Storey’s Field, University Parks, Woodhouse Moor & Wyre Forest.
Mark Sampson made a BRJ debut at Wickford Memorial.
At Huntingdon, there were 2 Club PB’ers, namely Slawomir Dziarmaga 36 Secs (Club PB #2 of 2023) & Douglas Rowan by 35 Secs (PB #3). Kerry Surkitt completed Parkrun 200 & Stuart Turner #300.
Bassingbourn Belle 10M
Mark Sampson, fresh from his 5th place last weekend at the St Neots 1/2 Marathon, continued his excellent run of form by finishing as runner-up from 390 finishers. His finish time of 00:54:49 represents a new Club PB (#12 of 2023) by a margin of 3 Mins compared to September’s Sawtry 10M. Mark’s new time means he remains the 4th fastest BRJ man over this distance but is now just 7 Secs behind 3rd placed former member, Derek Lines, based on his result at Fenland in 2004.
Hereward Relay
This event has been organised by March AC since 1998 & is named after the Anglo-Saxon Nobleman known as Hereward the Wake, who famously led the local Fenland resistance against the Norman Conquest. The route follows a 39 mile Trail course consisting of Bridleways, Bridges, Fields, Tracks & sometimes running adjacent to the River Nene between Peterborough Cathedral & finishing close to Ely Cathedral at the local Rugby Club, although in previous years the race did finish in the grounds of Ely Cathedral but the crossing of the main road was deemed to be an increasing H&S risk. A solo (Ultra) or a 4 Person Relay Team (Mixed or same Gender) are available. The relay encompasses 4 stages with distances of about 6.5, 10.5, 11.5 & 10.8 miles).
BRJ won the event in 2001 (4:24:21), 2002 (4:11:10) & 2003 (3:55:06) & were runners up in 2004 (3:57:23). From thee years, only Tony Cotton, Mike Gullis & Alan Hannibal still remain BRJ members.
In 2023 & in chilly, but thankfully dry wintery conditions, 82 teams successfully completed the distance with the winning (all Men’s) team completing the distance in 3:52:20. The BRJ team finished in position 47 in a total time of 5:27:24. Their respective stage times were:-
Leg 1 (Peterborough to Whittlesey) – Rachel Dent – 1:02:15
Leg 2 (Whittlesey to March) – Kerry Surkitt – 1:39:25
Leg 3 (March to Welney) – Paul Mitton – 1:25:16
Leg 4 (Welney to Ely) – Felicity Baillie – 1:20:18
A good time was had by all & so Paul is very keen to attract more BRJ’ers to enter this fun event in 2024.