As a change to the previously published run, and due to Shoreham Air Display weekend, we could do something completely different on Saturday – never let it be said we are stuck in a rut – park in the A283 layby and then follow this route. It’s just under 13 miles and has over 1,500 feet of climbing, but should maximise our chances of seeing some planes.
An unusual occurrence at the Henfield Half today was that a film was being shot as part of the race. Agreed by the organiser, (Simon at the Henfield Leisure Centre) a film crew from Cambridge University Press, complete with flying drone camera (I kid you not! They even had a ‘bear in the air!’), did some filming as part of a plot for an English language course film. It involved a runner (Race number 101 by the way) who was filmed at the start and finish! Only two Henfield Joggers in todays race due to a clash with Tilgate (see separate report) but lots of support all over the place:
Duncan Blackburn – 1:55:39
Denis Muirden – 2:20:25
Danielle got some video footage of the start and photo’s of the ‘drone’ – see below:
Some of us headed up to Tilgate Forest for the Saints & Sinners 5m Fun run this morning. Nikki, Louise, Lorna, Alison T and me. Nikki’s sister Louise and brother-in-law joined us too. Alan Barwick was also there, sporting his Team HJ’s running vest! (Sadly we didn’t get a pic)! It’s great that we can now easily spot members of our team and get encouraging shout outs from the Marshals! Go Henfield!!
It was a lovely run, completely off road, through the forest trails and the conditions were just perfect. One or two little hills, but nothing compared to the Highdown Hike or Roundhill Romp that some had recently endured. Highly recommended for anyone tempted next year!
10 of us met as planned in Steyning car park and for a moment it looked like a pre Crufts convention rather than an alternative HJs event! On time we set off, leaving Steyning by the quiet lanes before making the steep ascent up the Downs. But boy do the views make it worthwhile! The fact that most were still able to talk must be testament that we are fitter than perhaps we feel?!
We joined the South Downs Way and after approx 4.5 miles of walking, took a wooded path leading down to Washington, where we met up with another 7 of us at The Frankland Arms in Washington for a quick drink. On moving on the 5 cyclists then braved the steep South Downs Way climb from the Washington car park, while the walkers continued on the lower path, via one unplanned field, where Liz’s gallant husband helped people and animals over a wire fence! After 3.5 miles of beautiful scenery at the foot of the Downs, going past Wiston House, we entered Steyning via Mouse Lane. Thankfully for Liz and I, there was a unanimous agreement that the walk / route had been thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Once at The Star Inn, Steyning we seemed to continue with HJs current form with pubs! Ok, we were later arriving than Liz and I had calculated (having walked it the previous week), but we were horrified to discover that the cyclists had been told on arrival that they were unaware of us coming! This was despite Liz and I discussing our event with the landlady in person and confirming by email!! There was 1 lad working the bar, (far from ideal when we were all thirsty!) and the wait for food was an hour initially. Note – we won’t be frequenting there again! Anyway, the sun was shining and 19 of us enjoyed relaxing for a couple of hours in the beer garden!
Thanks by many have been received and Liz and I feel that despite the pub not meeting expectation, the day was a resounding success! Hopefully the storyboard of photos reflects this! For all the photos’s, courtesy of Gill and Sue, go to the Gallery here!
On a warm, clear Sussex evening we had a Jiggle of Joggers (I reckon thats an appropriate word for a group of Joggers? Isn’t it???) at Highdown, Goring – in fact checking back in the records on the ‘West Sussex Fun Run League’ website this is the largest group we’ve had for this race since 2008 – the earliest record available online! And all wearing ‘skool uniform’ (well, almost all!) too. Results will be published as soon as they’re available but especially lovely to see Alison and Lorna on their second week as members and out enjoying the experience of this great run. Slight hiccup (nearly hiccup!) at the start as we were all so busy taking the photo at the top of the hill that we ‘nearly’ underestimated how far down the hill the Start actually was! A stroll downhill ended in a run to beat the Starter, already making his safety briefing – and the road was packed with 400 runners, and deep ditches either side! We squeezed in where we could – and then off we went almost immediately. That first uphill is very slow because the path is so narrow that unless you’re at the front, you are forced to walk (or in my case even stand waiting!) for the route to clear. The views on top were, as always, magnificent – out towards Portsmouth and IoW clear as anything – if you could see from the sweat dripping down – it was warm work! Mis-heard quote of the evening (or the Year!) award goes to Natasha – she heard me follow a nice comment to the marshals at one corner, who were really great, with what I ACTUALLY said “Gotta rate the marshals” becoming, in her ears “Gotta RAPE the marshals”. My how we laughed and laughed as we whiled away the downhill trot, acutely aware that we had to go back up again TWICE yet!
Wonderful run, great event, well marshalled and a superb evening all round – although Mandy told me afterwards that I was WRONG and that this was WORSE than Roundhill Romp!!!! Its a matter of opinion, I did say there wasn’t much in it! Sorry Mandy!!
And congratulations to everyone who ran, and to Andy who finished 10th overall, from a record field of 450, and a record number of 421 finishers! And of course to new members Lorna and Alison running their first ‘Fun Run’, and to Tammy who also completed her own ‘first fun run’! The ‘Hike’ isn’t the easiest – congratulations and a virtual medal!
Meanwhile, with peak holiday season in full flow we were still able to field a second group running from The Partridge, who seemed to have a nice time without us but got recruited by the Morris Men later – if I hear any faint jingles the next time we’re all out, I’m running, VERY fast indeed, the opposite way!
Thanks to Dave, who found this great video on You Tube of the start of the race – see how many Joggers you can spot? Had we delayed for ‘one more photo’ this is what would have faced us as we trotted down the road to the Start!!!!!
RESULTS (Full results on the WSFRL League website here)
| 26:14 | Andy Massingale |
| 31:27 | Gary Wilkinson |
| 32:36 | Marcus Dwyer |
| 34:34 | Fabian Kaelin |
| 37:17 | Simon Funnell |
| 38:05 | Dave Razzell |
| 39:07 | Kieran Lewer |
| 39:11 | Bob Wallace |
| 39:29 | Adrian Williams |
| 41:12 | Brian Turrell |
| 42:17 | Natasha Heasman |
| 42:18 | Danielle Kaelin |
| 43:50 | Paul Crowe |
| 44:51 | Alison Keeler |
| 45:06 | Louise Lewer |
| 45:18 | Joyce Blundell |
| 45:31 | Nikki Hargrave |
| 45:33 | Tammy Simpson |
| 46:28 | Lorna Winter |
| 47:38 | Louise Muller |
| 47:46 | Amanda Kianfor |
I know people use various devices but for those of us using Garmin I have set up a Garmin Connect Group for Henfield Joggers – the link is here if you are interested in sharing activities etc.
If anyone has other devices/applications and wants to set up a group to share, just let me have the link and I’ll share it here.
It is, of course, our ‘Day on the Downs’ on Saturday, and I did make a proposal re meeting in Steyning at 10:15 and running the route highlighted below. However, and with so many people away at the moment, it hasn’t met with any positive response. So note: There WILL be a run from HLC at 8am – Brian T will be leading it and setting a route which will be taking the general direction of Lawyers Lane/Riverbank. OR join in at Steyning later and run whatever you fancy – it’s all good! Get your run in before the rains on Sunday in any event 🙂
Congratulations to our own Lotte who has won a competition to Run the Highlands – no, thats not a senior management position in the Scottish government, it really is a run across the Highlands!
The run is 122 miles covered in 6 days and starts off in Alyth south Scotland, finishing at Spey Bay on the Moray coast in the north. It is not a race – the aim is to get there at a comfortable pace.
Lotte is no stranger to running across Scotland having covered 85 miles over 5 days before, so considers this absolutely brilliant.
With the run at the beginning of October Lotte is hoping she can get her mileage seriously up the next few months!! Any volunteers to help???
The date for the next ‘Start Running or Return to Running’ course is now announced as 17th September, and will be promoted in BN5 and all local media over the next month. More information is here or just email Cathy at: beginners@henfieldjoggers.co.uk
With the Hugh-meister away and a general consensus on Wednesday night that we’d look to cover about 8 miles, with Brian taking the lead, I’ve selected this route from the archive – no guarantees that Brian will follow this ‘exactly’ but the general outline is there – lets hope the weather stays warm and dry as the Met Office has it down as ‘unsettled’ – but hey, this is Sussex!
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