Lee....ding the charge!
Thankfully there weren't any of the parking troubles that delay the start of last years Chichester Priory 10k, with all competitors safely inside Goodwood Motor Circuit with time to spare for this years 9:30am start. Among the 1500 strong field and despite near freezing temperatures were 35 runners for Bognor Regis Tone Zone.
Peter Lee was the clubs first runner over the line with a really strong race time of 37.17. Next up and the clubs first female was Kari Mack, running an equally strong race. Kari stopped the clock at 39.54. Seven club runners ran their personal best times for this distance at the race. Neil Pacey took over a minute from his to finish in 51.20, despite this Pacey was still disappointed "Unfortunately my left calf tightened and cramped at 7 km, I would have not only broken my personal goal of a sub 50 but finished around 48 mins if it hadn't. I'm pleased with the run but will now need to find another 10k race to try again....on the plus side the race was much better organised for parking this year and even with my cramp it was a really enjoyable race" An overjoyed Stan Mack, who is in the middle of training for his first marathon in April managed to slice 3 minutes from his best to finish in 45.21, Gareth Stemp beat his by 2 minutes finishing in 47.42. The others were Karen Vilday 52.36, Martin Playford 52.55, David Sinclair 54.03 and Jo York 1.08.35.
Along the coast at an equally cold Portsmouth was the Coastal half marathon. Derek Natoli was the first tonezoner home in 2.01 closely followed a minute later by Jackie Williamson who described the race "Mud, boggy grass, shingle, freezing wind, it’s the Portsmouth Coastal half.......such fun" Ben Leney, 2.05 and Sam Yates, 2.19 both ran their best times. Sam took an amazing 7 minutes from her best afterwards she said "I'm so happy with my PB or 7 minutes today at the Portsmouth Coastal Half Marathon, it's only taken me 8 years!"
Bognor Regis Tone Zone Runners Results
Chichester Priory 10k: Peter Lee 37.17; Kari Mack 39.54; Danny Mahoney 41.32; Duncan Stephenson-Gill 41.43; Laurie Ward 41.49; David Rowe 42.00; Daryl Fairbrother 43.05; Michael Manwill 44.26; Cameron Coe 44.33; Gary Smith 44.52; Anne Kari Enes 45.03; Keith Hardwell 45.06; Stan Mack 45.21; Mark Green 45.23; Sean O'donnell 46.11; Grahame Hurren 46.52; Simon Bodsworth 47.05; Gareth Stemp 47.42; Tony Holcombe 48.46; Mike Daughtrey 48.49; Adam Norgett 49.13; Garry Gaskin 49.42; Peter Ramsdale 50.38; Neil Pacey 51.20; Karen Vilday 52.36; Martin Playford 52.55; Stephen Goddard 52.59; Natalie Tribe 53.21; David Sinclair 54.03; Josey Faggetter 54.43; Allen Porter 55.28; Stuart Thomson 57.28; Paul Stevenson 57.57; Sarah Spurr 1.00.35; Jo York 1.08.35. Portsmouth Half Marathon: Derek Natoli 2.01.43; Jackie Williamson 2.02.32; James Savage 2.03.29; Ben Leney 2.05.05; Debbie Patching 2.10.35; Ian Culton 2.11.30; Sam Yates 2.19.12. Portchester Banger 5k: Nic Baglee 44.00 Winter London Run: Bushka Skladenek 56.37, Natalie Pink 1.17.32; Debbie Pacey 1.17.32; Lisa Robinson 1.17.55.
All pictures at the Chichester 10k by Heather Holcombe