Each year we host a handicap event in memory of Adrian Smith, a member who sadly suffered a critical heart attack during a handicap run and tragically didn’t survive it. His legacy continues on an annual basis, with Matt Pleass as our current Special Events Coordinator taking the reins for the first time to organise the competition, helped by glamourous assistant Mark Parker, having the pressurized job as stats man of predicting runners 10K times based on previous performances, and setting runners off at the correct intervals. Alongside the running, a great opportunity to raise important funds for the British Heart Foundation, of which the 2023 edition generated £180.

Working in reverse, holding you in suspense for the announcement of our winner, the final runners over the line were Martin Yeomans, Emily Partridge and Andrew Stanley. New member George Giles ran his first 10K distance for his Ivanhoe board. There was Tim Sturla, Andrew Jeyes and Ian Bolton, along with Tom Baron, also with his debut 10K, and last years champion Andrew Bottrill.

Hitting the half way mark, we had Alastair Chambers and Paul Averillo both stretching out the legs ahead of Great North Run, Mark Harriott, Sue Tait and Dan Bladon.

Moving into the podium positions, Amelia Monaghan was third back in 47:26, a three minute PB wasn’t good enough for Ellen Bolton to take top spot as she ran 1:05:39, and Mukesh Deva stormed to a first place finish, his time prediction taken from his 8 mile race only the Sunday before completing 10K in 1:00:13 making a superb comeback with the club agreeing we were crowning a very worthy winner. Congratulations Mukesh!

Written by Emily Partridge - last updated on 09/10/2023