Marvellous turnout of 30 Burgess Hill Runners for Fun Run league

Yet another marvellous Burgess Hill Runner turnout of 30 runners at the latest West Sussex Fun Run League on Wednesday last week saw the club take 3rd place out of the 18 competing clubs, with 83 points out of a possible 85.
By Darren Chilcott
Published 12th Aug 2014, 14:01 BST
Jan Lavis during the North Downs Way 100Jan Lavis during the North Downs Way 100
Jan Lavis during the North Downs Way 100

The race, the Highdown Hike, a very hilly 4 miles or so over the Downs organised by Worthing Striders, attracted well over 400 runners and of those racing in the league James Collins just pipped clubmate Darryl Webb, coming a superb 2nd and 3rd in 25.23 and 25.48 respectively. Jason Collett also secured (10) maximum points, finishing 19th in 27.28, with Mark Nicholls (36th, 28.56) and James Sorbie (29.50) scoring 9 points each. Emma Buckland ran a superb race led the BHR ladies home and secured her first 10 point score, finishing 148th in 35.24, and was well supported by Cath Beckett (37.55), the ever-improving Linda Russell (38.10), Katia Hannah (38.52), Emma Fernandez (38.57) and Karen Harvey (39.49). Special mention too to Faye Roberts and Claire Tucknott who both completed their first official race in BHR colours. On Sunday, Jan Lavis competed in the Centurion Running North Downs Way 100 mile event. This race is particularly hard, encompassing several difficult climbs in including the notorious Box Hill and a large proportion of the field dropped out, particularly in the latter stages at night as the weather worsened. After several months hard training, Jan was going exceptionally well, but unfortunately got her foot caught in a rabbit hole at around 48 miles leading to a sprained ankle that meant continuing to the finish would have risked serious injury.