Red Lion 10K 2001 Report

12th August 2001 at 11am
Hernhill, Faversham

International athletes Barry Royden (Medway AC) and Andrea Green (Dartford Harriers AC) both picked up bonuses for breaking the course records at the Red Lion 10K on Sunday 12th August at Hernhill near Faversham. Barry and Andrea were at the head of a very popular race which reached its limit of 400 entrants, with, regrettably, some people being disappointed when they turned up to enter on the day for the Kent Grand Prix event.

Barry clocked 32:15, breaking his own mark set in 1999 by over a minute and Andrea, who was 11th overall, showed her class by running 35:42, an improvement by almost a minute and a half on her 1999 record.

Behind Barry in the men's race were Darell Smith (Sevenoaks AC) who ran 32:37 and last year's winner Anthony Webb (Ashford AC) who was a further nine seconds back but actually two minutes quicker than his pace-setting time in 2000. David Morris of Boxhill Racers took the Vet 40 prize in 35:05, the Vet 50 prize went to Invicta East Kent athlete, Martyn Rouse, who ran 37:27, and David Northcroft (Maidstone Harriers) took the Vet 60 prize in 44:39.

As well as his cash prizes both for winning the race and setting a new course record, Barry Royden also took home a couple of bottles of Shepherd Neame's new Whitstable Bay Organic Ale, along with winning Medway AC teammates Gareth Williams and Ivon Whitmore. Thanet Road Runners and Invicta East Kent were 8 and 11 points, respectively, behind Medway's total of 40.

Andrea Green was followed home by Janice Moorkite of Invicta East Kent, who took the Vet 35 prize in a time of 40:54, and there was a close-fought battle between Juliette Parkin (Tunbridge Wells Harriers; 41:15), and Alyson Parlett (Bexley Borough AC; 41:23) for the remaining senior prizes. Sue James (Paddock Wood AC) ran 43:55 to take the Vet 45 prize and the Vet 55 award went to June Johnson (Sevenoaks AC) who finished in 48:37.

Janice Moorkite was the leader of an Invicta East Kent trio, which also comprised Joanne Jenkins and Faye Roberts, that lifted some more bottles of Shepherd Neame's finest as the winning female team with 27 points. They were followed by Tunbridge Wells Harriers (32) and Maidstone Harriers (47).

The faster times run were mainly attributable to the cooler, overcast conditions, as compared to last year's hot and sunny weather. However, the 372 finishers (with a total entry of 414) still had to contend with the sharply undulating course and they could rightly pat themselves on the back at their achievement. Nevertheless, they did not set themselves as hard a task as John Cooper who ran from home to take part in Red Lion 10K and finished in 43:15. That sounds more significant when you realise that John's home is in Ramsgate, almost 30 miles away!