ONE OF the greatly missed runs since COVID restrictions has been the Wakehurst Willows. Organised by Haywards Heath Harriers coaches Marion Hemsworth and Ian Dumbrell and in partnership with Wakehurst it's a beautiful 8km run around both a National Trust Property and a part of Kew Gardens.
This year it came back as a run series with two events starting on the 3rd July with the "Wee Willows" a 5km run around the main house and gardens. And on 13th July it went into the "Wakehurst Willows" a 8km run.
After Wakehurst closed down for the evening and the public had left, the site locked down only allowing organisers, marshalls and runners on site.
This is a highlight on the run calendar with athletics clubs joining the run from all over Sussex as well as unaffiliated runners wanting to run the prestious grounds. The Wee Willows was an amazing opportunity for new runners looking to run a 5km distance.
A few weeks before the event Wakehurst wanted to publicise the run on their website. So a group of us from Haywards Heath Harriers and J&M Running went along to help with the publicity shots. We had access to the grounds and specific spots to run whilst photo's were taken and subsequently uploaded to the website and used in adverts. Maybe I could get more modelling work, if only I didn't have a face for radio! Payment was free coffee and cake in the Wakehurst cafe afterwards, perfect. 
There was some great running from Haywards Heath Harriers with Paul Cousins first across the line for the club, followed by Pete Francis and Julian Boyer. There was a real team effort displayed with several runnings pairing up Peter Francis and Julian Boyer coming in at 00:35:09, Steven Heath and Barry Tullett coming in at 00:38:05.
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