Wakehurst Willows Series

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.

Redwood Run - Sheffield Park National Trust

Race bib

WEDNESDAY 3rd JULY 2019 was the inaugural Redwood Run at Sheffield Park National Trust property in Maresfield.   The event, hosted by Haywards Heath Harriers, was managed by Marion Hemsworth and Ian Dumbrell and run under England Athletics rules.   Sheffield Park is the second Sussex National Trust property to host running events with the Harriers already having the Willows as an established run at Wakehurst Place (part of Kew Gardens) in Ardingly.

Sheffield Park race map

The run was attended by the majority of the 18 England Athletics registered running clubs across Sussex as well as other clubs and unaffiliated runners.   The route started from the front entrance to Sheffield Park Gardens and went around fields before entering the bottom of the National Trust property.    It went around the cricket pitch and towards the lakes before coming up to the main exit for the park and gardens then turning back towards the bottom exit and back across the fields to the finish line.

The run was a real test of ability and muscle endurance running on grass, asphalt, flint and woodchip surfaces.    Along the way there were field and kissing gates to get through and small bridges that elevated the runners above the areas being protected for wildlife.   As with any National Trust property it was beautiful and scenic and a joy to run through.

Haywards Heath Harriers Team Photo

The return run caught me out as I approached one of the field gates.   A sneaky tree root tripped me up and I hit the ground quite hard.   A marshall came running over to make sure I was OK and was pleased it wasn't a serious medical emergency as she didn't know what to do with those!   Few grazes across my knees and right shoulder.    So I brushed myself off and completed the run.

With luck with will be become an established run for the Harriers and be as successful as Wakehurst.