WSFRL: Crawley Run Crew @ Tilgate

WEST SUSSEX Fun Run League suffered disappointment on their first run of the season with Goring Road Runners Hangover 5 cancelled on the 1st January 2023 due to severe flooding on the course.

The second run of the season hosted by Crawley Run Crew with their 5 mile run through Tilgate Forest and Park brought the magic back and set the league up nicely for the coming year.

The athletic standards were raised at the K2 race track with runners completing a lap of the track before heading into the forest and past Tilgate Zoo before heading round into the park, up towards the Smith and Western restaruant and down around the lake.   On the return the race turns back to the forest before heading for the final lap of the athletics track and crossing the finish line at the K2.

There was some excellent running from Haywards Heath Harriers with Andy Hind first across the finish line followed by Jack Chivers and Abigail Redd.   Both Carys Hind and Sarah Hamilton ran a steadily paced race.   Last year was Caroline Gumm's debut run in the league and this year she pulled a magnificent sprint finish out of the bag.

This is a beautiful run of two arranged at Tilgate, with the second being hosted by Saints and Sinners Run Club later in the year.   This was the start of the WSFRL season that we were all looking forward to.

 

WSFRL: Saints and Sinners - Forest Trails Run

I LOVE THE West Sussex Fun Run League, which is hosted by 16 athletics clubs over Sussex, which means I get 16 runs per year.   They are all different but all are beautiful and challenging in their own way.   You don't need to belong to an athletics club to join in, you can look them up on line and book a place for a small amount of money.   You won't get the medal and T-shirt, but you will get a great run.   If you are interested in having a look then click here.

The Tilgate Forest race is hosted by Crawley Saint's and Sinners.   And is a five-mile trail run, best described as undulating and is outstanding, I ran this a few years ago and loved it.   But everthing stopped for COVID and this is the first run since then.

There is a small clearing just off the K2 Leisure Centre, where the 16 Athletics Clubs that makes up the WSFRL set their club flags.   The members get together in a true spirit of community and hand the race numbers out in preparation for the run.

Standing on the start line, in the forest with the ceremonial placing of the flags, we held a united two-minute silence for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II before the start of the run.   It was a proud moment as one era ends and the reign of King Charles III starts.

The run starts almost in a straight line through the forest heading for one of the motorway bridges across the A23.   Once across you start a large loop (not an accurate description of the run, see right).   Using the trails around the forest you run a lot of the time on the soft forest floor that has a real spring in it.   The weather was beautiful and the forest floor was crunchy.

I don't know why but you get to a point in the run where you think you have quite a distance left and suddenly you see the finish line in front of you.   This has happened both times that I have run the event.   I can only put it down to getting lost in the beauty of the forest and enjoying the run, after all somebody put the "fun" in the "fun run league".

WSFRL: Henfield Steven Stiles

SUNDAY JULY 24th saw the next run in the West Sussex Fun Run League calendar, hosted by Henfield Joggers. On a hot sunny day the banners from all 16 athletics clubs went up on Kings Field as athletes warmed up ready for the run.

I love the WSFRL because they are so varied in terms of terrain and distance.   Most of them are between 5km and 10km, there are cross country, trails, road and one is a beach run at littlehampton.   You are guaranteed 16 runs a year.

This is a beautiful four mile trails from from Kings Field onto the open roads for a short distance before starting the trails. The run went down the side of the river Arun with runners having to avoid ending up going down the embankments onto the flood plains and taking care on the cracked scorched pathways. This led into a short run along the Downs Link, a disused railway line that connects the South and North Downs before heading back to the finish line.

Henfield Parish Church have done a lot of work brining Ukrainian refugees into the community and one joined the event producing an amazing run.

Haywards Heath Harriers pulled together a team of 11 athletes who took part, with some great running from front runners Harvey Alcock and Andy Hind and Abigail Redd running a great race. There was some great teamwork from Sarah Hamilton and Micheal Parish pacing in the middle of the pack with Sarah making it to the finish line first.

WSFRL: Hove Hornets Stinger 10km

HOSTED BY Hove Hornets the next run in the West Sussex Fun Run League took place on July 10th 2022 on the South Downs with a gloriously tough 10km run.   With temperatures reaching 26 degrees, and no shade, this was going to be a challenging run.

Athletics clubs from all over Sussex joined together raising their standards by the rugby club in preparation for the run which starts on the green before heading for a 5km run uphill to the top of the South Downs.   The views from the top are inspiring as you turn and start coming back down through roads, footpaths and trails.

This is one of the most challenging runs in the WSFRL calendar, but worth doing for the experience and kudos of having achieved it. 

There was some great running from Haywards Heath Harriers with Andy Hind first across the post for the club followed by Julian Boyer and Barry Tullett.

Haywards Heath Harriers results:  Andy Hind, 00:42:19; Julian Boyer, 00:47:11; Barry Tullett, 00:49:43; James Smyth, 00:58:57; Sarah Hamilton, 01:10:42; Michael Parish 01:10:57; Carys Hind, 01:16:33; Richard Bates 01:19:36; Linda Tullett 01:22:47.

WSFRL: Trundel View 5 mile race

 

HOSTED by Chichester Runners and Athletics Club the next run in the West Sussex Fun Run League (WSFRL) took place on the 25^th May 2022.   Members from the counties athletics clubs converged for a 5 mile trails race around the forest surrounding Glorious Goodwood. 

The League is made of 17 athletics clubs who each hold one run per year, each ranging from 5 miles to 10km.   Giving athletes 17 runs over a total distance of 85 miles.   Each is a very different and unique experience and is open to both affiliated and non-affiliated athletes.

The routed started outside of Goodwood across a field before entering the woods. Once there athletes had to complete two loops (each loop just under 4km) of the trails, before heading back across the fields to the finish line.   The route is best described as undulating with a number of continuous hills.

 Haywards Heath Harriers had some great results with Philip Scott first Harriers across the finish line.   I ws the second Harrier having a great race with fellow Harrier Sarah Hamilton.   Sarah was in front of me for the first loop, but I gained the upper hand on the second loop with just three seconds between us.

This was a great location and great race.   Will definantly have this one on my list for next year, even though it's the furthest run in the league from The Heath. 

Bank Holiday Monday Race with Lewes AC

THE BANK HOLIDAY Monday brought the third run in the West Sussex Fun Run League calendar hosted by Lewes AC. On a beautiful sunny day the 17 athletics clubs congregated at Lewes Athletics Track in preparation for the annual 10km run.

This is Lewes AC’s first run since lockdown and it was great to see them hosting the event. I did this run just before COVID and loved it, so I was really eager to go back and do it again.

The first run was a juniors one mile followed by the main run which was a 10km around the countryside of Lewes. Starting at the athletics track it went into Ham Lane, going anti clockwise out alongside, and then under, the A27 and across country. The route was multi terrain across tarmac, chalk footpaths and across fields. There is a part of the run that goes through the beautiful village of Iford as it loops back towards Lewes.

There was an amazing attendance by Haywards Heath Harriers with at least four athletes having been suffering with the effects of COVID the week prior to the run. Results were:  First Harrier across the line was Andy Hind, 00:39:38 quickly followed by Jonathan Beckett, 00:40:06; Tim Miller, 00:42:50; Abigail Redd, 00:46:39; Julian Boyer 00:47:47; James Smythe, 00:51:17; Sarah Hamilton, 00:56:57; Marion Hemsworth, 00:58:55; Michael Parish 01:02:38; Carys Hind 01:07:55; Richard Bates, 01:18:20; Rupert Purchase 01:18:46.   There was a really great team spirit throughout the run bringing all the Harriers across the finish line in a great time.

Run Your Heart Out with Crawley Run Crew 8km

SUNDAY 13^th February 2022 saw Crawley Run Crew host their “Run Your Heart Out” 8km endurance run. This was the second run of the season in the West Sussex Fun Run League calendar taking place in Tilgate forest/park over an multi terrain course.

(L-R): Jack Chivers, Eric Hepburn, Rupert Purchase, Carys Hind, Andy Hind, Katherine Buckeridge, Marion Hemsworth, Abby Redd,
Caroline Gumm, James Smyth, Michael Parish, Richard Bates and Dave Warren.

The League is comprised of 17 athletics clubs over Sussex with each club hosting one event over the year. This equates to a massive 17 races over 85 miles. Run Your Heart Out was Crawley Run Crew’s inaugural run in the League and what a run they had planned!

Starting from K2 Leisure Centre the route went around the 400m track, along the side of the car park into the forest. The run wound around the forest before taking a turn into Crawley Park heading past the Tilgate Nature Centre and up towards the Smith and Western tavern. Running downhill athletes did a three quarter run of the large lake before being turned around and sent back via the forest to the second lake. This led to the last stretch home around the forest before completing one last lap of K2’s 400m track.

The run is multi terrain with an undulating course as it goes from concrete footpaths around the Nature Centre, around the lakes and the velvety smooth footpaths through the forests. The course has something for everybody and some real challenges to complete the required 8km.

Haywards Heath Harriers had some star performances with Andy Hind, Dave Warren and Jack Chivers chasing down the front runners and completing the course in a great time. This was the first event by Caroline Gumm who did an excellent run and managed to achieve her PB for an 8km course.

 

The Mid Sussex Times coverage written by me.