Striders at the cross country in Stanmer Park on Saturday

A group of Striders braved the wet and windy weather on Sunday morning for a run at Arundel.

Lee and Anita at the Great Bottom 5

A strong finish from Keith Fowler at the Cross Country

Paul Hurley and Liz Crockford at the Great South Run.

Sam Bennett at the Oxford Half Marathon

Striders were out in force at the weekend running the Worthing 10K and Brighton Half Marathon.  Well done to all!

Congratulations to Keith Fowler who completed the London Marathon on Sunday.

​At yesterday’s Brighton Marathon club Chairman, Rob Graham completed the course in a time of 3:30, finishing 3rd in his age category.  Well done Rob!

On Tuesday night, 7th September, the Striders 2021 AGM was held.  At a well attended event Chairman Rob Graham took us through proceedings.  As ever one of the more enjoyable events of the night was the annual awards.  Here are a few photos of this year's deserving recipients.

Last week we were advised that Frank Rickus had passed away at the grand age of 91.  Frank was one of a small number of runners that formed Worthing Striders back in 1996. ​Looking through club results one highlight for Frank was that he got to run the Boston Marathon in the twilight of his running career in 1996 at the age of 66.  Frank last ran for the club in 2006 but each year would support the club by helping to marshall the Highdown Hike and Duck Pond Waddle. 

​RIP Frank 

A group of Striders along with a couple of local Councillors took part in a litter pick on Sunday 6th June in and around Highdown.  Well done to everyone that took part and special thanks to Peter Jenkins and Barbara for organising the event.

We sadly learnt yesterday that Ron Hill, the club's Honorary President had passed away.

Ron's achievements  in Athletics were legendary.  The following was posted on the BBC website:

Ex-European and Commonwealth marathon champion Ron Hill has died aged 82.
Hill represented Britain in the marathon at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics and at Munich in 1972.
In 1970 he became the first Briton to win the Boston Marathon, breaking the course record, and won Commonwealth gold the same year in a time of two hours nine minutes 28 seconds.
Hill also ran at least one mile every single day for 52 years and 39 days before ending his streak aged 78.
The Accrington-born athlete ran every day from 20 December 1964 to 31 January 2017 - including after snapping his sternum in a car accident in 1993.
His winning time at the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh made him only the second man to break 2:10 for the marathon, and he still ranks as the 12th fastest Briton of all time over the 26.2-mile distance, while his winning time in Boston of 2:10:30 took more than three minutes off the existing course record.
Hill also won marathon gold at the 1969 European Championships.
On the track, he competed in the 10,000m at the Mexico City Olympics of 1968, and held world records at 10 miles, 15 miles and 25km.
He later founded a sportswear company, which paid tribute on Sunday to "our founder, our inspiration, a husband, a father, a grandfather, a runner".

The photograph below shows Ron meeting two past members of Worthing Striders.

On Sunday 25th April a number of Striders took part in the local Bluebell trail runs in Angmering Park.  In sunny spring conditions the runs were enjoyed by all.  There was even time to stop and video a deer in the woods!

Last night's Striders training session finished in a snow blizzard.  The great British weather.  Thank you to the four trainers: Colin, Carla, Anita and Steve and thanks to everyone that braved the elements and supported the training.

As lock down restrictions were eased Worthing Striders returned to training on Tuesday 30th March.  We were blessed with a warm evening and a turn out of more than 30 enjoyed socially distanced training.  It was good to meet up and see familiar faces!

Congratulations to Rob Graham and Anita Watkins for completing the Beachy Head Marathon on Saturday.

Anita commented:
​The always amazing Beachy Head Marathon did not disappoint. It's a tough event on the best of days, and today wasn't that, at least weatherwise. Starting off with blisters on both heels from walking in wet shoes during the week wasn't great either! VERY, VERY windy, but at least I didn't get rained on (much)
Absolutely thrilled to finish in under 7 hours, an event PB . The stairs are looking pretty daunting at the moment, but I'm still planning to sign up for next year.
A fantastic day out, and obviously the medal is perfect!

Hello Striders
Pete Jenkins has come up with another great run for next Sunday (18th October).

We will be meeting from 8.45 in the car park at the end of Storrington Rise in Findon Valley (post code BN14 0HT) and starting the run at 9.00.

The car park can be quite full. If it is you can park in the nearby road called Long Meadow.

The run is 4.4 miles with some hills, so a good challenge.

Here is a link to a map of the course:

 https://gb.mapometer.com/running/route_5158685

Hopefully you can join us and the weather is as good as it is today!

Well done to everyone who completed a very windy Brighton Half Marathon on Sunday and thanks to all supporters who turned out to cheer on the runners.  Rob Holmes missed [only just] the World Record for completing a half Marathon in a suit of armour - a great effort!

Well done to Paul Hurley on completing his 100th Park Run last Saturday [22nd February]

​On Saturday 18th January 15 Striders took part in the Sussex Masters Cross Country Championships which were held locally at Coombes Farm.  On a gruelling course – the word ‘hilly’ does not do it justice, conditions were glorious for running being cold but with bright winter sunshine.  The Downland views at the top were brilliant.  Everyone enjoyed their run and the new Striders Gazebo made its first appearance, which was the envy of every other club!  Well done in particular to Myra who ran with a smile and to Richard Butler who made is debut in a Striders vest.

​On Sunday 5th January 11 Striders made the relatively short journey up to Epsom to run the Tadworth 10.  The race start was at the famous Epsom race course, venue for the Derby.  Consequently, the race facilities on the ground floor of the main stand were excellent.  A warm environment, tea and coffee for sale and plenty of toilets so no queuing.  The start of the race was a 5-minute walk away and there was plenty of car parking.  The race itself was a mixture of terrain.  It started on the race course and after a long downhill followed country roads, small villages and paths through wooded areas.  The course consisted of 2 loops which had a steady climb and a long downhill section that followed.  On the second loop the climb was more noticeable with tired legs!  Conditions were cold but dry and Mike Osmon was first Strider home closely followed by Tim McGrath who set a PB for the 10-mile distance.  This well organised race was a thoroughly enjoyable day out and a great start to the New Year.  I’m sure this race will grow in popularity with Striders.
Neil R.

​On New Year’s Day, 32 Striders were out in force to run the Hangover 5.

​Senior Team finished 12th out of 18 [best placed finish since 2012]
Junior Team finished 9th out of 18
Junior Team won award for Most Improved Participation
[Well done to Clodagh Fowler, Paddy Fowler, Grace Fryer, Albie Barnes, Isla Wells, Theo Turner, Harry Turner, James Wells]
Keith Fowler scored the most Senior Points for men [105]
Natasha Sparkes scored the most Senior Points for women [69]
Paul Hurley took part in the most Senior runs [13 out of 16]
Clodagh Fowler scored the most Junior Points for girls [37]
Paddy Fowler scored the most Junior points for boys [28]
Clodagh Fowler took part in the most Junior runs [6 out of 17]

Striders had a large turn out with 16 runners taking part in this event. The course was a challenging one with very little flat ground to be found as it worked its way thought the forest in a 5 mile loop back to the start. 

By Tim

It was a glorious late summer day when messes  Rabone ,Turner, Tullet and McGrath set out on another relay adventure with Karen Thomas  tackling the solo 10k route in a pincer movement This event was local Arundel Cricket Club was the venue . The event was a 6.5 mile loop though the woods up hill and down dale back to the start for handover it was a lovely route with a constantly changing vista it offered a challenge with some fearsome steps halfway around . There was also a solo  half or full marathon option with laps.
We set of in reverse order from last relay and all really enjoyed the event it was very social with other clubs and old friends there too and with a free burger and a medal at the end whats not to like i would recommend for the future