DOWNLAND ULTRA 30 CHALLENGE 2007
Mark Halls (862) leads Matt Llynas(825) and the field in the first mile
For the fourteenth year Haywards Heath Harriers ‘Downland Running Festival’ defied the elements to produce a great days competition over it’s two hill races. The shorter, 5 mile ‘Jack & Jill Challenge’ and the ‘Downland Ultra 30 Challenge’ that once again was part of the Vasque Ultra-running Championships.
Weeks of rain had made the Downland climbs and descents difficult and this was made worse by a torrential downpour throughout the previous night, but by the time competitors started to arrive around 7pm, and, fortified by hot tea and buns from the ever willing refreshments team, they opened bleary eyes to find the weather clearing quickly from the west so that by the 9am start they set off with a clear blue sky overhead and with little wind.
The 120 starters (100 men, 20 ladies) set off on the lap of the playing fields prior to climbing the north scarp of the South Downs to the Jack & Jill windmills led out by Mark Halls of Brighton City AC, determined to break 4hours this year which he just missed on ’06 due to a heavy fall and a bad wrist injury in the final miles.
A group of four soon formed, Matt Lynas(Thames Hare & Hounds), Sean Kitteridge (Colchester Harr.) Martin Rea (N.Belfast Harr) and Steve Pyke, Team Vasque and these four stayed more or less together to the turning point in the Ouse valley at 15 miles. On the long climb back up from the river to the South Downs ridgeway the elastic finally broke with Matt Lynas moving steadily away, Sean and Martin hanging together and Steve slowly dropping back.
This situation remained during the concluding miles back along the South Downs Way and through the final descent from the Jack & Jill windmills and the playing fields lap to the finish with Matthew Lynas crossing the line in 3hrs 33m38s. Some 5 minutes slower than the 2006 course record but a superb run considering the sticky underfoot conditions on some parts of the route.
Sean Kitteridge and Martin Rea finished together in 3.43.57 with Team Vasque runners Stephen Pyke and Martin Beale 4th and 5th. Then there was a special cheer for local man Mark Halls who achieve his under 4hr ambitions with a fine 3.55.33.
Men’s winner, Matt Lynas on the climb to Ditchling Beacon
Winning Lady Ramona Thevenet-Smith in the early miles
The ladies race was a much closer contest with last years’ third place finisher Ramona Thevenet-Smith (Woking AC) and Beverly Remant, from local club Heathfield Road Runners, along with Julie Longdon (Hastings Road Runners) all pushing for the front until Ramona’s Ultra experience finally paid off in the last miles to give her the win despite being 20 minutes slower than her 3rd place time in ’06. A true reflection of the more difficult underfoot conditions.
As is usual for a promoting club most of our members were out helping on the day but Haywards Heath Harriers had three competitors this year. Mark Johnson, a little slower than ’06 with 5.26.23 while last years ‘Ultra virgins’ Marion Hemsworth and Dave Peel both had improvements of around 40 mins for the route.
Haywards Heath Harriers thank all the competitors and The Vasque Ultra-running Championship for their involvement in this year’s race and we trust you enjoyed your day and hope to see you all again next year,
Sunday, July 27th 2008.
Forms and details available from haywardsheatharriers.co.uk or email dave.dogrunner@tesco.net
Dave Dalziel.
Race Director.
Downland Running Festival
(Photos courtesy of AntBliss.Com. Digital Sports Photos. www.antbliss.com)
