HRRL Gosport half marathon and our 40th Anniversary Dinner/Dance
HRRL Gosport half marathon
With temperatures at a steady 11 0 C and only a breeze, conditions were favourable for the Gosport half marathon. It was the 40th since it began in 1983 and was expertly organised by Gosport Road Runners. Twenty-three Farnham Runners were among the field of 1669 finishers, all making a positive contribution to the club’s team results in the Hampshire Road Race League.
For the M65s there was a surprise podium sweep! Keith Marshall came first, Justin Clarke second and Chris Raby third in the age group, with the first two receiving a prize.
Linda Tyler also won her age group by a massive 14 minutes, gaining a new personal best and age group club record. This was the day after she ran in the British Masters Home International 6km cross country in Leeds and placed second in the Welsh team.
At Gosport Joe Collins crossed the line first for Farnham in a fine time of 1:19:45, with Alex Elsey, in 1:26:19, Tony Jones (4th M60) in 1:30:44 and Ivan Chunnett in 1:32:49 all scoring for the A team.
For the B team were Keith Marshall, Justin Clarke, Chris Raby and Richard Steedman in his first half marathon, while Paul Keogh, James Goodwin and Richard Denby ran for the C team.
Gabi Hitchcock led in the ladies’ A team in a splendid 1:35:31, followed by Linda Tyler in 1:38:14, new member Sarah McGerr in 1:42:03 and Gemma Whitehouse in a new personal best by a whopping 6 minutes in 1:46:30.
Not far back was the leader of the B team Georgie Abrook in 1:47:02, a PB by 5 minutes, with Bridget Naylor, Jane Georghiou, and Colette Grist completing the score.
Sandra Hickey (PB), Sarah Franklin, Alison Lamb and Julia Tagg made a complete C team.
Our 40th Anniversary Dinner/Dance
Farnham Runners recently celebrated their 40th Anniversary in style with a Dinner/ Dance held at the Bourne Club, attended by some of the founder members and past chairmen and organised by Debbie Moorcroft.
One of the first chairmen, Brian Steward with his wife Ann had travelled from the Isle of Wight specially for the event. Another of the first committee members, Allan Bird with his wife Sue, as well as Sue Wheeler, both among the very first members, were present as well as former chairmen Dan Smith and Steve Kitney.
One of the founder members and the first treasurer, still a current member, John de Moraes explained how the club had formed after coach Mick Woods from Aldershot, Farnham and District A.C. had organised a Farnham group to run the first Farnham Marathon and half marathon in 1985.
One of the first chairmen, Brian Steward with his wife Ann had travelled from the Isle of Wight specially for the event. Another of the first committee members, Allan Bird with his wife Sue, as well as Sue Wheeler, both among the very first members were present as well as former chairmen Dan Smith and Steve Kitney.
John emphasised how the original ethos of the club as a friendly and sociable club for all standards of runner had endured to the present day, thanks to all the work of the volunteers over the years. He summed up the club by congratulating current chair Justin Clarke and past and present committee members for the leadership they have shown in taking the club from humble beginnings to the vibrant and successful club it is today.
The evening continued with a disco and a casino run by the Bailey Boys and the opportunity to peruse the club’s archives that include scrapbooks of Herald articles from 1986 to the present day.
See the Photo Gallery 2025 for further photos from these events.