Tom Aldred and Sarah Winter win Intersport Run Reigate Half Marathon
The award-winning Intersport Run Reigate Half Marathon and 10K took place on Sunday 17th September 2017, under overcast but dry skies, and it was a day of superb sporting action for runners of all ages and abilities
The 4th edition of the event started and finished in Surrey’s Priory Park and saw just under 3,000 runners cross the finish line front of Priory School. Running icon Dame Kelly Holmes started both the 10K and the Half Marathon, sending the runners on their way at 9.00am and 9.15amrespectively, and congratulating runners with high fives in the finish stretch.
Tom Aldred (handicap -3.2) of London Heathside / Highgate Harriers won the Intersport Run Reigate Half Marathon in a time of 1:11:11, half a minute ahead of runner up Matthew Richards (handicap -1.7) of Reading Roadrunners. Christopher Ashford (handicap -2.1) of Birmingham Running Athletics & Triathlon Club took third place after finishing in 1:12:48. The women’s title was claimed by Sarah Winter (handicap 4.5) of The Stragglers Running Club in 1:25:22, ahead of Fiona De Mauny (handicap 0.9) of Walton AC who finished in 1:25:54 and Clair Collin in 1:27:09.
Paul Prothero (handicap -1.6 ) of Reigate Priory AC was the fastest in the Intersport Run Reigate 10K and secured the win after crossing the finish line in 33:56. Oscar Subuh-Symons of DMVAC took second place in 34:38, ahead of Andy Salmon (handicap -1.0) of Bristol and West AC who finished in 34:45. Hannah Robbie claimed the women’s title in a time of 40:00, fifty seconds ahead of runner up Charlotte Best. Tanya Johnson (handicap 7.0) of Clapham Chasers came third in 41:26.
In addition to the Half Marathon and 10K races the hugely popular and sold out Canon Kids Race started at noon and saw young runners aged 4-14 years complete the final 1.1 mile of their own cumulative half marathon, and watching the youngsters cross the finish line was one of the many highlights of race day.
The event also hosted The 2017 Emergency Services Challenge: Police vs Fire vs Ambulance, where teams from each of the emergency services battled it out to win the trophy. Dame Kelly Holmes presented the trophies to Surrey Police, who were the fastest Emergency Services Team in both the Half Marathon and the 10K.
Race Director David Kelly commented: “A big thank you from myself and the whole Run Reigate team to everyone who ran, volunteered, cheered and supported the event, and congratulations to all the runners who crossed the finish line. The 2017 Intersport Run Reigate Half Marathon and 10K was a great success, featuring a beautiful closed-road route through rural Surrey, a first-class race village and lots of spectator support, and we saw lots of happy faces today.
“We would also like to express our gratitude to all our partners and sponsors who keep supporting us in taking the event to the next level. Entries for the 2018 event are now open and we are looking forward to seeing everyone again next September.”
The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity in partnership with George and the Giant Pledge was the event’s Star Charity Partner. The event also supported local charity partners including The Children’s Trust, The Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance, Samaritans of East Surrey, The Patrick Evans Foundation, St Catherine’s Hospice, Stripey Stork and YMCA East Surrey.
The Intersport Run Reigate Half Marathon was voted the UK’s Best Half Marathon (≤ 5,000 participants) at The Running Awards 2017 and voting is now open for 2018.
Sponsors for the event included Intersport, Jellyfish, Brooks, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, Simply Sports, Canon, Willis Towers Watson, Move Revolution, Osborne, esure, Nutfield Priory, Spire Gatwick Park Hospital and Fitness Rewards.
The 2018 date has been confirmed as Sunday 16th September, and a limited number of super early bird entries are available. The first 200 runners signing up for the half marathon or the 10K will get their place for just £25 (including booking fee), and the Super Early Bird entry fee for the Canon Kids Race is £8 for the first 50 runners.
Go to www.runreigate.com for further details, results, images and to secure your place for 2018. You can also like the Facebook page www.facebook.com/runreigate and follow @runreigate on Twitter.
Photography from ©SussexSportPhotography.com