Press Releases 2024

All Press Releases are by our PR Officer Ella Stanbrook unless otherwise stated. 

BHR Press Officer email address  - bhrpressrelease@gmail.com

24.03.2024

A bumper report this week with our runners taking part in a range of races in the local area.


First up, we had a small group take part in the Mel's Milers 10k. Taking place annually on the last Sunday of March or first Sunday in April, it's a flat course, taking runners over pathways, track and trail through the Sussex countryside. Kirsty Phillpot was first for BHR in 40:16, and also picked up second place woman overall. She was followed by Neil Phillpot (45:04), Stephen Divers (1:03:38), Malcolm Slater (1:17:38) and Theresa Chalk (1:18:18).


We also had a group travel to Hastings for the Hastings Half Marathon. Ben Peters was first for BHR in 1:22:07. He was followed by Andrew Bishop (1:39:28), Kevin Cross (1:52:42), Yasmine Allfrey (1:52:57), Tshepho Mati (1:59:48), Robert Carr (2:19:18), Tlou Mati (2:31:22) and Hugh Stevenage (2:55:23). Elsewhere, Angie Bower travelled to Reading for the Reading 1020 Trail Race, she finished in 1:51:47.


It was also the weekend of the Sussex Road Relays at Preston Park. BHR picked up 14th place in the MV50 category, with Oliver Day finishing his 2 mile leg in 12:19, Jamie Goodhead in 13:05 and John Palmer in 16:45.


Finally, it was the return of a popular race for BHR, and the next of the WSFRL races, the Lewes AC Easter Monday 10k. We had a bumper turnout - with 37 BHRs taking part. Ben Peters was first for BHR in 40:10. He was followed by Mark Nicholls (42:04), Sam Mayes (42:21), Oliver Day (43:38), Travis Golbey (44:46), Jamie Goodhead (46:57), Gayle Tyler (51:21), Annette Maynard (51:54), Andrew Bishop (52:18), Stephen Divers (55:07), Simon Thompson (56:26), Tshepho Mati (57:51), Isobel Dewdney (57:57), Oliver Dewdney (57:57), Sally Symes (58:30), Andy Starling (58:58), John Schofield (59:20), Richard Light (1:00:04), Nicky Callus (1:00:08), Chris Page (1:02:05), George Wotton (1:03:01), Jill Bennett (1:04:05), Laura Walton (1:04:06), Emma Goodhead (1:04:07), John Palmer (1:04:33), Rainer Hirt (1:04:33), Katherine Hughes (1:06:09), Kim Gow (1:06:53), Jayne Leaney (1:06:54), Nigel Cruttenden (1:07:27), Tlou Mati (1:09:00), Mercy Dennis-Smith (1:09:05), Ella Stanbrook (1:10:01), Sam Chislett (1:11:02), Theresa Chalk (1:13:28), Hugh Stevenage (1:18:33) and Ruth Day (1:20:36).


Photos: John Palmer, Jamie Goodhead & Oliver Day at Sussex Road Relays and Team BHR at Lewes 10k (WSFRL) 

Courtesy: TBC


17.03.2024

Another busy week of races to report on this week. First up, the return of local classic, the Moyleman Marathon - a tough, off-road marathon around the hills surrounding Lewes. This year BHR had 5 brave souls taking on the challenge. First over the line for BHR was Mark Nicholls, who completed the course in 3:48:17. He was followed by Phil Wallek (3:50:02), Jamie Goodhead (4:22:18), Oliver Day (4:33:01) and Chania Hemsley-Smith (5:38:41).


We had another group of 5 travel to Bath for the Bath Half Marathon. First for BHR was Oliver Dewdney in 1:49:46. He was followed by Stephen Divers (2:19:14), Jill Bennett (2:19:17), Karen Harvey (2:51:03) and Helen Pratt (2:54:16).


Elsewhere, Annette Maynard and John Palmer travelled to Kingston for the Kingston Spring Raceday, a series of races of varying distances. John finished the 16 mile race in 2:42:05, and Annette the 20 mile race in 2:46:11.


Travelling even further afield, Claire Giles finished the Barcelona Marathon in 4:48:15. And last but not least, Chris Page completed the Balcombe Bull Run in 45:03.


Photos: (Chania Hemsley-Smith, Jamie Goodhead, Oliver Day, Phil Wallek and Mark Nicholls, Moyleman Marathon), (Stephen Divers, Stephanie Harding (non-BHR member), Helen Pratt, Jill Bennett and Karen Harvey, Bath Half), (Claire Giles, Barcelona)

Courtesy: (Nicola Saunders), (Karen Harvey), (Claire Giles)


10.03.2024

It's been a wet and windy couple of weeks for our runners, but that hasn't stopped them taking part in a range of races. Firsty, staying local with a popular annual event - the Steyning Stinger. The Steyning Stinger is a hilly cross-country run through the South Downs between Steyning, Storrington and Shoreham-by-Sea, with a range of distances to chose from. In the half marathon, Neil and Kirsty Phillpot finished in 2:07:18 and 2:07:20 respectively. In the 30k, Phil Wallek finished in 2:34:09 and Oliver Day in 2:57:14. And finally in the marathon, Mark Nicholls finished in 4:05:55, and Flic Archer in 4:43:55.


Elsewhere, Isabelle Henton secured a PB at the Cambridge Half Marathon, finishing in 2:05:47. Finally, Carlos Reyes finished first for BHR in the Eastbourne Half, crossing the finish line in 1:49:52. He was followed by Rainer Hirt (2:23:27) and Hugh Stevenage (3:10:26). 


Photos: (Carlos Reyes, Eastbourne Half), (Oliver Day, Steyning Stinger), (Isabelle Henton, Cambridge Half)

Courtesy: (Carlos Reyes), (Oliver Day), (Isabelle Henton)



25.02.2024

It was the return of one of the most popular events for BHR this week, the Brighton Half Marathon. It was another windy one, but that didn't stop a team of 33 Burgess Hill Runners cross the start line. First for BHR was Ben Peters, who sped round the course in 1:21:59. He was followed by Phil Wallek (1:23:55), Mark Nicholls 1 (1:26:56), Chris Alden (1:26:59), Will Thornton (1:29:44), Andrew Biggs (1:31:26), Jamie Goodhead (1:32:44), Richard Jerome (1:33:59), Ben Watts (1:36:24), Travis Golbey (1:37:07), Andrew Bishop (1:40:59), Gayle Tyler (1:43:14), Claire Daniel (1:44:48), Mark Nicholls 2 (1:46:12), Susan Wintle (1:46:48), Christie Matthews (1:47:25), Yasmine Allfrey (1:47:32), Oliver Dewdney (1:47:45), Cath Beckett (1:49:27), Simon Thompson (1:52:15), Gary Parr (1:54:45), Emma Goodhead (1:57:04), Izzy Dewdney (1:57:56), John Schofield (2:02:08), Claire Giles (2:04:42), David Anscombe (2:09:08), Karen Willett (2:10:36), Jo Dodkin (2:11:13), Charlie Kristoffersen (2:11:29), Sarah Parr (2:11:40), Ella Stanbrook (2:17:55), Sam Chislett (2:17:56) and Sarah Broom (2:32:26). 


Elsewhere, John Palmer travelled up to South West London to take part in the 'Uber Boat by Thames Clippers' Hampton Court Half Marathon. He finished in 2:13:24.


Photos: (Susan Wintle, Brighton Half), (Mark Nicholls 2, Brighton Half), (John Palmer, Hampton Court)

Courtesy: (John Palmer), (Seamus McColgan)


11.02.2024

Lots of local races to report on this week starting with the Chichester 10k, a fast and flat 10k at the iconic Goodwood Motor Circuit. Ben Peters was first for BHR in 36:07. He was followed by Kirsty Phillpot (40:22), Jamie Goodhead (41:34), Simon Thompson (48:31), Chris Page (54:27) and Hugh Stevenage (1:08:55).


 It was also the last Sussex Cross Country League event of the season, this time at a new venue, Glyndebourne. Andy Sayers was first for BHR in 51:21. He was followed by Steve Barrett (53:48), Daniel Belton (55:06), Stuart Condie (55:43) and Rainer Hirt (66:11).


Elsewhere, Annette Maynard and John Palmer travelled to Chichester Harbour for the Chidham Trail Half Marathon, a great multi-terrain event taking in harbour views and a bit of beach! Annette finished in 1:49:43 and came first in her age category, and John finished in 2:21:08.


And last but not least, there was another WSFRL League event, the popular Crawley Run Crew Run Your Heart Out event at Tilgate Park. BHR turned out a big group, with Kirsty Phillpot being the first to cross the line for the club in 35:07. She was followed by Oliver Day (35:22), Travis Golbey (35:38), Paul Prosser (36:21), Neil Phillpot (38:26), Oliver Dewdney (39:01), Andrew Bishop (39:45), Annette Maynard (40:19), Steve Barrett (41:00), Stephen Divers (43:00), Stuart Condie (46:00), Nicky Callus (47:39), Chris Page (47:47), Richard Light (48:13), Izzy Dewdney (48:23), Jill Bennett (48:28), Tshepo Mati (48:36), George Wotton (48:48), Katherine Hughes (51:54), Theresa Chalk (59:04), Ruth Day (1:00:19) and Hugh Stevenage (1:01:19).


Photos: (BHR team at WSFRL), (Annette and John at Chidham)

Courtesy: (Jill Bennett), (John Palmer)

21.01.2024

The race calendar is filling up again with a range of races to report on this week. First up the return of a popular set of races for the club, the Winter Tanners 20 and 30. Organised by the Surrey LDWA, the 20 and 30 mile routes cover footpaths across the Surrey countryside. In the 20 mile race, Dan Belton finished in 3:57. He was followed by Jayne Leaney and Karen Harvey (5:14), Chania Hemsley-Smith and Jane Owen (5:16), Karen Willett (5:39), Ruth and Oliver Day (6:42), Nicola Dawson (6:53), Nicola Saunders and Sarah Thompson (7:04), and Tracey Baines (7:06). In the 30 mile race, Simon Thompson finished in 7:22 and Nicky Callus in 7:30.


Elsewhere, Jill Bennett and Stephen Divers completed the Farnborough Half Marathon in 2:10:12. Yasmine Allfrey and Hugh Stevenage completed the Newhaven 10k in 51:15 and 1:14:28 respectively.


And last but not least, we had another event in the Sussex Masters Cross Country Championships, this time hosted at Coombe Farm, Lancing. In the womens race, Kirsty Phillpot finished in 35:58, and Gayle Tyler in 41:38. For the men, Stuart Condie finished in 44:11 and John Palmer in 51:25.


Photos: (Chania, Jane, Karen and Jayne, Winter Tanners) (Stuart, John, Kirsty and Gayle at Cross Country), (Oliver and Ruth Day)

Courtesy: (Chania Hemsley-Smith), (John Palmer), (Oliver Day)


14.01.2024

Just two races to report on this week. First, it was the return of the Country to Capital Ultra. A 43 mile point to point race that takes runners through the Buckinghamshire countryside and finishing along the Grand Union Canal tow path for the final stretch into Central London. Mark Nicholls and Jamie Goodhead took on this mighty challenge, finishing in 7:01:23 and 7:03:25 respectively.


Mark Santer also travelled to London, to take on the Runthrough Battersea Park 10k. Mark had a fantastic morning, achieving his goal of a sub-90 minute half marathon, with a finish of 1:28:55.


Photos: (Mark Santer, Battersea), (Mark Nicholls, C2C), (Jamie Goodhead, C2C)

Courtesy: (Mark Santer), (Oliver Day), (Oliver Day) 


01.01.2024


Burgess Hill Runners rounded off 2023 and started 2024 with a bang. A group of BHRs ended the year with the annual Darklink 10k, an evening headtorch-needing 10k up the Downslink from Shoreham to Bramber and back. First up for BHR was Chris Page in 57:37. He was followed by Catherine Kempton (59:33), Stephen Divers (1:02:24), Jill Bennett (1:02:26) and Claire Giles (1:05:08).


And to start the New Year, we enjoyed the first WSFRL race of 2024 - the Worthing Gazelles Hangover 5. The 5 mile course takes in hills, chalky tracks and paths up to the Cissbury Ring and back. Oliver Day was first for BHR in 39:04. He was followed by Travis Golbey (39:19), Annette Maynard (43:30), Andrew Bishop (44:19), Steven Barrett (45:13), Daniel Belton (46:15), Stephen Divers (46:48), Chris Page (50:11), Nigel Cruttenden (52:03), James Hedley (52:19), Phil Latham (53:45), Nicky Callus (53:45), Chania Hemsley-Smith (53:55), Jill Bennett (54:26), Jayne Leaney (54:38), Katherine Hughes (55:19), Jane Owen (58:27), Ruth Day (1:09:27), Theresa Chalk (1:10:10),      Malcolm Slater (1:12:32) and Hugh Stevenage (1:13:07). 


Photos: (BHR Team at WSFRL)

Courtesy: (John Palmer)