The wait for the first home winner of Bridlington Half Marathon goes on, although Road Runners did take home the team prize as the race returned for the first time in two years, reports John Edwards.
A strong Bridlington contingent had to watch Jonathan Frost of East Hull Harriers disappear into the distance, as he won the 2021 edition by a considerable margin. Frost was almost four minutes ahead of second-placed Will Atkinson, with Bridlington’s Phill Taylor in the bronze medal position in a time of 1:19:19. His performance earned him the first V40 prize, and alongside his nephew Josh and club captain Tom Mullen, they won the team prize for the host club.
Ely Runners’ Elaine Smith was the first female, and 32nd overall, in a time of 1:37:12, with Heather Potter (Craven Energy Triathlon) and Clare Tune (Goole Viking Striders) completing the women’s podium. Emma Artley was the first Bridlington woman, sixth lady overall and first LV40, in 1:43:59, and one of the performances of the day came from Gillian Taylor. She took more than 11 minutes off her half marathon PB and was first LV45, comfortably getting under the two-hour mark for the first time.
More than 250 runners completed the race, which started on the seafront, headed out to Flamborough and Bempton, and then returned to the promenade, via Sewerby. When the race was last held in 2019, conditions were dismal, but this time, athletes were blessed with sunshine, although there was still a strong headwind to make the last couple of miles tough.
All finishers received a commemorative medal and buff, and Bridlington Road Runners thanked Wold Top Brewery for their continued sponsorship and for providing spot prizes of cases of beer. Thanks also went to Morrisons for supplying water, and all the club members and volunteers who acted as marshals along the route. The feedback from runners has been superb.
The club’s junior members also gave valuable help at the finish line, but not before many of them had completed the one-mile Fun Run. Bridlington Road Runners supplied the first four finishers, with Ben Edwards, Becky Miller, Rebecca Addison and Micah Gibson leading the field home.
Bridlington Half Marathon: 3 Phill Taylor 1:19:19 (1st V40), 9 Tom Mullen 1:25:42 (3rd V35), 23 Josh Taylor 1:34:08, 30 Sam Alexander 1:36:20, 39 Kieron Middleton 1:40:13, 45 Tony Smith 1:42:06, 55 Adam Dyas 1:43:56, 58 Emma Artley 1:43:59 (1st LV40), 89 Simon Ellerker 1:51:23, 98 Gillian Taylor 1:52:33 (1st LV45), 168 Kevin Lewis 2:04:40, 183 James Riley 2:08:58, 193 Heidi Baker 2:11:47, 252 Elizabeth Ingle 2:44:39
Two Bridlington Road Runners joined thousands on the streets of the capital as the London Marathon welcomed back a huge field after last year’s event was restricted to only the cream of the crop.
Danny Brunton could consider himself worthy of putting himself in that category as he joined the elite group of Bridlington runners who has completed the event in under three hours.
He gave an outstanding performance and passed the halfway point in1:26:55, a time which would have placed him 13th in the Bridlington Half Marathon.
But he kept up the pace for another 13 miles, and crossed the line at 2:55:41, in 1,535th position.
Stuart Gent won the ballot for the Bridlington club’s place in the marathon and did the Road Runners proud.
He finished inside the first 20,000 places, in a time of four hours, 33 minutes and three seconds.
And fresh from his efforts in London, he is tackling the Yorkshire Marathon in two weeks’ time.
London Marathon: Danny Brunton 2:55:41, Stuart Gent 4:33:03
Four Bridlington Road Runners earned personal bests at Sewerby Parkrun on Saturday morning.
Adam Thomas shaved a second off his previous best to take seventh spot in 19:50. He was joined in the top 10 by James Wilson, James Briggs and Alan Feldberg, but all were left chasing winner Ozzy Stringer from Scarborough AC.
Joanna Dagnan made it into the top 20 and was third female in a PB of 22:25 and Nicola Fowler and Chloe Whitehouse also had plenty to celebrate as they finished the course quicker than they had managed before.
Pete Royal completed his 300th Parkrun and junior Micah Gibson reached the milestone of his 50th.
Justine Sutcliffe was 13th overall and third female at Chipping Norton Parkrun.
Sewerby Parkrun: 2 James Wilson 18:14, 3 James Briggs 18:58, 7 Adam Thomas 19:50 (PB), 10 Alan Feldberg 20:35, 12 Martin Hutchinson 21:21, 19 Joanna Dagnan 22:25 (PB), 20 Mollie Holehouse 22:29, 22 Graham Lonsdale 22:53, 23 Annabelle Miller (jnr) 22:59, 25 Jason Pointez 23:19, 28 Rebecca Miller (jnr) 23:52, 29 Micah Gibson (jnr) 24:06, 31 Keren Miller 24:25, 34 Chris Price 24:42, 35 Ben Edwards (jnr) 24:58, 46 Janet Potter 26:33, 68 Nicola Fowler 28:51 (PB), 69 Pete Royal 28:52, 70 Paul Brown 29:05, 71 Chloe Whitehouse 29:13 (PB), 80 Danielle Whitehouse 30:15, 81 Dominique Webster 30:15, 86 Verona Petty 30:55, 87 Zoe Ellis-Cornell 30:55, 91 Dave Pring 31:24, 95 Kevin Sissons 32:00, 97 Ethan Jones (jnr) 32:43, 117 Lucinda Gibson 34:23, 119 Janet Downes 34:41, 134 David Duffill 37:47, 140 L M E Choat (jnr) 40:54, 141 T J Choat (jnr) 40:55, 149 Tina Calthorpe 45:07, 150 Diane Rewston 46:32, 151 Rob Calthorpe 46:32
Chipping Norton School Parkrun: 13 Justine Sutcliffe 24:09
Peter Pan Parkrun: 23 Andy Baker 24:53, 132 Cindy Baker 36:29
Pontefract Parkrun: 120 Amanda Tindall 28:13
Virtual Parkrun: Mim Ireland 24:43, Julia Waines 35:51
