In 1984, a year before the inaugural Hastings Half Marathon (HHM), I ran in a road race along a 10km stretch between junctions of the new M25 around Leatherhead. The route was the motorway just before it opened. I still feel a thrill now when driving along it, recalling the race event.

Fast forward 30 years to 2014. For many years in between I had been race director of the HHM. When it became clear that the Bexhill-Hastings Link road was going ahead, I made an approach to the contractors Hochtief Taylor Woodrow for permission to organise an equivalent race along it – raising money, as with the HHM, for the Bexhill and Hastings Lions Clubs charities.

Hochtief director Richard Wall-Morris was supportive, and the company agreed to contribute a substantial sum as main sponsor.

The 10km distance could be accommodated by going out 5km and coming back again. It was difficult to get an official UKA course measurement, and their measurer Rob Bright had to make two visits, with the road far from complete. It was a bonus, though, that NO road closures would be needed, and limited marshalling required.

Other logistics for the event were much as for the HHM. We used the sports hall at the Bexhill Leisure Centre as a base, and arranged parking in the training area nearby.

The biggest concern for everyone was going to be the date of the race, as it had to be just before the new road opened. This meant working closely with Hochtief as the time approached. We announced in September 2014 that the event would take place some time in 2015 – initially spring, but gradually put back to the autumn as horrendously wet weather delayed completion. Eventually, in July 2015, we managed to agree a date of 20 September 2015, sent out emails to all those who had previously registered an interest, and commenced publicity. We received over 1,000 entries within days!

The date clashed with Hastings Runners’ annual Rye to Hastings race. Being an original and current President of HR, this was embarrassing for me, but one member, Nick Webb, nevertheless entered both races, and RAN them both. (He did arrive a little late after his 14-mile run from Rye, but still took part in the Link Road 10K).

There was no doubt that the race caught the imagination of runners as a special one-off event. Perhaps, ten years on, some who now drive to or from Bexhill along its course have fond memories too. 

At Hastings Athletics Club (HAC) it’s been a busy and successful year for the club in every discipline – from local events to international level – as it celebrated its 60th anniversary. 

Ten club members featured in the UK top 10 for their age group, and 13 made the top 20 for performances in track, field and road in 2024.  

An astonishing 52 athletes made it into the top 10 in the club’s own records, with 17 breaking a total of 28 club records between them.

Back in February, athletes of different age groups won medals in indoor track events and, as the cross-country season wrapped up, youth athletes represented their schools and county up to national level. The adult team joined forces with Hastings Runners to lift aloft the cup for the East Sussex Sunday League. 

At the highly anticipated Hastings Half Marathon in March, HAC’s Grace Baker was first female home, nearly seven minutes ahead of her nearest challenger; Rhys Boorman, also of HAC, came sixth in the men’s race. Tom Chaffin won the mini-run. 

Track season brought top performances in the youth development league and Southern Athletics league, while the Sussex County Championships produced 12 medals. Rae Le Fay went on to represent Team GB in the 2,000 metres steeplechase – the first HAC athlete to do so at international level in the last ten years. She broke a British Milers Club record on her qualifier at under 20s level, her name now to be etched on the awards board in the clubhouse alongside many club legends.

A surge in interest for field events was well supported, leading to two hammer throwers, Alanna Oakman and Kitti Szabo-Papp, competing nationally at the English Schools championships. 

The club hosted not only two very successful league events on the track, but also a 60th anniversary competition and awards ceremony emphasising the longstanding camaraderie among its members. The clubhouse has had a refresh and is now a buzzing social hub at the end of every session. There is huge optimism for 2025.

FOOTBALL

It’s been a tale of three managers at the Pilot Field in 2024 – four if you count the caretaker role played last month by coach Sean Ray. A year ago Chris Agutter was in his second stint at the helm after arriving in October. He steered Hastings United to the fringes of the promotion play-offs at the top of the Isthmian Premier League in the spring, then left for the richer pastures of Worthing, now going well in the Vanarama National League. Danny Bloor, once of Eastbourne Borough, came in May, but was gone by late October. New appointment from the beginning of this month is Danny Searle, former youth coach at West Ham, who is armed with a UEFA Pro Licence and has previous managerial experience at several clubs in the National League.

At the beginning of April, Agutter’s team seemed well set to finish in the league’s top five, but a disappointing run at the end of the season – only one win in the last five games – meant a final placing of seventh, nine points short of the lowest play-off place. They also disappointed in losing the Sussex Transport Cup Final 3-0 to Horsham at the Amex Stadium. Despite having signed an extension to his contract for the 2024-25 season, Agutter swiftly announced his departure.

Incoming boss Bloor could point to an excellent record at Eastbourne, and came in praising the quality of the playing squad he was inheriting at the Pilot Field, the calibre of the directors and staff he was joining, and the passion of ‘U’s supporters. Most players were retained from the previous season, though the speed and skill of winger John Ufuah has been sorely missed. And initial results were encouraging, Horsham being beaten 2-0 on the opening day, followed by an away win at Whitehawk and progress through two rounds of the FA Cup. 

However, the team lacked the control in midfield that Agutter had always espoused, and leaked goals in defence. Reverses were suffered both away and at home: cup eliminations were coupled with a slide down the league table to the relegation zone. Bloor was unceremoniously dismissed after an FA Trophy defeat at Hadley on 26 October.

Ray took the reins as interim manager and, like his predecessors, started with a win, 2-0 at home to Whitehawk. But a fortnight later, with several players less than fully fit, the ‘U’s suffered a humiliating 9-0 league defeat at Hendon, and it is probably a relief all round that a more travelled manager has now arrived.

The choice of Searle for the managerial job is presumably based upon his record of enhancing youth development. There’s clearly scope for that in Hastings, though the standard of playable training facilities may be rather lower than he is used to. Most observers would agree that there is enough footballing talent available, if the team is set up capably and recovers good fitness levels. Davide Rodari is a proven goalscorer, Adam Lovatt is a hard-working and combative captain in midfield, and young players like George Walker, Freddie Legg and Fin Chapman should improve with experience. 

So far, Searle has seen his team score a league cup win on penalties over third-placed Cray Valley PM, a 3-2 away win over Chichester City and a gutsy 1-1 draw away last Saturday at second-placed Billericay.  

CRICKET

Hastings & St Leonards Priory cricketers experienced an ultimately unsuccessful return to the Sussex Premier League in 2024 when they were relegated by the narrowest of margins. In other years their record over the season of six victories and nine defeats might have accumulated them enough league points to survive, but they finished just three points short of eighth-placed Bognor Regis.

Needing a victory on the last day at home to runners-up Horsham in order to retain their status, they only got the game going at all by a mopping-up operation after heavy overnight rain. Batting first in a contest reduced to 40 overs per side, Priory scored a total of 165 for seven; Horsham accumulated steadily in reply, but wickets then tumbled under murky skies, and the last over came with nine wickets down and nine runs to win – or eight to tie, which would have been sufficient for Priory’s escape. It was not to be: a conclusive boundary was hit off the penultimate ball, and the Hastings side will be playing back in Division 2 next summer.

On the batting front, new captain Harry Scowen led from the front all summer, scoring 556 runs from 14 innings, including two centuries. Caleb Laloo also enjoyed an excellent first season as an opener. But none of the middle order, often required to accelerate the tempo after a sedate start, retained any consistent form, so that the side posted competitive totals on too few occasions.

John Morgan was yet again the pick of the bowlers, taking 22 wickets. Adam Barton gave him good support when available, and Adam Page enjoyed his best season to date as spinner. Aussie recruit Alex Osborne was unable to bowl his leg-spinners with any sort of control, however, and was ultimately released in mid-season. Young all-rounders Seaver Cowley and Iden McCleave had their moments of success with both bat and ball, but lacked the consistency which more experience may bring.

The future of Priory’s home ground, Horntye Park, is still in the balance, the plans to dig it up for housing seeming no further forward than this time last year.  

RUGBY

With a new chairman Ben Davies, a new coaching duo of Bruce Steadman and Ben Petty, and a new captain, Harry Walker, Hastings & Bexhill have been celebrating their centennial season with eyes on the future as well as the past.

On the pitch, having survived the threat of a second successive relegation in the Kent League in the spring, H & B’s first XV have performed well this autumn, chalking up seven victories out of 11 matches in Counties 3. Top three in the division are 2nd XV teams from Tonbridge (Juddians), Tunbridge Wells and Beckenham, but the Hastings team beat Beckenham convincingly in their opening game in September and went down only narrowly 14-17 to Tunbridge Wells a month ago. Defence has been strong – they have conceded less league points than any other team; and when their backs are on song, they can also score freely: New Ash Green were thumped 47-15 at H & B’s home ground of Alexandra Academy last Saturday.

The squad is still lacking in numbers, short of sufficient replacements when first picks are injured or otherwise unavailable, though those who have come in have generally acquitted themselves well. One boost is the return of Quin McManus after a spell in New Zealand.

Women’s and junior/ ‘mini’ teams have, in the meantime, been thriving. The women have combined to produce a joint team with Seaford. The ‘minis’ train at the club every Sunday between 9.30 and 11am – playing full contact rugby at under 9, under 10 and under 11 levels. The under 10s won their first game of the Polgrove Salts Cup, defeating Seaford earlier this month.

Lower age-groups play under ‘tag’ rules, with numbers surging after the club’s annual ‘bring a friend’ day. There will be several festivals of rugby for them to play in early next year. And there is now an under 6s section for children in school Reception and Year 1, learning basic ball control through playing fun and interactive games with a dedicated coach.

Off the pitch the club has held a centenary ball as well as two lunches for former players.

TENNIS

The (mostly) friendly dance of rivalry between the Amherst club in Hastings and The Green in St Leonards continued in 2024 with perennial ups and downs. 

In the Tennis Sussex Winter Doubles competition, The Green men’s team, boosted by participation of coaches Joe Adams and Ross Cudmore (late of Amherst), were promoted to Division 2 in the spring and have scored two match wins out of three in the current season. Shorn of these players, they’re not the same force, as they showed finishing mid-table in Division 8 of the equivalent Summer competition.

Amherst, too, were promoted from Division 5 to Division 4 of the 2023-24 Winter league, with consistent performances by captain Dylan Preece, Quentin Soucek, Anthony Hickey and Mark Cunnington. They have been struggling, however, at the higher level. In the equivalent Summer Doubles, starting in Division 3, they fielded nine players including several new to first team play, but were unable to win a team match and will play next summer back in Division 4.

On the women’s side, The Green were relegated from Division 3 to Division 4 in the spring despite the efforts of their always proficient first pairing, Beaula Page and Amanda Ruck. In the Summer league they finished mid-table in Division 4.

Amherst’s women were involved in thrilling finales in both competitions. Needing a 3-1 victory in their final Winter match away at Horsham to be promoted to Division 2, they won all three matches in third set tie-breaks, Pearl Hare paired with Nikki Crowhurst, Anita Pearce with Jane Garrett. Summer Division 3 was just as tight: again Amherst needed a 3-1 win away against Seaford & Blatchington for equivalent promotion. All four matches went to third set tie-breaks: this time Pearce and Debi Ani won both theirs, but Crowhurst and Hare suffered agonising defeats.

There are no inter-club matches featuring singles play, but Amherst held a highly competitive closed tournament in June. On a day of freakish wind-gusts, Soucek overpowered Hickey in the men’s final, while Crowhurst and Hare fought a thrillingly turbulent (though immaculately sporting) contest, just edged by the former in another third set tie-break.

CRICKET

Graeme Mounsey, RIP

JOHN MORGAN

Hastings & St Leonards Priory cricketers are mourning the death of former president, treasurer and player Graeme Mounsey, who has sadly passed away at the age of 90.

Nobody has done more for the Priory club than Graeme. He was a founder member when Hastings & St Leonards merged with The Priory in 1957 to form one of the strongest clubs in the Southeast, and was captain when it joined the Sussex League in 1971. He featured in many of the club’s early successes including the 1974 Kemp Cup win and the 1978 league championship.

He played with distinction in all XIs across the men’s teams, primarily as a wily slow left-arm bowler who put fear into the opposition batting line-up, but also a lower order batsman with a century to his name.

By the late 70s, Graeme had dropped to the 2nd XI, but was leading wicket-taker in 1981. He finished his playing career forming a formidable spin bowling attack in the 4th XI with Peter Finch in the noughties, though not before being recalled to the first team as a 65-year-old when the team was hit by a spin bowling crisis.

Graeme was similarly committed off the field, serving the club in many posts over a cumulative 68 years, as a rigorous and tenacious treasurer (nobody got away with debts to the club), as secretary, and latterly as club president until stepping down earlier this year. He also ran the 100 Club, the draw being the conclusion to many a committee meeting.

From 1974 until 2002, he was the chairman of the Central Cricket Ground Trust, integral in the planning and development of Horntye Park to save senior cricket in the town following the demise of the Central Ground.

   Above all, Graeme was a sincere and caring person, eager to help young players and to share his love of the game and the club. He was a regular spectator, greeting fellow cricket lovers with a cheery smile and a polite ‘good afternoon’. His loss will be sorely felt. 

Probably most people across Britain are aware of Parkrun. Its 20-year anniversary this month has given it extra publicity. 

Film footage shows friendly crowds of people – of all ages, shapes and sizes – happily running, walking, or jogging together, clearly enjoying the event. Parkrun is a race that’s not really a race because there are no glittering prizes, and achievement is seen as relative: individuals compete to achieve their own personal goals.

Yes, some are serious athletes but the vast majority are not, and the serious athletes show huge respect for their slower companions who have more modest goals. The shouts from supporters are as loud for the slower participants approaching the finish line as they are for the super-fast ones. In fact, they are often more enthusiastic for those further back who may be achieving something remarkable, determined to be fit whatever the odds. Apart from people who have overcome real disabilities, there are “couch potatoes” who have transformed through Parkrun, and many a “senior” has found there is still plenty of spring in their steps if they work at it. Fitness doesn’t happen overnight of course, and people should develop it gradually. There are some “walk to run” groups in operation locally and plenty of people who park walk rather than park run.

SAME PRINCIPLES

Since that memorable day twenty years ago, Parkruns have been set up in places all over the country and in many places overseas, but they all follow the same principles: always on Saturday morning at 9am (only an extreme event, like a strong storm, can cause a cancellation), always five kilometres in distance, completely free, run by volunteers, and no newcomer need ever fear coming in last because there is always a tail-walker at the back. Furthermore, once you have registered, you can take part in any Parkrun wherever it is, here in the UK or abroad. Some people even like to travel around doing ‘Parkrun tourism’. 

After a short briefing from the Race Coordinator, everyone starts at the same time with no separate groupings for gender, age or disability. With such a large group of people, simple good manners means that most people judge to some extent where they should start, leaving the fast runners at the front. Runners with pushchairs or dogs (on a short lead), slow joggers and walkers start further back. At the very back is the tail walker. 

Many friendships are struck during the race, especially amongst those taking it easy enough to be able to chat! You meet people you might never otherwise have met. This mixture of characters and talents lends itself to a remarkable group feeling of friendship. Being in the fresh air and getting exercise is already good for your health, both physical and mental, but, add to that the social experience, and then you discover the joy of Parkrun.

NO PAYMENTS

But how does such a remarkable event take place when no payments are made to anyone? The answer: it’s so recognisably a good thing that there are always people willing to give up some of their time to work on it. The organisers dedicate many hours of the week, but they are backed up by volunteers who, having been told what they need to do, just arrive on Saturday morning to put on a parkrun volunteer bib and help as marshals or with some other straightforward task. The participants are always appreciative, so it is almost as pleasant to be a volunteer as to compete. The happy, excited atmosphere is contagious.

The name ‘Parkrun’ arose because most towns and cities hold the event in a park. Here in Hastings we are lucky to be able to run along by the sea, from Grosvenor Gardens, past the pier, on almost to Robertson Street, then back again. Our seaside town is valued highly by parkrun tourists, not only for its many local tourist attractions but also because its flat course, all on hard surface, makes it a good place to get a Personal Best (PB). It has an element of surprise though – the wind! When there are odds to overcome, as the weather sometimes gives us, there is plenty of good-natured complaining leading to a lot of laughter.

I asked a few local people why they take part, either as competitors or as volunteers. The answers were invariably enthusiastic: “great start to the weekend”, “ it’s something we can do as a family”, “I was starting to become a couch potato “ etc.

Eric Hardwick (MBE for his 40 years as race director of the annual Hastings Half Marathon) summed up:

“After being a runner for many years, I had a bad accident on the ski slopes and thought I could never run again, but, after helping to get Hastings Parkrun started, I was pleased to take part in the first one, and then continued! Gradually it helped me back to racing 10Ks and Half Marathons. As I got older I varied my Saturday mornings between helping as Funnel Manager and taking part.

“My 100th Park Run coincided with my 80th Birthday. In celebration, all my family and friends joined me there (some taking part) to celebrate. That was three years ago and I still enjoy the anticipation of looking up Parkrun results every Saturday, even if not running. I may be getting slower with age, but it is good some days to be the best in my age category.”

To take part, register at parkrun.org.uk and download a barcode. At the end of each race, your barcode is scanned so you can be given an official time and position as well as your age (and gender) related percentage score. That way you can keep track of your improvement, trying to improve your Personal Best (PB) with regular participation. To volunteer, go to hastings@parkrun.com.

Last week Hasting Athletic Club celebrating its 60th anniversary with a special evening of competitions and camaraderie. The Tuesday evening event brought together club members and Hastings Runners for a night filled with friendly rivalry, socialising, and reflection on six decades of achievements.

After a series of fun competitions, where participants had the chance to showcase their skills in their usual events or try something new, family members, friends, and associates joined the celebrations, enjoying hot food and refreshments around the clubhouse . An informal awards ceremony was then held to honour some of the club’s most notable achievements over the last club year.

The Luke Veness Memorial Trophy for outstanding performance was presented to Rae Le Fay by Luke’s parents Glenn and Kath, who were visiting the club for the first time in several years. Dave Hunneman received the Chair’s Award for his tireless efforts as team manager, committee member, coach, field official and all-round Mr Fixit. The Committee Award went to Wayne Martin for his enduring commitment as a club athlete – competing at hundreds of league matches over the decades, probably recording more league points than any other athlete to wear the club vest over the last 60 years.

As always in this community club, volunteers played a crucial role in ensuring the smooth running of the evening, taking on roles

such as starters, field marshals, timers, cooks, servers, and general helpers out. The event was a fitting tribute to the club’s 60-year journey, highlighting the spirit of community, inclusion, and inspiration.

To find out more about Hastings Athletics Club or to sign up for a free trial, go to hastingsathleticclub.co.uk

The long uphill climb along Harley Shute Road and Queensway, the sapping middle section of the Ridge and Ore heights, the clattering downhill slalom through the Old Town, are all more comfortably done in the dry, and the more clapping and cheering spectators, the better. But the element which many with previous experience of the course will have dreaded was still there waiting for them: that strong westerly headwind which makes the final stretch all along Hastings and St Leonards sea-front the toughest of finishes. 

For some performers, the conditions meant improved times. The winner, Seyfa Jamaal of London Heathside, clocked the 13-mile course in 1:06:48, more than four minutes quicker than last year’s joint champions Charlie Brisley and Adam Clarke, and indeed the fastest time over the course since 2016, in an era when the race was dominated by visiting Kenyan runners. 

Top local competitor Ross Skelton of Hy Hastings claimed the runner-up prize in 1:07:31. Rhys Boorman of Hastings Athletics Club (HAC) came in sixth this year as opposed to fifth in 2023 but improved his time from 1:12:35 to 1:11:53.

However, in the women’s race, winner Grace Baker was actually around a minute and a half slower than last year when she finished third. But her 2024 time of 1:21:13 was enough to beat next woman home, Rachael Mulvey of Hy Hastings, who was the 2022 champion,

by almost five minutes. Grace described the race as “very tough”, and said she didn’t care too much about the time, she was just pleased to get home victorious to the embrace of her sister and young niece. 

The Nice Work race management team ran the event with commendable professionalism, led by race director Rachael Wood. As always, though, they were hugely dependent on the support of unpaid volunteer route marshals, pacers, water station operators, refreshment providers, computer processors and others. The Lions Club of Hastings expects to have raised serious sums for charitable causes as well as providing the forum for many participants’ own personal charities. 

January is cross-country season. At the Sussex county championships at Bexhill earlier this month, athletes and coaches from Hastings Athletics Club (HAC) revelled in a positive exhibition of team spirit, showing the good atmosphere that prevails throughout the club. Different generations of family members competed, chipped in to help, or cheered on the sidelines. 

The event itself was cold and muddy, but many athletes saw improvements in their final positions and, with more than half of the season still to go, things look very positive for the club’s cross-country teams across all age groups. 

HAC runners have also continued to keep a stranglehold on results at the weekly local Parkrun on St Leonards seafront. Every week they manage top-three places, with club members holding many age group records. Rhys Boorman, for example, the club’s endurance coach, recently recorded his 57th Parkrun first place from a total of 72 runs here. 

But I think that majority eyes are on spring, when the weather gets easier and track season arrives. HAC is the only club locally that cover so many disciplines for all age groups. Throwing events have taken off like never before, with athletes competing internationally, while interest in sprinting rises as local athletics legend and veteran international Steve Baldock continues to inspire. 

This track season there are many events in which the club’s various teams will participate. 

The YDL (Youth Development League) is a great starting point for young athletes to get involved in competition within the club and is for any junior who turns 11 upwards before 31 August this year. There are two groups within the YDL: U13s and U15s. The club competes against others from the southeast of England in both age ranges. Most of the track and field events – running, jumping and throwing – are scheduleded, and there will be fun days out to other regions as well as a much anticipated home fixture. 

The Sussex League is another great league for juniors. As with the YDL it is for anyone who turns 11 upwards by 31 August.

QuadKids contests are for younger kids. They choose three events – one run, one jump and one throw. The points accumulated over all three determine the winner, while all athletes receive a certificate. 

The Southern Athletics League is for over 16s and above, covering all track and field events. HAC achieved a great result in the last match of the 2023 season to ensure retention of status in Division 2. 

The Masters League is a laid-back event for over 40s, once again covering all aspects of track and field. HAC are title-holders, having won in 2023. 

Overall, HAC athletes broke more club records last year than in the previous history of the club. Athletes competed internationally and nationally, as well as just having lots of fun, trying out new things in a relaxed and friendly environment. 

For more details on any of the above, or if your child would like to be involved in the junior team athletics, contact membership@hastingsathleticclub.co.uk

It’s a breezy but blessedly dry Tuesday evening at the Ark Alexandra track, home of Hastings Athletics Club. The Junior Fundamentals, aged 11 and under, have been here with one or more coaches since 5.30pm, undertaking a mixed programme of athletic pursuits – running, jumping, throwing. At 6.30 older children, in a cohort styled the Junior Foundation Group aged between 12 and 16, roll up, still encouraged to try out a range of disciplines, but increasingly focussed on a narrower range of running distances or on specific field events. 

The majority of both these groups are female. That’s maybe because boys have a wider range of sporting activities to choose from in Hastings, football in particular (despite the national promotional endeavours by the England Lionesses). But there’s also a factor of cohort attraction. In an era of small-sized nuclear families, a sports club may provide the close social ties of shared endeavours which children and teenagers thrive on. Where else in modern life can physically active girls find an approved outlet?

CREDIT: Dave Young

The atmosphere is chiefly, however, one of family togetherness.  Parents are encouraged not just to ferry their offspring to the training sessions  and/or to watch their sporting development from the sidelines.  Where practicable, they’re encouraged to aid it by becoming group coaches themselves. While a number of the club’s senior coaches have had long experience of athletics training and competition, and boast advanced coaching qualifications, the club depends for its future on attracting more of the same.

Mother and daughter

Parents may also be drawn in to athletics performance and training themselves. That’s what’s has happened in the case of Chloe Le Fay, whose 15-year-old daughter Rae has been breaking junior club records as a middle distance runner. The family live in Etchingham, 16 miles away. Rae attends Heathfield Community College, and the nearest athletics track is actually Tonbridge. But Rae liked the smaller, more personal feel of Hastings, and appreciated the coaching which the club offers. She and Chloe drive down together on Tuesday and Thursday evenings so that Rae can join her Foundation cohort.  

At the beginning Chloe stood on the terrace above the track as an observer drinking coffee and eating snacks. Then a Tuesday ‘beginners and improvers’ adult class was started, and she got the confidence to enter the group. She may not be able to beat her daughter, but she can join her.

Rae says she was keen on all sports at her primary school in Punnetts Town, but first realised that she had a talent for running when finishing second in a local Year 5 cross-country contest. Next year she won, and since then, running has been a major part of her existence.

At present she enjoys competing at 800 or 1500 metres. Despite being only 15 in an under-17 year group, her results this year have been outstanding – not only setting new junior club records at both these distances, but winning gold at the Sussex county championships in the 1500m and closing the season with another gold representing the county at the South of England Track and Field Championships in Oxford.

Next year she has the National Junior Championships in her sights. After that her longer term goal is to win a sports scholarship to a first-rate American college. 

Father and daughter

Coach Peter Baker reckons she’s on course for that. His own daughter, Grace Baker, now aged 26 and a Great Britain international cross-country runner, trod the same career path a few years ago from first track outings at the Hastings club to an eventual scholarship at Oklahoma. 

Peter has stayed as coach co-ordinator, marshalling a team of coaches to service both the junior groups and the ranks of senior athletes, which includes a number of nationally-ranked veterans, including sprinter Martin Reynolds and 400m runner Steve Baldock.

December is the close season for most local athletic competition, but the club sends out cross-country teams at both senior and junior levels in respective Saturday and Sunday county leagues through the winter.

Rae Le Fay at the Ark track
CREDIT: Dave Young

Rae’s weekly running schedule

Monday: 8 km run

Tuesday: coaching session at Ark athletics track including Fartlek interval running (sprints alternated with periods of jogging)

Wednesday: a session at the Go:ver gym in Heathfield including weight training 

Thursday: a morning run before school, then another track session in the evening at Ark

Friday: rest day

Saturday: if no competition, a 5km park run or similar distance 

Sunday: long run of 12-15 km