History is made by Waddies

WADHURST Runners have made history and stunned even themselves by finishing second overall in the Sussex Grand Prix race series.

They missed being crowned champions by the narrowest of margins and have beaten their previous record of fifth place overall by a massive margin.

Seaford Striders led throughout the entire year and for several months were out of sight but the Waddies fought to the last race and were catching up fast. They had languished in fifth place overall until the last two races, when their strong finish almost overtook the winners.

Seaford scored 56,879 points, the men securing 37,372 points and the women adding 19,507.

The Wadhurst club's score was 55,864, 37,126 for the men and 18,738 from the women.

Third was Hailsham Harriers with 51,944, the men at 32,443 and women on 19,501.

Chairman Albert Kemp said: "I am so proud of the Waddies, as we have achieved the impossible for such a small club with a short history. We were formed at the back end of 1999 and have one of the smallest squads in the Sussex Grand Prix. Our meteoric rise began a few years back and coincided with winning the team of the year in 2008, as voted for by readers of the Kent and Sussex Courier."

Men's team's scores (overall): 5 James Clarke, Vet 1, 3,943 points; 10 David Burfoot, senior, 3,873; 13 Michael Mackay, Vet 2, 3,848; 20 Neil Walbridge, senior, 3,769; 25 Peter Burfoot, Vet 4, 3,744; 32 Peter Leach, senior, 3,660; 34 David Salmons, Vet 1, 3,646, 38 Albert Kemp, Vet 5, 3,594; 43 Mark Cassé, senior, 3,541, 46, Richard Wiles, Vet 4, 3,508. Women's team's scores (overall): 4 Lyn Hayes, Vet 4, 3,952 points, 11th Nell Neary, Vet 5, 3,900; 24 Melinda Mackay, Vet 3, 3,768, 32 Wansze Walbridge, Vet 1, 3,650, 37 Ali Farral,l Vet 1, 3,468.

Wadhurst Runners earned medals in 61 categories out of a total available of 176 prizes. In addition to their second place overall, where 15 of the medals were earned, the other category results were: men's open (10 awards), second overall; men's vets (five awards) second overall; women's open (five awards), third overall; women vets (three awards), third overall.

Individual awards: men: James Clarke, third vet overall (40+) and first vet 1 (40-44): Peter Burfoot: third vet 4 (55-59); Albert Kemp: second vet 5 (60-64); Michael Middleton, first vet 8 (75-79).

In addition, Burfoot and Kemp were first and third respectively in the Ron Grover Award for the highest scorers running most races. Burfoot achieved the maximum of 18 races, with Kemp one race behind.

Male senior category (17-39): fourth David Burfoot, sixth Neil Walbridge, ninth Peter Leach, 10th Mark Cassé and 14th Ciaran Osborne. Male vet: third overall, James Clarke, ninth Michael Mackay, 17th Peter Burfoot.

Wadhurst women's awards: vets overall (35+) and first vet 4 (50-54), first vet 5 (55-59), Nell Neary, who also won the Ron Grover Ladies' Award.

The women's senior category included Hannah Swaffer in sixth place.

Finally, the women's vet category featured Lyn Hayes, third place overall, Nell Neary, ninth, and Melinda Mackay, 20th.