Sunday, October 7th started out as a perfect day for staging the 17th Chichester Priory 10km Road race, which this year was host to the UK , the ERRA and the SEAA Championships, as well as featuring an Inter-Area and Inter-counties matches, a recognition nationwide of this quality road race. The high standard and depth of the field was matched by the glorious weather and an excellent turnout of some 1500 enjoyed one of the most popular and prestigious events in the South of England.

This year the race was once again organised splendidly by the Rotary Club of Chichester Priory and was fortunate to have the same 2 sponsors, Peter Cooper, the local Volkswagen Group and Brooks Sports the international suppliers of sports clothing. Organisers and sponsors were pleased with a race where many personal best times were achieved by elite athletes, club runners and recreational runners alike.

The 1500 runners were an impressive sight as in brilliant sunshine they streamed out of Oaklands Way. Changed from its date in February to October, 2 new ideas were introduced for the first time - the use of “chip timing” and an elite start. The starting party included the President of UK Athletics, former world record and Olympic long jumper, Lynn Davies, the Mayor of Chichester, representatives of the 2 sponsors and the President of Chichester Priory Rotary Club, Tony Davenport. . It was quite a spectacle as the runners wound their way along Spitalfield Lane away from the start.

The race got off to a cracking pace from the start and it was not long before a group of 4 male runners were stretching out the front of the field. This leading group included top athletes – Moumin Geele of Newham and Essex Beagles, Jermaine Mays of Kent AC, Gavin Thompson of Crawley AC, Williard Chinhanhu of Poole Runners and Christopher Davies of Telford AC. For a while Mays became detached from this leading group as the other 4 forged ahead with the Telford man starting to take up the pace. The runners passed the halfway mark in 14.46 – just a little below course record pace. During the next 2 km Mays and Chinhanhu upped the pace and slowly the Telford man dropped from this leading group, eventually to finish in 18th place.
Mays took up the running and was marginally ahead at 8km, which he passed in 23.38 but by 9km it was the turn of the man from Poole to take to the front. He stayed there for the final km which then became a procession followed by Mays, Thompson, Geele and joined by Josh Lilley from Severn AC in 5th place. Although Chinhanhu’s winning time of 29.18 was just outside the course record, in all 10 runners beat the magical 30 minute mark – a fantastic feat.

The women’s race was of the highest standard possible but a less competitive affair. Kate Reed from Bristol and West AC making her debut at Chichester was in the lead from an early stage. She powered her way around the course and was an easy winner in 32.07, beating the previous course record by some 14 seconds. The previous course record holder Hayley Yelling of Windsor Slough Eton and Hounslow AC was some one minute and 12 seconds down in second place closely followed by Vicky Gill of Chorley AC in 33.21, Birhan Dagne of Belgrave Harriers in 33.22, a previous winner at Chichester, the in form Rachel Townend of Winchester and District AC in 33.59 and a previous silver medallist at Chichester, Natalie Harvey of South London Harriers.

The men’s team event was won by Newham and Essex Beagles with a strong team of 3 finishers in the top eight, including Geele, Steve Hepple and Dave Mitchelson. Second team was Belgrave Harriers, Simon Jones, Stephen Sharp and Jonathan Blackledge with Bedford and County AC third. In the women’s team event Winchester and District, the pre race favourites were comfortable winners with a team of Townend, Karen Hazlitt and Deborah Coslett. Despite being the record holder, Kate Reed in the team for Bristol and West AC were pushed into 2nd place with Aldershot Farnham and District in 3rd. The Southern Championships saw Aldershot in 2nd place followed by Southampton RC in 3rd.

The veteran runners in the over 40 category recorded some very fast times with Keith Newton formerly of Brighton and Hove A.C. and now with Herne Hill coming home in a splendid time of 32.31, closely followed by Wayne Lincoln from City of Norwich. In the Over 50’s David Dorning and David Worcester, both of Chichester Runners were well placed in their category, which was won by Paul Gregory of Vale of Aylesbury AC and closely followed by the ever-present Nigel Gates from Brighton and Hove. Gareth Jones of Oxford City and running for the fifth time at Chichester had a very creditable time of 36.26 for a runner over 60.

A number of times for the veteran women was equally impressive with Karen Hazlett of Winchester winning the over 35’s and Jane Laws another athlete making her debut at Chichester for Barnet and District had a great run to win the 45-55 age group in 37.40. Second place in this category was local woman from Funtington, running for Havant A.C. Jane Harrop.

The initial preview of this year’s race suggested that local runners would not feature in the above awards. However to recognise their contribution to local sport and in memory of Ben Steppel, former sports editor of the Observer and Colin Thorne, President of Chichester Priory Rotary Club in the race’s inaugural year, two extra prizes were awarded – first local man home - James Baker of Chichester Runners and Jane Harrop, first local woman home.

All the above awards were made at the traditional Prize giving event after the event at Chichester Hockey Club. The presentation party included Lynn Davies, Mike Neighbour Chairman of the English Road Running Association, Ray Brown Mayor of Chichester, Steve Bone , the Sports editor of the Chichester Observer and Tony Davenport the President of the Rotary Club of Chichester Priory, the event’s organiser. There were many accolades about the organisation of this highly successful event and tributes were particularly paid to the generosity of the main sponsors Peter Cooper Volkswagen Group and Brooks International as well as other organisations and businesses in the City who had given their support and contributed to the event. Once again all the Rotarians, athletes, spectators and officials went home pleased that they had been part of yet another successful Chichester Priory 10km road race.

Graham Jessop,
October 2007.
Men's Results        Men's Team Results                      Women's Results     Women's Team Results