Saltwood Boxing Day Run

Report by Mark Sluman

A large field of  over six hundred runners, including eight Dover Road Runners, gathered at the starting line of the annual Boxing Day Saltwood Cross Country Run,  a far cry from the total of fifteen runners who took part in the first run thirty seven years ago.

The DRR team welcomed back Jay Hennebery who was returning to racing after a long term injury. Despite the sunny mild day, due to the recent continuous rain throughout the country, no runner could be surprised at the state of the course ahead.  As anticipated, what the competitors discovered was deep,deep mud, water at times almost up to the knees and a surface that was in places as slippery as an ice rink. Despite this the Dover Road Runners team put the under foot conditions out of their minds and attacked the course to record some impressive times. First home was Warren Uden in 22.35mins which gave him an overall place of forty ninth position. Other times were:-
 
Mark Sluman   24.58
Annette Nixon  31.33
Jay Hennebery   32.31
Nathan Nixon  35.13
Mike Bond   42.22
Jo Daniels    44.50
Sylvia Barrett  50.10
Elaine Ellender 50.10

The event attracted both club runners and fun runners, many of whom were decked in various Christmas outfits. Special thanks should go to the organisers for arranging such a friendly but challenging event which raised a great deal of money for charity.