Leatherhead Fire Station 10k

On Sunday 9 November 2008, 537 hardy runners set off on the popular Leatherhead Fire Station 10k, oganised by the men of Red Watch, and aided by many colleagues and other marshals. The weather was perfect for running, being cool and dry, and the autumn colours in the woods and forests of Ranmore and the North Downs were spectacular - if you could summon the strength to look up!

The event boasted chip timing for the first time, and this seems to have worked very well indeed. The race went off on time, following a traditional minute's silence in remembrance of the dead of both WWI and WWII. The front runners went haring off, and it was obvious that it was going to be a fast race at the sharp end. First man home was Hassan Raidi of Belgrave Harriers in 34:33, with Neil Aitken of Clapham Chasers chasing him home in 34:54. The third and fourth placers must have had a right old battle, with Jonathon Hotschkiss of Lanson Running finishing in 35:445, and Matt Ward of Clapham Chasers finishing only 14 second later in 35:59. Local hero Andy Fay of Dorking and Mole Valley was 16 seconds slower than a year before, finishing 10th in 37:07 (first M46-55), but having posted a sub-3 hour New York Marathon only a week before, he has an acceptable excuse.

Last home was Bob Parson of Barking Road Runners, in 1:25:25 (split time 43:29), slightly faster than the last-placed runner of the previous year, and once again beating all those people that didn't bother to get out of bed on race day.

11 November 2007 saw the latest running of the famous Letherhead Fire Station 10k, with 584 runners completing the distance. Following a respectfully-observed one-minute's silence, competitors set off into the teeth of gusts and rain, but this added impediment was short-lived, and soon the sun came out to dry us all off again. Marshalling was, as ever, superb, so that before too long the field had gained the highest point of the course, near Norbury House overlooking the Mole Valley, and had started on the fast downhill to the River Mole before the flat last three kilometers to the finish back at the fire station.

First man home was Tom Kingsworth from Thames Hare and Hounds, in a fast time of 33:48, nearly a full minute clear. Next home, but only just, was youthful local hero Alex Hawkins of Epsom and Ewell Harriers, in 34:38, and only three seconds behind him, in 34:41 (close!) was Pawel Bal of South London Harriers. Andy Fay of Dorking and Mole Valley AC was first V50 home, in an astonishing 36:50, in 11th place.

First lady home was Justina Helspo of Clapham Chasers, in 15th place, and in 37:10. Clapham would have won the prize for largest team, sending as they did 57 runners to compete in the race.

Last home in 1:31 was Sophie Rawlings, who beat all those people that didn't finish, didn't start, or didn't bother to get out of bed early enough. Congratulations Sophie!