Former English Schools and National Senior 5km walking champion Sophie Hales, who is now living in Essex, dipped her toe into to the racing scene in Sussex again last weekend after a several year break from the roads of Sussex.
Hales, the youngest of a trio of sibling race walkers who all won English Schools title, who is now in her thirties, lined up for the Steyning Open 10km road walk.
Despite some strong opposition from Surrey and other non-Sussex competitors Hales romped away with the women’s race and was only deprived of winning the Overall race by fellow Steyning walker and World champion Ian Richards.
Richards, who won the World M65 5,000 metres walk at Lyons back in August, as his wont, blazed away from the start in the High Street at Steyning and only Hales was able to keep him in sight through the early stages.
Richards was to be first across the finishing line in 50:17, which is a pretty nifty eight minute miles, while Hales finished less than three minute adrift in 53:14 and this form would suggest that she could still challenge many of the top British women race walkers.
Jimmy Ball, who is now in the M50 age group, was third in 57:23 while Graham Chapman from Headington was the third male to finish clocking 58:36 and Ann Jones (Steyning) was the second woman to finish in 65:41.
Great South Run
In last weekend’s “Great South Run” at Portsmouth Kevin Rojas Brighton & Hove was the first Sussex runner to finish in a high class run.
Rojas finished 29th in 52.42 while Emily Proto and Vicky Clark from Arena 80 led the women home with Proto, a little slower than in the Brighton 10-mile the previous weekend, in 18th place in 60:49 and Clark, who is now in the F40 age group placing 32nd in 65:27.