Cracking field gets teeth into Pudding Dash

A bumper field of more than 420 runners completed the Christmas Pudding Dash at Ashburnham Place on Saturday morning.
Runners set off in the Christmas Pudding Dash at Ashburnham Place. Picture by Justin Lycett (SUS-151220-092206001)Runners set off in the Christmas Pudding Dash at Ashburnham Place. Picture by Justin Lycett (SUS-151220-092206001)
Runners set off in the Christmas Pudding Dash at Ashburnham Place. Picture by Justin Lycett (SUS-151220-092206001)

Although the weather was favourable, runners had to contend with thick, cloying mud in the wooded sections of the undulating approximately five-mile course.

Jeff Pyrah, of Rye Runners, was the clear winner in a time of 30 minutes and 30 seconds. Simeon Kleinsasser (Beech Grove Academy) pipped Ian Bromley (Heathfield Road Runners) to the runner-up spot by just two seconds.

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Tina Oldershaw (Paddock Wood) was the leading lady in 15th overall in 35:25. Hannah Burgan (Spandex Santa) was second in 36:21 and Fleur Peoples third in 37:29.

Many of the runners got into the festive spirit by donning seasonal dress as the Nice Work-organised event celebrated its 10th birthday.

They were rewarded with mince pies, Christmas puddings and a special Christmas medal at the finish. The charity for this year’s race was MND. There was also a children’s race before the main event.

Top 40 finishers (gun times): 1 Jeff Pyrah (Rye Runners) 30:30, 2 Simeon Kleinsasser (Beech Grove Academy) 31:53, 3 Ian Bromley (Heathfield Road Runners) 31:55, 4 Joshua Varney (Eastbourne Rovers) 32:27, 5 Mark Huleat (Beech Grove Academy) 32:51, 6 Mark Thomas (Paul McCleery) 33:01, 7 Paul McCleery (Paul McCleery) 33:32, 8 Terrence Meier (Beech Grove Academy) 34:20, 9 Evan Hine (Beech Grove Academy) 34:28, 10 Dan Marshman (Bexhill Runners) 34:28, 11 Carlo Forte (Hastings AC) 34:30, 12 Jamie Gerenfell 34:36, 13 David Brightling (Rye Runners) 34:49, 14 Lester Hine (Beech Grove Academy) 34:50, 15 Tina Oldershaw (Paddock Wood) 35:25, 16 Edward Main 35:33, 17 Thomas Holloway 35:52, 18 Russ Keen (Commando Fitness) 35:52, 19 Fraser Key 36:09, 20 Joe Goldberg (Spandex Santa) 36:21, 21 Hannah Burgan (Spandex Santa) 36:21, 22 Richard Playford 36:55, 23 Chris Hawkes 37:13, 24 Bernard Main 37:20, 25 Fleur Peoples 37:29, 26 Gemma Leigh 37:30, 27 Tony Hyatt 37:39, 28 Ben Boyle 37:43, 29 Wayne Lister 37:56, 30 Jacqueline Haas 37:58, 31 Tim Crook 38:00, 32 Simon McMillan (Meads Runners) 38:08, 33 Cedric Clemerson (Heathfield Road Runners) 38:14, 34 Tony Lavender (Heathfield Road Runners) 38:26, 35 Dan Istead 38:31, 36 Jade Harding (Cambridge Uni Hounds) 38:34, 37 Mike Hawkins 38:39, 38 Erik Chapman 38:42, 39 Daniel Pearson 38:43, 40 Jenna French (Hastings Runners) 38:44.

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