40 Years of Run Barns Green

Run Barns Green is 40 years old this year. This fantastic local event began in October 1982 just a few months after the first-ever London Marathon and it has been going strong ever since.

Barns Green thrives because of the friendship and cooperation between the villagers and the wonderful range of community activities that are organised. There is no better example of this community activity and spirit than the village’s biggest single event, Run Barns Green which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary.

The Beginnings

The beginnings of the race came in the winter of 1981 when a few of the members of Barns Green Football Club asked Alan Train, the newly appointed Head of Muntham House School in the village if they could use the school’s floodlit tennis courts for training. Mr Train agreed, and in the interests of promoting good relations with the local community allowed the football club to use the facilities at no cost. To show their appreciation, the footballers asked if there was anything that they could do in return for the school. The Head said that the school was always in need of various items of equipment and that at the time it was hoping to raise money to buy a camcorder which would cost around £350. It was decided to hold a sponsored race and on a Sunday morning a few weeks later, thirteen members of the football team along with the Headmaster and his two sons took part in a ten-mile run which raised the necessary money for the camcorder. After the race, the runners celebrated over a few beers in the Village Club, and it was here that a plan was hatched to set up an organised village half marathon to be run sometime during the next year.

An organising committee was put together and after months of hard work, the first race was held at 11 am on Sunday 24th October 1982. Amazingly it attracted around one thousand runners. Having never organised a race of this size before the organisers, who were all volunteers, had to perform miracles to get the race underway on time. The first challenge was to get all the people and cars into the village and parked. Then they had to get all the runners registered and away from the start exactly on time at 11 am in order to comply with the road closure regulations which had been granted by the council. Despite all the obstacles and logistical problems, the race was a huge success and the organising committee had shown that it was possible to stage such a big event which clearly had the potential to be developed and established as an annual event. This was all done at a time when there was no internet, social media or e-mails!

Vincit Qui Patitur!

Alan Train whose personal motto, Vincit Qui Patitur! (He who endures conquers), was adopted by the race, was certainly a man of vision. In the programme notes for that very first race, he wrote: “We hope that you will enjoy your experience today – whether you are a competitor or a spectator, and that on this day and in the years to come, we can together continue to kindle a spirit of personal endeavour, enriching all with the knowledge that this is, in essence, a most charitable event”.

After that first race, The President of the Sussex County Amateur Athletics Association wrote, “Here we have a race initiated by a few local jogging enthusiasts, blossoming in a short time into the largest road race in Sussex, respected for its efficient organisation and welcomed by joggers and AAA Club members alike.” This endorsement was just what the event needed to give it credibility and the impetus to move forward, and so the Barns Green Half Marathon was established.

Huge Fundraiser

In the 40 years since it has become a huge fundraiser and each year thousands of pounds are raised for charity and other worthy causes. The local sports clubs receive donations for their help and support as do groups such as the local playgroup, Scouts and Guides who all help man the car parks, and drinks stations as well as helping with marshalling on the day. The race has been run every year since that first race with the exception of 1987 and 2020. In 1987 the Great Storm devastated the area and many of the trees that were blown down blocked the race route and the race had to be cancelled and of course, COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the 2020 event. The initial sponsored run which preceded the first Barns Green Half Marathon raised £350.

Nigel Currie is the Race Director and is passionate about Run Barns Green. “More road races and events are being created all around the country many of whom benefit from financial help and support from major Councils and local authorities. Run Barns Green relies entirely on the support of volunteers. It is to the great credit of the people of Barns Green that they have been able to keep the races going and developing over so many years. The Run Barns Green committee works all year round organising the races and on race weekend about 150 volunteers from in and around the village give up their time to ensure that the races go ahead smoothly and safely creating an event of which Barns Green and its residents can be very proud”.

Thousands of Athletes

There haven’t been too many changes to the event over the years, but in 2016 the 10k race was introduced for the first time giving more opportunities for runners who don’t want to take on the half marathon distance.

Thousands of athletes have run in the Barns Green Half Marathon and 10k events over the last 40 years. Many are fun runners who use the event to enable them to raise money for charity and fulfil personal goals. However, the race has always attracted top-quality athletes. The first winners in 1982 were John Leversedge who won the men’s race in a time of 1hr 08mins 40 seconds and Tracey Howard who won the women’s race in 1hr 19 min 55 seconds. Since then there have been many outstanding performances in all the various age group races. In 2010 the course record was smashed by the outstanding 20-year-old Kenyan athlete Edwin Kipyego. He completed the 13.1-mile course in 1 hour 4 minutes 28 seconds, 21 seconds faster than the previous record which had stood for 24 years. He was so fast that at one point on the course when the car leading the runners was held up by backmarker runners in the middle of the figure of eight circuit, it was overtaken by the Kenyan!

Various factors make Run Barns Green a very popular event with runners. The fact that both race routes are on roads entirely closed to traffic, as well as the scenic countryside, are key factors. This year’s 40th-anniversary event will take place on Sunday 25th September with the Half Marathon starting at 10 am and the 10k race at 10:20 am.