New 5K Race a Huge Success at Run Barns Green

On Sunday over 1650 runners registered to take part in the three Run Barns Green adult races on closed roads. The event which started in 1982 was celebrating its 41st year and introduced a new 5K race this year to add to the half marathon and 10k races as well as the Jennings Junior Jog colour fun run for 4-11 year olds.

Over 800 runners took part in The Half Marathon race which started in perfect running conditions. Mags Fisher, acted as the official starter in memory of her late husband and former Run Barns Green Committee member, Ray Fisher, who died earlier this year.

First home in the women’s half marathon race was Sharon Walker from Dorking & Mole Valley AC in a time of 1 hour 26 mins and 12 seconds followed by Kathy Peters from Cambridge & Coleridge AC in 1 hour 26 minutes and 15 seconds, with Sibel Latchman third in a time of 1 hour 29 minutes and 2 seconds. The men’s half marathon race was won by Run Barns Green regular, Neil Boniface of Horsham Blue Star Harriers in a time of 1 hour 12 minutes and 17 seconds. Second was Daniel Gaffney in a time of 1 hour 14 minutes and 4 seconds with Toby Meanwell third in a time of 1 hour 14 minutes and 20 seconds.

The event takes a huge amount of planning from a committee that works throughout the year on the event. Then on race weekend, a small army of volunteers from in and around the village assemble to help out with car parking, marshalling, manning water stations, putting up signage and building staging, sorting the runner’s registrations and check-in, manning bag storage areas and running merchandise and catering stalls and undertaking many other tasks. It is a huge operation and almost 200 volunteers are involved. The Official Race Charity, St Catherine’s Hospice had a marquee on the Green and several volunteers shaking collecting buckets in the car parks. This wonderful local charity has helped many people from the local area and impressively over 100 runners who took part in the adult races were running on behalf of St Catherine’s.

The 10k race began at 10.30 am and 750 runners lined up at the start with local MP Jeremy Quin sending the runners on their way. The men’s race was won by Andrew Green in a time of 33 minutes 19 seconds followed by James Skinner 34 minutes with William Russell third in 34 minutes 55 seconds. The women’s 10k was won by Elspeth Turner in a time of 38 minutes 16 seconds followed by Sophie Gunning who ran in a time of 38 minutes 30 seconds with Kirsty Armstrong third.

Jeremy Quin also got the runners underway for the inaugural 5K race and the women’s winner was Katie Foss of Crawley AC in a time of 22 minutes 14 seconds with the men’s 5K race being won by Michael Daly in a time of 17 minutes 44 seconds.

Then in the final races of the day, over 250 children took part in the Jennings Junior Jog colour fun run in memory of former Chairman of Run Barns Green, Vernon Jennings. The races started on the Village Green at 12.30 pm after the three adult races were finished. The races were started by Vernon’s widow, Annie Jennings and the races gave primary school youngsters aged from 4-11 the chance to take part in a 750-metre colour run. Once on the course, they were bombarded by colour “bombs” thrown by spectators, mums, dads and grandparents. Every youngster received a wristband and a medal. All the youngsters and parents seemed to have great fun and the race has now become a permanent feature of Run Barns Green. All four races had a pre-race warm-up led by Vicky Fisher from Bluecoat Sports and all finishing runners received either gold silver or bronze medals.

Commenting on this year’s event, Race Director, Nigel Currie said, "What a great day we had. The running conditions were good and race numbers are certainly getting back up to close to pre-Covid levels. Our new 5k race was extremely popular and is something we will look to develop and grow as it offers even more people the chance to take part in our event. The enthusiasm of the youngsters who took part in the Jennings Junior Jog for 4-11 year olds was amazing and the parents seemed to be having as much fun as the kids. I can’t thank all our outstanding volunteers enough. We have so many people who give up their time to help support the event which enables us to be able to make financial donations to the numerous groups, societies and sports clubs that help out on the day and make the event the success that it is".

Christ’s Hospital School had a stand on the Green and had several pupils taking part as well as a strong contingent of Old Blues who had the chance to meet up and reminisce as they ran through the magnificent school grounds of Christ’s Hospital.

There was plenty of other activity on the Green itself. There were a number of different drinks and catering stalls as well as a funfair and plenty of music and entertainment for all the family.

Registrations for heavily discounted Early Bird Entry for the 2024 Runs Barns Green adult races are already open. Next year’s event will take place on Sunday 29th September. Find out more about the races and sign up here.