Pub to Pub 27th Dec 2005 - Portsmouth Joggers Report
Portsmouth Joggers Club, George Gales Pub to Pub Race 2005, Horndean to Chalton and return.
The race now in its 16th year takes place in Horndean nr Petersfield. The event is put on to help raise money for charity and the beneficiary this year was the QA Hospital rocky appeal for a unique cancer research laboratory. It is also a good way to exercise away the Christmas excesses and is a very popular event organised by Portsmouth Joggers and still supported by Gales Ales as it has from the very first race.
The race starts by the Ship and Bell in Horndean and follows the hilly country lanes out to the Red Lion at Chalton and then returns the same way as they ran out, they run about 7.1 miles altogether. (There is no alcohol consumed during the race). There is also a walk for those who just want to take part but do not want to run that is 3 miles long around Blendworth and the lanes.
This year there were 220 runners and walkers from all over the county and beyond and made the event a success.
The run was won by Mark Le-Gassick of Stubbington Green Runners, about a minute ahead of Paul Bleach of City of Portsmouth, 3rd went to Tor Duffin ( Stubbington Green) who chased close behind Paul down the hill to the finish, 4th was Chris Thompson of City of Portsmouth. The ladies was a close finish with both runners coming down the long hill from Blendworth village to the finish line behind the pub, with Ruth Wiggins (Victory AC) just beating Tina Turner ( Denmead Striders) after a slip near the finish.
The race does not apart from 1st male and female give prizes to individual or club teams but to pairings of competitor (walkers or runners) and makes the event more enjoyable as no one knows who as won prizes till the prize giving.
The Race and Walk has raised this year approx, £1500 for the Rocky Appeal.
Sorry no Photos but we found camera had flat batteries and we did not take a recharger.
Race Director was ALAN MARSH Portsmouth Joggers
John Marsh - Race helper