Christmas Pud Five Miler
THE twin temptation of a Christmas Pudding and a glass of mulled wine proved too much for Paul Hammond and Dave King.
The Stubbington duo headed out to wintry Battle near Hastings in East Sussex for the Christmas Pudding Dash.
The five-mile race took place at Ashburnham Place, a spectacular 18th Century stately home, whose grounds were designed and constructed in the mid-18th century by Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown.
He laid out the three large lakes which encircle the house, and he also built the Orangery, which is home to a number of interesting and unusual plants, as well as the oldest camellias in the country
The whole area looked spectacular on a frosty December morning with the lake frozen over. The area is rich in wildlife and part of it has been designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of the valuable flora and fauna.
Some 220 runners took part in the race with consisted of two-laps around the grounds over a mixture of Tarmac and woodland. There was tricky uphill middle part through the muddy and icy woodland, but more than made up for by a sweeping downhill run towards the home.
Paul, cheered on by his family, was the first to the Chrismas pud and mulled wine by finishing 32nd in 36min 33sec, and Dave finished 36th in 36.48.
The winner was Nick Barrable from Tonbridge AC in Kent in 28.11 and Gill Wheeler from Hailsham Harriers was the top lady finisher in seventh place with 32.34.