Brighton & Hove AC can trace their roots back to the formation of Brighton County Harriers in 1894. After mergers with Sussex Walking & Athletic Club in 1951 and Hove AC (formerly Shoreham Cycling & Athletic Club) in 1966, the club as we know it today emerged.

Now the largest and arguably most successful club in the area, Brighton & Hove AC knows how to promote a great race, and the Brighton 10K on Sunday (20th November) was a fine example as the organisers had to be nimble in turning the course around at short notice due to extensive development works at the usual start and finish in Madeira Drive.

The revised route for the 38th Brighton 10K (established 1984) was just as quick and exciting for the 1,200 competitors, who were led on a promenade parade by Will Bryan (Southampton AC, 30:32), Gus Withers (Leigh-on-Sea Striders, 30:40) and Scott Cousins (Springfield Striders, 31:00).

Race bib #1 was sported by Naomi Mitchell (Reading AC, 33:45) who finished first in the women's race. The runners-up in another close encounter were Harriet Bloor (Lewes AC, 34:00) and Helen Hall (Winchester & District AC, 34:38). 

Overall, nearly 200 athletes beat 40 minutes on the flat and fast seafront course that passes many Brighton landmarks including Palace Pier, Sea Life Centre, and the i360 observation tower. Among those inside 40:00 were M60 master Pete O'Connell (Horsham Joggers, 39:38) and just outside that threshold was W50 Sue Fry (Eastbourne Rovers AC, 40:04) as a host of fast masters' times were logged. 

Looking to the future, the best junior under-20 marks were 32:58 by Will Goddard (Brighton Phoenix) and 39:08 by Lisa Shi (Team Bodyworks).

Brighton 10K was back after an enforced two-year absence due to Covid restrictions and it felt good to be blasting along that breezy Sussex promenade once again.    

Previous results and race reports at runABC South race listing here

Image courtesy Brighton 10K on Facebook