Brighton Phoenix is an athletics and triathlon club with around 400 members competing at all levels up to international. The club was formed as Phoenix Athletics Club in 1981 by Matt Patterson and the 1980 Olympic 800m champion, Steve Ovett, with a focus on individual development rather than team activity like rigid league structures.

The Brighton Phoenix name was adopted in 2012 and the club's flagship Phoenix 10K started in 2011, with Dean Lacy (Cambridge Harriers, 30:22) and Emma Richards (Hailsham Harriers, 37:35) setting the inaugural course records ahead of 363 finishers.

Unusually, this is a midweek race held on the third Wednesday in July, so the latest edition was on 13 July – just before the weather became exceptionally hot for a few days. Conditions for the 11th Brighton Phoenix 10K (the 2020 race was cancelled) were perfect as the local favourite Finn McNally set about the course record that had been held by his clubmate Ben Tickner (30:05) since 2014.

With the added incentive of a bonus lift in prize money to £300 for a sub-30 clocking, McNally flew round the out-and-back route from Hove Lawns, west towards Shoreham Docks and the 5K turn at Carats Café before returning on the promenade. The result was a new mark of 29:48 and victory for the host club's defending champion from Ben Savill (Lewes AC, 32:20) and under-20 junior Thomas James (Crawley AC, 32:34 PB). 

The women's record is 34:30 by Rebecca Moore (Chichester AC in 2016) and that survived as Emma Navesey (Lewes AC, 35:39), W35 Rachel Hillman (Hailsham Harriers, 37:25) and Lucy Lavender (unattached, 37:26) filled the podium positions. 

There were 120 finishers in 40 minutes on this slick seafront circuit; more than 300 broke 50 minutes and the 435th and final runner recorded 1:20:16. 

Brighton Phoenix's annual race helps to raise club funds to assist the development of athletes of all ages as well as supporting partner charity The Clock Tower Sanctuary.

Results are available via runABC South race listing here and at the Brighton Phoenix 10K website

Image courtesy Brighton Phoenix