Top-class distance racing returned to Brighton with the 13th annual Brighton Phoenix 10K on Wednesday evening (17 July) just before the brief peak of summer temperatures in the south.

The temperate conditions were conducive to quality performances and the athletes delivered. Elite entries are offered to men faster than 33:00 and women who can run under 37:30. This year nine men and four women beat that mark of excellence.

Brighton Phoenix 10K is hosted by Brighton Phoenix, the breakaway club formed by Brighton coach Matt Patterson and multiple world record holder Steve Ovett in 1981 following Ovett's famous victory in the 1980 Moscow Olympics 800m.

With a quintet of lead cyclists for protection the strong field of 650 set off promptly at 7:30pm from Hove Lawns, heading towards Shoreham on the broad, flat promenade to Hove Lagoon before returning to finish at Hove Lawns.

Brighton Phoenix's favourite Finn McNally, sporting race bib #1, winner of this race in 2015, 2018, 2021, 2022, and third last year, was prominent from the start. Make that five wins after a dominant run in 30:07 to make his accompanying cyclist pedal furiously for half an hour!

McNally was followed across the finish line by James Turner (Brighton & Hove City AC, 30:55) and Chris Thomas (Thames Valley Harriers, 31:10). Seven men went under 32:00, and finishing on that exact minute was Chris Greenwood (Kent AC) – the first master athlete here in the third fastest M50 time seen in the UK this year. The men's course record was retained by McNally (29:48) from 2022.

The women's race was headed by Tonbridge AC teammates Verity Hopkins – collecting a course record bonus (33:38) and beating Rebecca Moore's 2016 best of 34:30 by 52 seconds – and Helen Gaunt (34:38 PB) in the fastest W45 time of 2024 and sixth fastest all-time by an over-45 female, one second behind five-time Olympian Jo Pavey!

The final podium place was claimed by W40 Sarah Holt (The Stragglers RC, 35:50 PB). W50 Suzy Rushforth (Brighton Phoenix, 38:27) was the next-best master in eighth place overall.

Full results and previous reports are at the runABC South race listing here.

Photo: Brighton Phoenix 10K website