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Ditton Turkey Run 2023

We're Talking Turkey Here

Muddy mayhem at Maidstone Harriers' 30th annual festive trail run...

runABC's Alan Newman is a former Ditton (Kent) resident and a past winner of the Ditton Turkey Run – the annual trail running challenge held on the woodland paths that were once our reporter's regular training ground.

Memories of muddy mayhem, mince pies, and Christmas puds came flooding back when our man read the latest results of the 30th anniversary Ditton Turkey Run hosted by Maidstone Harriers on Sunday 10 December 2023.

Fancy dress is not only encouraged it is rewarded with prizes for the best dressed male and female. Many competitors opt for turkey headgear to commemorate the halcyon days when the winner received a turkey – sadly no longer a tradition at this event.

This year's festive frolic – sponsored by Simply Kitchens & Bathrooms – was enjoyed by 352 finishers who were all safely home in less than two hours. The route has changed over the years, with the Race HQ now moved from Ditton Community Centre to the more spacious National Institute of Agricultural Botany East Malling Research Centre.

The course is hilly, muddy, and quite technical with a road start and finish. Oaken Wood, Barming is where the maximum goo is usually found and that is where our three runners above are pictured. In mid-race order, with final results, they are W65 Janice Moorekite (Larkfield AC, 1:19:26), W55 Kerrie Rees (unattached, 1:17:56) and M50 Chris Preston (So Let's Go Running, 1:16:49).

Kerrie Rees told runABC: "There were mince pies and chocolate bars plus a beanie hat, T-shirt and medal. The marshalls were well-positioned and were very encouraging. I enjoyed the varied terrain and the whole event was so well organised."

It has been a tad damp in these parts recently but that didn't stop M45 John O'Mahony (Cambridge Harriers, 45:37) achieving around 6min/mile pace for the approximately 7.5 miles course. The winner was joined on the podium by Oliver Pryer (Sittingbourne Striders, 46:40) and David Fisher (unattached, 47:21).

The top three women were W35 Kay Sheedy (Dulwich Runners AC, 49:40) – finishing seventh overall – Charlotte Johnston (Maidstone Harriers, 51:56) and W55 Tina Oldershaw (Tonbridge AC, 53:39).

Full results via runABC South race listing here.

Photo courtesy Maidstone Harriers on Facebook

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