The 41st Hastings Half Marathon finally went ahead on Sunday 5 October 2025, after its short-notice cancellation due to a chemical incident in March, as reported here on runABC South.

The finishers' bling at the Hastings Half Marathon is based on a traditional horse brass, and the medals glinted in the sun on a glorious autumn day on the Sussex coast. Matthew Rose (pictured above) certainly wasn't brassed off as he finished 1,329th in 2:09:21, running for The Sara Lee Trust, supporting local people affected by cancer and other life-threatening illnesses in Hastings and Rother.

The course at Hastings can be a bit of a battle, with serious climbs that add 941 feet (287m) in elevation, notably between the three and nine mile markers. Despite this, the course records are remarkably swift. Samuel Otenio (1:01:37) and Andrea Wallace (1:11:13) are the holders of the best times ever seen at Hastings, and there is a £1,000 course record bonus on offer.

The belated 2025 Hastings Half Marathon saw 2,250 finish the single-lap course in under five hours. No record bonuses were paid, but handsome £500 rewards went to race winners Adam Clarke (HY Runners Hastings, 1:08:38) and Phoebe Barker (Tonbridge AC, 1:20:14).

Clarke's victory margin in the men's race was a comfortable 2:53 over Rhys Boorman (Hastings AC, 1:11:31). Jack Swallow (Brighton Phoenix, 1:12:32) was third.

Barker, in contrast, had her hands full with pressure from Grace Baker (Hastings AC, 1:20:59) and Imogen Matthews (HY AC, 1:22:21) not far behind.

Exactly 100 runners beat 90 minutes and at least 1,000 were home in less than two hours. Hastings Half Marathon is organised by Hastings Lions Club, with race management support by Sussex-based Nice Work.

The Claremont Mini Run for those aged 7 – 16 is held on a point-to-point course, finishing at the Half Marathon finish line on Sea Road. This year's winners were Tom Chaffin (6:18) and Rosie Ferguson (7:33).

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

Image courtesy Hastings Half Marathon/Nice Work on Facebook