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Ryde Harriers volunteers

Racing as it used to be on the Isle of Wight

One of Britain's oldest clubs welcomes 150 to the Isle of Wight Half

"Ryde Harriers: Running since 1886". This is the proud statement that heads the website for one of the UK's oldest established athletics clubs, based on the Isle of Wight – which has a history itself going back to the Aptian age, approximately 125 million years ago.

The island is famous for its dinosaur remains and the Roman name for the Island was Vectis. Isle of Wight has been a popular holiday destination for centuries and in these days of the so-called staycation, it has experienced a renaissance as people can travel 'abroad' to the island without having to jump through the hoops that international travellers are experiencing.

Isle of Wight Half Marathon starts at Appley Park, Ryde, and follows a hilly two-lap course through the countryside, with some short gravel path sections via Nettlestone and St Helens, before returning to finish at Ryde.

There were just under 200 entries and 149 finishers (in 3:13:07) in Sunday's race (15 August). Joe Wade (Ryde Harriers, 1:13:00) was first overall and the first island resident. The runner-up was Ben Taylor (Pensby Runners, 1:16:29) whose club, based in the Wirral, was established exactly 100 years after the hosts! 

Third place was claimed by an unattached runner Dyf Coles (1:17:58) from London, ahead of the first veteran Mark Thomas (M45, 1:18:28) of Black Pear Joggers – based in Worcester – demonstrating the appeal of racing as it used to be on the Isle of Wight.

The women's race was won by Anne-Marie Pendrey (W35, 1:41:54) from Doncaster followed by island resident Stephanie Fletcher (W35, 1:42:47) from Newport and Claire Whitchurch (W40, 1:43:59) from Harpenden.

Team winners were the men from Hemel Hempstead-based Gade Valley Harriers and the women's awards went to the delighted host club, Ryde Harriers. 

Our image taken from Ryde Harriers' Facebook shows the all-important welcome desk and club volunteers at this historic road race.

Results are available via runABC South race listing here

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