runABC South reporter Alan Newman was among the invited guests for the sold-out 25th edition of the Kings Head Canter 5K on Bank Holiday Monday (28 August) where the reward for every finisher was a commemorative beer glass, plus a reviving pint of ale from the 1648 Brewing Company or a soft drink of choice at the Kings Head in East Hoathly.

All previous winners, age-graded champions, original competitors (pictured above) and this journo were invited back for the special celebration. Long-serving Race Director Stuart Mills quipped he will be due a '25 volunteer' T-shirt in 2030, having presided over this joyous annual dash between two pubs in East Sussex for 18 years.

The first race from the Six Bells, Chiddingly to the Kings Head, East Hoathly was held in 1998, and to this day the same (20m short) course and Racemaster '98 age-grading format are used, which makes comparison with previous results more meaningful. The prizes this year were presented by the inaugural race winner Geoff Hill who ran 15:20 in 1998 (pictured above in body warmer). That was six seconds faster than this year's champion Max Walker (Army AA, 15:26), an East Hoathly resident who watched this race as a child and told Stuart Mills that he would like to not just run but to win the race one day!

The runners-up were Joshua Burgess (Lewes AC, 15:34) and Nick Dawson (Brighton & Hove City AC, 15:36). The top 12 ran 16:48 or faster in pursuit of a pint of 1648 in this quality race. In 12th place, in exactly that time and on his 5K debut, was the first Junior under-17 Fintan Pearce (Eastbourne Rovers AC) who was unfortunately too young to quench his thirst with a beer!

The top trio in a close women's race were Sophie Coleman (Arena 80 AC, 18:06), W35 Emma Navesey (Lewes AC, 18:36) and under-15 Junior Freda Pearce (Eastbourne Rovers AC, 18:39) – with some considerable talent being demonstrated by the Pearce family.

Part of the fun at the Kings Head Canter is the presentation made to the leading age-graded runners and this year's winners were M50 James Skinner (Haywards Heath Harriers, 16:29 – 90.2%) and W65 Chris Naylor (Arena 80 AC, 23:08 – 88.8%).

As for your roving reporter – a sobering 79.5% for an M70 time of 21:58 and an enjoyable warm-down jog on the Wealden Way footpath to collect a car left at the start in this point-to-point race where the transport logistics have to be considered.

There were 274 runners – a record number – finishing in 49:51 taking the total number of finishers to more than 5,000 who have all helped to raise funds for the East Hoathly and Halland Carnival Society.

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

Photo courtesy Jimmy the Snaps for Kings Head Canter 5K