Archive - 2009 Marathon Report
Womens’ course record smashed
Norwich runner Rachael Leathwood (Photo right: © Phil Burton) was the star of the 2009 Bungay Black Dog Marathon as she smashed the womens' course record. She clocked 3:7:56 to take nearly seven minutes off the previous best time, set three years ago, and was delighted with her performance, which saw her finish eighth overall in the field of more than 240 runners. "I have done the Bungay marathon before, about three years ago, and did 3:29, but I have been training for this one since Christmas and this is a personal best," she said. "I was 20th at one stage and it was good to overtake the men in front of me to finish eighth." The 28-year-old Norwich Road Runner, who lives at Reepham, came in more than 15 minutes ahead of second placed Lisa Barry, of the 100 Marathon Club, who clocked 3:23:09. Third, a further 12 minutes behind, was Ely Runners competitor Natalie Etches in 3:35:25.
In the men's full marathon Baard Grindberg dominated the race virtually from the start to finish in a time of 2:50:53. "I led from four miles, but it was hard over the last six," said the Norwegian born runner from Framlingham, who competes for the Tri-Anglia club. It is only the second ever marathon I have run, the other being at Bungay a few years ago, when I did 3:25, so I've take a bit off that!" Around 35 minutes in fact. Second was David Hobbs, an unattached runner who came through the field over the second lap of the picturesque course between Bungay and Beccles to clock 2:54:23. He overtook Stowmarket strider Nick Palmer over the last few miles after Palmer had been in second place for a long time. He finally finished in 2:55:34.
It was also a good day for Leathwood's Norwich Roadrunners' team-mate Francis Hale, who came second in the half-marathon, which attracted a near-record entry of 583 runners. He finished in 1:20:51, but was always trailing winner David Bettinson, of the Cambridge Triathlon Club, who won in 1:17:23. Third was Jason Rix, an unattached runner, in 1:21:35.
Rose Waterman, of City of Norwich AC, won the women's half-marathon in a time of 1:27:46. She had a clear lead for much of the race, but there was a good tussle behind her, with Tanya Crofts, of Wymondham Road Runners, finishing second in 1:34:12, just holding of the challenge of Becky McCorquodale, of Harwich Runners, who clocked 1:35:08.
Once again the event was a triumph for the race committee, and is likely to prove a winner too for the NSPCC, the nominated charity for this year's event, the 27th Bungay Black Dog Marathon and the third to be held at the Maltings Meadow Sports Ground at Ditchingham. Overall it attracted the biggest field for many years. They included Essex runner John Wallace, running his 249th marathon in his Superman costume. His 250th is this year’s London Marathon.
As is customary the day also included a Fun Run started, by Splat the Cat, from the Norwich & Peterborough Building Society, who was soon overtaken by runners of all ages.
The Bungay Black Dog Race Committee would like to thank their sponsors, local supporting organisations, the small army of helpers who gave up their day, and all the runners who made this a very successful event. All the proceeds will go to NSPCC who are this years official charity and an announcement of how much this is will be made later in the year.
Photographs of the races are on the Gallery and more can be seen at Digitography.
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