Hurst revel in the first Brighton Marathon

A story in pictures of a wonderful day for the marathon, a day of terrific fun for the school and a day that, in the words of Hurst Headmaster Tim Manly, "showed the whole of Brighton what the Hurst spirit is all about"...

and Hurst's Chris Thomson puts in a remarkable performance to finish in third place.

Below, the Hurst minibuses line up before the start, ready to take VIP's around the circuit.

Danny Mills - an able-bodied athlete who is raising funds for a Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus charity - leaves first. For someone not used to using his arms in this way, the marathon was a very tough challenge.

Race Director Tim Hutchings (father of Hurst Remove student, Jamie) and Olympic Champion Steve Ovett prepare to start the race.

The runners line up for the start - note number 86 (red shirt, centre) our own Chris Thomson; we will see more of him later ...

The race begins - and a little further down the line (well, nearly 14 miles down the line), Hurst begins to entertain the waiting crowds

and the Hurst team prepare the all important half-way water station.

Meanwhile, the jazz band are soon gathering their own crowd,

whilst Mr Manly and Mr Kift encourage the water station recruits to rehearse their task,

and the band plays on!

The first two runners reach the half-way mark,

and hard behind them comes (yes, on the right and in fifth position at this point) our own Chris Thomson, looking impressively comfortable.

The jazz band continue to provide encouragement to all.

At the water station, things are hotting up. Here a thirsty runner snatches a much needed drinking bottle from Mr Manly.

Yes, the jazz band are still wowing the crowds.

Hurst's Steve Crook waves a greeting as he passes the half way mark.

And business gets busier and busier as the day wears on.

Hurst's Mike Lamb and Tiffany Farrell pass by, both looking impressively relaxed.

Even now some are finishing whilst others need a little help to fight their way down the final few hundred yards to the finishing line.

But Steve Crook looks as good as new as he approaches the finish in a sniff under four hours.

Just a few do it in costume on a very hot day and, as the presentations begin, Race Director Tim Hutchings admits that he's lost his voice; but he must be feeling pleased with his incredible achievement in mounting such a magnificent 'first' for Brighton.

Steve Ovett is commandeered to hold up a falling poster whilst Chris Thomson receives his trophy for coming third (in just two hours twenty seven minutes)

and then receives some very well-deserved congratulations from a great Olympic Champion.

As does the overall winner, Ser-od Ba-otochir, who flew into England only hours before the airports closed. He completed the course in two hours nineteen minutes.

Many are still finishing and the problems one competitor encountered only a few hundred yards short of the finish shows how tough the challenge was on the warmest day of the year so far.

Although some simply chose to ignore the heat ...

and still get to the finishing line.

Well, that's this year wrapped up. For the record, Hurst staff performed as follows:

Chris Thomson (second from left) took a remarkable 2 hours 27 minutes (and finished the race in third position)

Steve Crook (left) finished in 3 hours 53 minutes

Mike Lamb (right) finished in 4 hours 19 minutes

There were not that many women competitors but two female members of the Hurst staff also took part:

Tiffany Farrell (third from left above) finished in 4 hours 37 minutes and

Vickie Bacon (left) who finished in 4 hours 30 minutes.

Congratulations to them all and also to:

The jazz band and Mr Matthews who were a highlight in the entertainments provided for the watching public, Mr Levy who masterminded the Hurst buses which were highly visible ferrying VIP's around during the marathon and Mr Kift who pulled the whole Hurst contribution together and masterminded a simply great Hurst water station.

And many, many thanks to all the Hurst pupils and parents who willingly gave up their Sunday without knowing quite what to expect.

 

Who amongst us is up for this again next year ...