Survival of quickest

A YOUNG mother who was the first woman home in the Henley half marathon revealed that she had been struggling to sleep all week due to her child.

Chantal Sainter, 33, of Ancastle Green, Henley, finished in one hour and 28 minutes and was 22nd overall.

Mrs Sainter, a director of a software company, and former professional Ironman athlete, was supported on the sidelines by her husband Edward and daughter Arielle, one.

She said: “The run was really good. That hill is always a nice little kicker but I felt good on it as I have done quite a bit of training on it.

“It always rains when I race and I really don’t like it. My husband will say I whinge about it a lot but in a race you just crack on, sometimes it’s better than it being really hot because it’s easier to handle your temperature.

“After the Hambleden lock, I found it particularly slippery. The grass wasn’t too bad but the muddy sections were.”

Mrs Sainter said she only decided to take part in the race on the day having had little rest all week.

She said: “Yesterday I was saying to my husband that I didn’t think I was going to do it because I’ve had a really bad week of sleep with this little one.

“I haven’t raced in two years and I was surprised that I felt as good as I did, I wasn’t expecting to feel like that.

“I’m doing some training to race a marathon next year so my aim was just to see how long I could hold my marathon pace for and I actually managed to run faster so that was good.

“I do four runs a week and then do a bit of cycling and swimming on the other days and then have a rest day. I’m doing an ultra-marathon, which is only 42km, at the beginning of December but that’s just for fun and I’m doing it with a friend.

“Ultimately, I’d like to race something like Ultratrail Mont Blanc so that will be a bit of a way away but I’m making my way there.”

Mrs Sainter was one of 1,040 people who took on the 41st annual event and accompanying races on Sunday, which was almost double than last year. More had signed up but did not take part due to the inclement weather. The event was organised by Henley Rugby Club and the runners started and finished in Borlase Field, off Marlow Road, which is next to the club. The morning was plagued by persistent rain which made conditions difficult but it was not cold.

The main race followed a route over Henley Bridge, along Remenham Lane to the Flower Pot pub at Aston and then back along the towpath and over the bridge.

Runners then went along Marlow Road, up Icehouse Lane to Fawley, down Fawley Hill and then back to the start via the Fair Mile.

Mayor Rory Hunt, who lives in Fair Mile, gave a short count down before he sounded a horn to set off each race.

The main race was won by Damian Holmwood, 39, who let out a triumphant ‘Yes!” as he crossed the finish line. He finished in a time of 1 hour 17 minutes.

Mr Holmwood lives in Wokingham, works for a pharmaceutical company and competes for the Finch Coasters running club.

He said: “I was trying desperately to beat my teammate, Ross McDonough, who beat me in a 10km last month so I was very happy to do so. Henley is quite a hard course and I didn’t realise that half of the race was off-road so I am really glad to finish and not get injured. It was particularly slippery going across the fields and some of the puddles.”

Former non-league footballer Courtenay Chessell, 44, came second. The ex-Fairford Town player finished in a time of one hour 18 minutes. Mr McDonough, 45, crossed the line a minute later in third place.

Volunteers from Henley Army Cadets, the Scouts, rugby club and Henley Freemasons, awaited runners throughout the course with water and lollies to keep them fuelled through the race.

Many of those taking part were raising money for causes close to them, including charities and schools in the Henley area.

Lily Trimmings and Christian Smith, who live in Henley, were running their first half marathon to raise money for Cystic Fibrosis Trust. Ms Trimmings said: “We chose this charity because my nephew has got cystic fibrosis. We’ve manage to raise just over £1,800.

“We were quite far to the back in the course but I didn’t really care, I didn’t have time in mind I just wanted to finish the race. I think I ended up finishing in just over three hours and three minutes which I was pretty happy with given I didn’t do any training.

“I got quite emotional towards the end because I saw my nephew, Hugo, cheering me on with about a mile to go. I felt so proud of myself because it is just something that is really achievable.”

Then 10km race was won by Finbarr Bevan, 37, from Henley, who finished in 37 minutes and 56 seconds.

He said: “I ran the half last year but I hadn’t run the 10km before so I’m really pleased with the result. It was a bit wet and wild, the road itself wasn’t too bad but I just took it easy on the downhill. Going up Icehouse Lane is always the hardest part. I think I paced it quite well but it certainly wasn’t easy.”

Adam Challand finished in second place in a time of 41 minutes and eight seconds and David Whitley, 50, from Oxford, finished third in the 10k in 41 minutes 21 seconds. He was there with his wife Emma, who was also racing in the event. Alice Gatland was the fastest woman, who finished in 44 minutes and 47 seconds.

Other runners included Justine Morris, from Henley, who was joined by family and friends of her late son Sammy Phillips, who died in a road accident in February last year.

The group were running as a tribute to him and they wore bright orange matching shirts that read “Running in memory of Sammy Phillips”.

Sammy’s sister Zuzu, 20, ran the half marathon with him more than 10 years ago in memory of their father, Ed, who died of cancer.

Mrs Morris said that running was their family activity. She said: “Some of Sammy’s friends from Gillotts School organised to run in his memory last year and that has continued.

“Whether it becomes an annual thing I don’t know but it’s quite good because he was a keen runner and ran the Henley triathlon. He did the 10km many times, the last time was in 2019 and I think he managed to get under 50 minutes, which was his big goal. I would like to think that he would have come back to running, had events not taken the turn they did and he would be here running it today.

“It's always really lovely and very moving and humbling that people beyond your own family are prepared to get out of bed and remember your boy.”

Ex-olympic rower Alison Gill, 56, was running the 10k with another ex-rowing champion, Juliet Machan, 54, from Henley, and their friend Colin Hammond.

Mrs Machan said that none of them had done much running in preparation and they would be hoping to just finish the race.

She said: “We’re going to do the Richmond half marathon in March, so this is a motivation to get to that, and also, it means we get to see each other, because Ali used to live in Henley and she’s moved away so we’re using it as a social event.

“We thought the track for the 10km would be the first portion of the half when we entered and we realised today we have to run up Icehouse Lane still.

“Back in August I started doing a 2km walk/run to get me prepared for this and then I got to 3km a few times a week. I also play netball with Henley Hawks Netball Club and I still row. I had been injured for ages and so I hadn’t been able to run, so this has got me running again.”

Mrs Gill: “I don’t think I’ve done this race for about 10 years, maybe longer, maybe even 20 years. We used to do the half but then I went for an eight-mile run last week and I thought, well I can’t run another five. I run about once a week, I do other fitness training a few times a week and I ride a lot of horses but I guess that gets the horse fit and not me.”

Simon Rolfe crossed the line in front of his daughter, Lily Rolfe, taking first and second place in the 5km race. He finished 0.1 of a second quicker in a time of 20 minutes 17 seconds. Third place was Zara Tate, finishing in 21 minutes and three seconds.

John Thompson, 55, who lives in Nettlebed, ran the 5k with his son Luke, 17. The pair were raising money for the Henley Debt Centre. The pair finished 35th and 33rd, with Luke finishing 22 seconds in front of his dad. Luke placed third in the men’s under-17 category and John finished second in men’s over 50.

Mr Thompson said: “We were delighted to be able to do it, it’s nice to be able to run for a good cause. It’s easy to forget that there are people who are finding it tough in Henley and Henley Debt Centre plays a really important role in helping those who are going through some challenges at the moment.”

Twenty-six children and parents took part in the fun run, which looped around the rugby club. Oliver Ward won in a time of four minutes and 12 seconds and Olivia Greaves, 10, was the fastest girl, finishing second in four minutes and 22 seconds. Claire Thatcher finished third in four minutes and 50 seconds.

“The event was the best we have done, with 80 volunteers contributing, including support from the freemasons, The Henley College, army cadets, scouts and those from the rugby club.”

The event was sponsored by Invesco, KJ Smith Solicitors, Runners Retreat and Love Fitness and all the profits will got to local charities.