Home  |  News  |  Fixtures  |  Results  |  About us  |  Annual events  |  Training  |  Our track  |  Contact us  |  Links/forum  |  Records

 

Pier Race...

Welcome to the Southend AC Pier Race page!

 

2010

Information for this years Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club, Boxing Day Pier Race:

Date: Sunday 26th December 2010 Location: Southend-on-Sea Pier

 Enquiries: Southend AC          Email: southendac@hotmail.co.uk

The start of the Boxing Day race was in fact a running track in Budapest which had been laid down on a bedding of birch wood, resulting in a lovely springy track which athletes just loved to run on because it produced fast times – and for the distance runners, their legs didn’t get so tired. One day John was running along the Pier and thought “this must be how it feels to run on the track in Budapest – why not have a race on this Pier”. Various clubs had Boxing day runs, including football players and swimmers.  In particular, Hadleigh Olympiads had a Boxing Day run in Hadleigh. John thought “why not have a Boxing Day race on the Pier?)

 

Trophies were donated by event organisers Vice President Tony Bullock and his wife Marion, along with Mike Seaman who has the challenging and difficult task of working out the handicaps of all the entrants, an exercise he has undertaken for some years with great skill.  After the race the mathematical bit of sorting out finishing times minus handicaps was left to Tyler. The very first handicap race took place in 1953.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2008

This years Southend AC Pier Race has taken place:

Southend AC Pier Race 2008 - RESULTS

Despite the biting cold, no fewer than 27 hardy souls presented themselves at the Pier on Boxing Day morning for the 55th anniversary 2 mile run of Southend-on-Sea Athletic Club’s annual Handicap Race, the brainchild in 1953 of Life Member John Tyler.

Although the competitors represented all the age groups, the Under 15s ruled not only the waves, both in terms of standard and support, but also the trophies: the Men’s Trophy going to Harry Grose with the superb time of 12m 49 and with a time just 26 seconds slower, the fastest lady – another Under 15 - Jessica Mead claimed the Women’s trophy with 13m 15.  Last year’s winner Camilla Smee, also Under 15, clocked a final time of 13m17 – 49seconds faster than her run in 2007.

The Cromptons, Kyriakides, Gillards and Jarvis’s turned it into a family excursion while sibling rivalry was to the fore with the Inwood and the Woodhouse junior members producing some encouraging performances:

 

Age Group Winners

 

Vet Men – Peter Binns (14:09m)

Vet Women – Fiona Hawkins (16:54)

Senior Men – Graeme Hurry (14:59)

Senior Women – Sarah Jeffery (14:42)

Under 20 Men – Joshua Crompton (13:29)

Under 20 Women – Kerry Holland (14:18)

Under 17 Men – Kyle Aldridge (13:37)

Under 17 Women – Holly Gillard (15:03)

Under 15 – Harry Grose

Under 15 Women – Jessica Mead

Under 13 – Zach Inwood

Other results:  Greg Jarvis (2nd VM); Matt Gillard (3rd VM); Alec Kyriakides (4th VM); Graham Hilbery 5th VM); Sue Crompton (2nd VW); Stuart Chaplin (2nd SM), Amelia Kyriakides (2nd U17) Hannah Inwood (3rd U17); Oliver Kyriakides (2nd U15); Alex Masterson (3rd U15); Rhys Gillard (4th U15); Oliver Woodhouse (%th U15); Jake Inwood (6th U15); Natalie Woodhouse (3rd U15); Sophie Jarvis (4th U15).

The runners would like to thank the officials: Vice President Tony Bullock and Marion Bullock, President Mary Green who presented the trophies to the winners, Chairman Ray Pearce who acted as Timekeeper, and Life Members John Tyler, Mike Seaman (Hon Handicapper), Derek Woods and June Cork, and Mike Jeffery, the Club’s Cross Country Secretary, who acted as race marshals and finishing judges.

2007

This years Southend AC Pier Race has taken place:

Southend AC Pier Race 2007 - RESULTS

While some revellers were still probably raving at Christmas night parties, dedicated athletes from Southend AC were up bright and early on Boxing Day morning for their annual pound down and back along the longest pleasure pier in the world. The event has been running for 54 years now and it is testimony to all involved that club life member John Tyler, the man who started it all, is still very much involved. At the end he was busily engaged in sorting out finishing times minus handicaps - the latter having been set with his usual precision by another of the club's "golden oldie greats" in the form of Mike Seaman. Event organisers now are vice-president Tony Bullock and wife Marion, along with Seaman, and the couple also presented the trophies. The fastest runner on the day was Chris Cattano, who declared he was surprised to discover he had managed that feat in an impressive 12mins. 33secs. Under-15 Harry Grose was runner-up in 13.13 and over-60 vet Peter Binns third with 13.37.First runner-home was Jessica Mead, who won the under-15 girls prize, while Kyle Aldridge was the first boy.

In the main race the women's winner for the second year running was Camilla Smee with an impressive 14.06. She was followed by Kerry Holland, remarking on her first outing along the pier, with 14.28. Just 21 seconds later came Caran Lefever in third spot. A total of 23 members of the club rose early from the comfort of their beds to take part and build-up an appetite for Boxing Day lunch. For once they found sunny and mild weather - perfect conditions for the two-mile run. The under-11 race went to the first shelter and back and was won by Zach Inwood in 2.29 with Ethan Green runner-up in 3.16. Those competing paid thanks to Tony and Marion Bullock, chairman Ray Pearce, who acted as starter, life members John Tyler, Mike Seaman and Derek Woods, plus Georgina Bullock. The latter quartet acted as race marshals and finishing judges.

 

 

2006

This years Southend AC Pier Race has taken place:

Southend AC Pier Race 2006 -

It was very much youth to the fore at Southend Athletic Club's 54th annual Boxing Day Pier Race. A total of 29 hardy souls shrugged off the excesses of the festive season to compete with the first three places going to outstanding teenage members of the seaside club. First home in a time of 11 mins. 53 secs was Ben Hunter, with Tom Frith (12.24) his closest rival. Josh Crompton (12.37) was third, with Tony Fletcher fourth (12.43), Anthony Fletcher (12.57) fifth and 55-60 veteran Peter Binns (13.13) sixth. Crompton was the first male runner home, but was relegated to third spot under the handicap rule. First female home was the talented under-13 girl star Camilla Smee in 13.51, with Caran Lefever her closest rival in 15.00. Before the main action a handful of younger members took part in a mini-run covering half the main course on the longest pier in the world. Competitors have often faced wintry elements for this event - indeed ice has sometimes meant the race being held along the seafront due to slippery conditions on the pier. But there were no problems for 2006 with the weather calm and reasonably mild for the runners and enthusiastic band of supporters.

 

 

 



-