It was foggy driving down over the North Downs to the start. It looked like it was going to be a murky day. I was expecting a couple of brief showers but the rain was heavy and persistent in the early part of the Marathon and some light showers returned in the late afternoon. At least it wasn’t wet all day! None the less, it was muddy underfoot! We had the best ever year for entries (390) and starters (322)!
We introduced the online entry system for the first time which proved popular and possibly was a reason for higher numbers?
I guess if the trend continues we may need to start thinking about limiting numbers.
The 50km route headed for Toys Hill (235m), then east to Sevenoaks Weald, south to Chiddingstone and Cowden, west to Dry Hill (which it never is!) and then finally back to Edenbridge. The 35km route did a similar route but skipping the Sevenoaks Weald & Cowden checkpoints and the 20km route did a loop to Dry Hill and back.
Chiddingstone was the lunch stop and was well stocked with beverages, sandwiches, cake, rice pudding and other treats.
The table below compares how tough this year’s event was in comparison to other years based on two “hardness measures”. For all three routes it was easier than average year on one measure (Av. Time) but on the other measure it was tougher than average. That’s the beauty of statistics! I guess it means it was fairly typical. For more detail on each year since we started see the Gatistics later in the report.
| Hardest Ranking (1 = hardest) |
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Route | 2018 Average Time (in 10 hours or less for 50km) |
% Finishing | % Finishing (in 10 hours or less) |
Based on average time | Based on % finishing | No. of Events |
| 50km | 08:09 | 88% | 66% | 24 | 10 | 35 |
| 35km | 07:17 | 90% | 16 | 8 | 20 | |
| 20km | 04:26 | 98% | 17 | 9 | 26 | |
David Wakeling continued his almost perfect record by completing his 34th event. For a rundown of the top completers, see results later in the report.
Congratulations go to the Tara, Peter and Brian for completing 10 50km events each in 10 hours or less. They will be receiving a special certificate through the post. There are now 39 members of the exclusive 500km+ club.
| Tara Williams | Year | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2012 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | 9:01 | 09:28 | 08:33 | 06:54 | 08:46 | 07:23 | 07:37 | 06:54 | 07:49 | 07:13 | 79:38 |
| Peter Hamson | Year | 1999 | 2000 | 2008 | 2009 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2018 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | 6:35 | 6:43 | 08:04 | 07:09 | 08:14 | 08:00 | 07:30 | 08:04 | 08:32 | 09:42 | 78:33 |
| Brian Layton | Year | 2008 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Time | 09:49 | 07:00 | 07:15 | 09:22 | 08:14 | 08:07 | 07:42 | 07:28 | 08:28 | 09:00 | 82:25 |
Congratulations to the front runners of each event.
Lisa-Joanne completed the 50km route in the fastest time to continue her domination of the last 5 years. She has now complete 7 50km Marathons in the fastest time. (See “Hall of Fame”)
Nicolas completed his first Gatliff, equalled last year’s fastest 50km time and pipped last year’s winner, Keith MacIntosh, by just 2mins. Looks interesting for next year?
20km: Jo Quantrill 2:58; Dan Burke & Aidan Roberson 2:07
35km: Mel Frazier 4:56; Kevin James & Stephen Alden 4:55
50km: Lisa-Joanne Walbridge 6:20; Nicolas Woodman 5:21
We hope you enjoy pondering over the results and various statistics that follow.
Cautionary Note:
This year we did have an incident with a horse escaping from a field due to a gate being left open. The Country Code asks for gates to be left as they are found, however if you leave a gate unlatched for a following walker or runner please make sure the following person knows to secure the gate. If in doubt close and latch the gate.
The same land owner was also concerned about dogs enroute scaring the horses so please be mindful of other animals along the route by keeping your dog on a lead and under control.
It’s difficult to know exactly what happened or even if it involved Gatliff entrants but we do need to keep the landowners, whose land we cross, onside for the sake of future events so please bear in mind next year. Thanks.
Finally, a big thank you to Margaret Philipson and her team of COPSE marshals that give their time and, sometimes, their body heat in service of the Gatliff! Also thanks to Dick Ockenden for devising and writing the route description for all distances.
Merry Christmas, Happy New Year and we look forward to seeing you next year for our 36th event!
(If you can, it would help us greatly if you pre-enter.)
Tim Styles
Hall of Fame
| Year | Fastest Man | Time | Fastest Woman | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Martyn Greaves | 6:02 | Pauline Shore | 6:50 |
| 1985 | Martyn Greaves | 5:15 | Sue Boyman | 8:25 |
| 1986 | Martyn Greaves Nigel Robinson | 5:21 | Debbie Cooper | 8:29 |
| 1987 | Martyn Greaves | 4:59 | Wendy Spear | 7:11 |
| 1988 | Keith Rolfe Steve Fawcett | 5:29 | Debbie Cooper | 8:30 |
| 1989 | Dave Wakeling Barrie Prince | 4:57 | Wendy Spear | 6:44 |
| 1990 | Dave Wakeling | 4:47 | Debbie Cooper | 5:40 |
| 1991 | Dave Wakeling Chris Boakes Peter Tremain | 4:35 | Janet Crockford | 6:41 |
| 1992 | Dave Wakeling Chris Boakes | 5:03 | Sandra Brown | 6:14 |
| 1993 | Dave Wakeling Chris Boakes | 4:55 | Julie Stoddart Eileen Buckley | 6:54 |
| 1994 | Brian Cammell Graham Tucker | 5:36 | Julie Stoddart | 7:48 |
| 1995 | Dave Wakeling | 4:43 | Clare Mathews | 5:27 |
| 1996 | Dave Wakeling | 4:43 | Sue Ashley | 6:23 |
| 1997 | Dave Wakeling | 5:20 | Shirley Hume | 6:39 |
| 1998 | Dave Wakeling | 5:13 | Shirley Hume | 7:24 |
| 1999 | Dave Wakeling | 5:30 | Shirley Hume | 6:55 |
| 2000 | Dave Wakeling | 5:28 | Lindsay Turner | 7:39 |
| 2001 | Dave Wakeling | 5:54 | Shirley Hume | 7:29 |
| 2002 | Dave Wakeling | 5:34 | Alexandra Langridge | 7:04 |
| 2003 | Dave Wakeling | 5:19 | Jackie Smith | 7:02 |
| 2004 | Dave Wakeling | 5:23 | Summer Govan | 6:26 |
| 2005 | Dave Wakeling | 5:19 | Sue Ashley | 6:41 |
| 2006 | Dave Wakeling | 5:45 | Jo Kilkenny | 8:23 |
| 2007 | Fabrice Leistner | 4:44 | Annabelle Stearns | 6:04 |
| 2008 | Dave Wakeling | 5:46 | Zoe Thornton | 6:20 |
| 2009 | Gary Vallance | 5:21 | Lisa Joanne Barry | 6:02 |
| 2010 | Mark Braley | 4:54 | Priscilla Brunnine | 6:25 |
| 2011 | Dave Wakeling | 5:16 | Janet Cobby | 7:07 |
| 2012 | Keith MacIntosh | 6:02 | Lisa-Joanne Walbridge | 7:16 |
| 2013 | Keith MacIntosh | 4:32 | Edwina Sutton | 6:13 |
| 2014 | David Wakeling | 5:42 | Lisa-Joanne Walbridge | 6:38 |
| 2015 | Keith MacIntosh | 5:11 | Lisa-Joanne Walbridge | 6:28 |
| 2016 | David Wakeling | 5:25 | Lisa-Joanne Walbridge | 5:58 |
| 2017 | Keith Macintosh | 5:21 | Lisa-Joanne Walbridge | 6:33 |
| 2018 | Nicolas Woodman | 5:21 | Lisa-Joanne Walbridge | 6:20 |
| 2019 | James Whibberley | 5:42 | Lisa-Joanne Walbridge | 6:31 |
| 2021 | James Whibberley | 5:26 | Tara Williams | 6:43 |
| 2022 | Peter Mack | 5:35 | Megan Lennox | 7.04 |
| 2023 | Luke Green | 5:05 | Carrie Gaston | 6:35 |
