The Kent Christmas Cracker – Race Report
The Kent Christmas Cracker, now in its 14th year, at Bettshanger Park has always been a popular end of year race for our Thanet Roadrunners. This flat and fast festive race offers a 5 or 2 mile distance which makes it a great event for all abilities with fancy dress very much encouraged.
The 5 mile race consisted of one small loop of the cycle path followed by two larger loops with the 2 Mile race consisting of one large lap. Nearly 400 competitors lined up ready to run across both race distances with a big medal and a Christmas Pudding waiting for all finishers.
Despite a bitterly cold strong wind, everyone was in great spirits especially when you saw the wide variety of participants taking part – Young, old, experienced, beginner, reindeers, elves and plenty of Santa’s.
With the race underway, it was Jack Bradley who was looking to build on his fine cross country form by setting off with the lead runners followed by the rest of the pack. The slightly shorter loop was fairly protected from the wind but once onto the larger loops the back straight treated runners to a face full of it. Jack was the first of our Roadrunners to finish in a new Personal Best time of 28:57 finishing in an impressive 5th overall. Max Hubbard, in a full Christmas suit, finished in 13th position and was closely followed by Abigail ‘The Reindeer’ Cardwell who finished in 24th position and claimed the prize for 3rd fastest female overall. Terry Brightwell, also on adjudication duties, managed to pick up a prize by finishing 1st in the Vet 70 category.
Not to be outdone, one of our young rising stars, Mercedes McGivern, fresh from cross country duties the day before, picked up first place overall in the 2 mile race in a time of 14:47 (a massive four minutes in front of the next competitor). It was also great to see Elizabeth Carr in a full Santa outfit running with her young grandson, in his first ever event, for the 2 mile race.
The Kent Christmas Cracker makes for a great end of year race with something for everyone.