Late entrant wins half marathon as his dad finishes 40th and last one

THE winner of the Henley half marathon only signed up on the day of the race to support his father who was running it for the 40th and final time.

Chris Moseley, 44, crossed the finish line on Sunday in one hour, 22 minutes and 26 seconds — almost an hour ahead of his 74-year-old father, Dave.

Mr Moseley snr, from Wargrave, who has run the half marathon every year since it was established in 1983, will now focus on races with shorter distances.

His other son Andy, 42, also took part, finishing in a time of one hour, 40 minutes and 30 seconds.

Mr Moseley’s wife, Janet, supported her husband and sons from the sidelines.

As well as the half marathon, the event also included 10km, 5km and 2km races in which a total of about 600 runners took part, more than twice the number last year.

The runners started and finished in Borlase Field, off Marlow Road, next to Henley Rugby Club, on a bright and clear morning and temperatures reached 24C during the race. Chris, from Woodley, said: “The real story is my dad. I am here to support him and really was not expecting to finish first, so I’m delighted with that.

“I do love this course, even though it is hard. I was following some of the 5km runners for the first couple of miles and then they went off and did the shorter route, so I was on my own behind the lead bike.”

Chris, who finished runner-up last year, bettered his time by about a minute.

He said: “There was lots of nice support out there and now that I have finished it seems perfect weather for a barbecue with the family a bit later.”

His father finished the race in two hours, 18 minutes and 41 seconds.

Mr Moseley said: “I did it about five minutes quicker than last year. All things considered, I do not feel too bad at all.

“The course was good but the hill definitely seemed longer than normal.

“I have done every single Henley half marathon and number 40 is my last. I took up running the year that Chris was born in order to keep fit and I have just kept going ever since.” Andy, an accountant, said: “We actually picked up our numbers seven minutes before the race started.

“Chris is always ready but I only started thinking about running it on Saturday afternoon.

“The running genes must have rubbed off on us somehow — mum and dad would always take us to events when we were younger.”

Mrs Moseley said: “Dave has been saying that it will be his last one for the past 12 months but I am not sure.

“We have been through each race together but this is the last race that I will support.” The couple have been married for 48 years and have two other sons, Richard, 46, and Steve, 39. All four boys took part in the half marathon with their father 10 years ago.

This is the second year that Henley Rugby Club has organised the event.

Mayor Kellie Hinton blasted a horn at the beginning of each race.

She cheered the younger runners and helped hand out the medals and trophies at the end. Councillor Hinton said: “It’s a great thing to do on a Sunday morning, I am not a runner but it is great to encourage the younger generation to run.

“I love all the bright outfits — it is a feelgood event.”

The runner-up in the half marathon was Cameron Dunning, 24, from Edinburgh, with a time of one hour, 23 minutes and 44 seconds.

Third was Neal Jeffs, from Ascot, who finished in one hour, 24 minutes and 28 seconds, even though he had only recently recovered from a knee injury.

This was the 22nd year he had taken part in the event.

Mr Jeffs said: “It is possible to get yourself back if you do the right things and want it enough.”

The first woman home was Nicola Lee, 19, from Stoke Row, in a time of one hour, 32 minutes and 34 seconds.

She said: “This is my first half marathon. I feel quite knackered, if I am honest, but I did really enjoy the race.

“The hill was brutal. There was a downwards straight after it and I thought I’d let my legs go but I think I let them go a bit too quickly.

“I am pretty pleased with myself. My brother has talked about doing a marathon together, so I may do that now.”

The second woman was Hannah Lincoln, 25, from Wales, who finished in one hour, 33 minutes and 57 seconds.

Ms Lincoln, who is studying in Reading for a psychology placement year, said: “This is my first Henley half. I really did enjoy the route as it was so scenic.

“I am a rower so this was a nice break from that. I am currently training for a marathon in November, so this was perfect practice.”

Amelia Lozinska-Brown, 24, from London, was the third-placed woman in one hour, 34 minutes and 22 seconds.

She said: “It was such a nice change to run in the countryside as I am used to urban runs. It was a good challenge and I will be back next year.

“I am here with a friend who is raising money for Cancer Research and had no idea I would come third.”

Among the other runners were father and son John and Luke Thompson, who were raising money for the Henley Debt Centre.

Luke, 16, said: “The course wasn’t too bad; it was mostly flat. When I am not at church it is good to do anything I can to help out and raise awareness.” Mr Thompson said: “Having people on the course, the marshals and members of the public, cheering us on the way round was amazing.

“I had no idea how much of a psychological effect that would have on me — it was brilliant.”

They raised £363 for Christians Against Poverty, which set up the debt centre.

Debbie Bruwer, a former Olympic rower who manages the centre, raised £1,050 by running with her husband Jaco.

Mrs Bruwer, 43, said: “I am so pleased that I ran it in under two hours and 20 minutes. I was secretly aiming for that.

“The night before I was really not looking forward to it but then I thought, ‘There is no more training’.

“Honestly, the race was better than the training. The course was stunning and running by the river felt familiar.

“The atmosphere was great and even when people were passing me, they would shout, ‘Well done’ or ‘keep going’.

“The other aspect that kept me going was the supporters who had donated to Henley Debt Centre, many of whom were on the sidelines cheering me on. It was just lovely to see familiar faces in the crowds”. The 10km race was won by Jess Gibbon, 27, from Rotherfield Greys, in a time of 37 minutes and 16 seconds.

She said: “I have run for Reading Athletics Club for 13 years, so I am an avid runner and I always try to do some local races.

“I was ahead by myself for the whole time, so I did feel quite confident.

“I do like that I can beat the boys and like to think that I am inspiring little girls to get involved in running.”

The runner-up was Will Thompson, 18, of Greys Road, Henley, who finished in 42 minutes and 34 seconds.

“I am happy it is over,” he said before adding: “I am a bit disappointed as when I practised during the week, I ran it faster. It was still a decent time. It was not too hot so good conditions to run.”

Toby Cole, 50, from Henley, took third place just 16 seconds behind Will. He is part of a triathlon training group run by former Olympian Michelle Dillon.

About 30 people ran in memory of 19-year-old Sammy Phillips, from Henley, who died in a car crash in February.

His mother Justine Morris and old friends from Gillotts School were among the runners. Lottie Ealy, 20, from Henley, said: “We comprise family, family friends and school and university friends who all knew Sammy and we did it all together.

“Twins Jamie and Ben came up with the idea and then we got some T-shirts made and it all came together.

“This is the first thing that we have done in memory of Sammy. We did the Henley half exactly 10 years ago for Sammy’s dad, Ian, who passed away with cancer, so we decided it was only right to do this for our friend. Sammy did the 10km every year without fail, so it is good to do this in his honour. We just wish he was here with us.

“We are not all avid runners but a lot of us used to run, especially with Jo Lock, our old running teacher at Trinity School. Jo ran with us, which was special.”

Lottie added: “I found the run hard. I had to walk the hill but managed to run the rest.”

The men’s 5km race was won by Jack Bartle, 19, from Reading, in 18 minutes and 52 seconds.

He said he didn’t beat his personal best time but he was pleased to win, adding: “I felt comfortable the whole time.” Will Kent, 14, from Goring, came second in a time of 20 minutes and 23 seconds.

He said: “I wasn’t expecting second place so I am chuffed with it. I have never really run competitively. I do parkrun, which kind of trained me for this. I enjoyed the course as it was relatively flat and there was a slight breeze.”

Third was James Frost, 23, from Reading, in 21 minutes and 18 seconds.

He said: “I got caught out at the start and was held up in the middle crowd for a bit. I was a bit confused by the course. It tripped me up on the very first turn and then I actually turned the wrong way near the end as I followed the 10km route and had to quickly turn around.”

The fastest female was Lisa Steele, from Henley, with a time of 22 minutes and 35 seconds. She said: “A couple of my friends are doing the hal marathon and dragged me along so I said, ‘why not?’ I enjoyed it so much.”

Noore Farag, 24, from Reading, was the runner-up, with a time of 23 minutes and 28 seconds. She is a member of Reading Athletics Club.

Third place went to Zara Tate, 11, from Wycombe, in a time of 23 minutes and 34 seconds. She said: “I was excited to run in a big race with adults. When I came third I was shocked but very proud.”

A group of about 50 people ran various distances for five-year-old Isla Pearce, from Wargrave, who suffers from quadriplegic cerebral palsy.

The Run for Isla team raised almost £10,000 which will be split between therapy for Isla, the Alexander Devine Children’s Hospice in Maidenhead and the Music Club in Wallingford.

They all wore neon shirts and Isla herself took part in the 2km fun run in a wheelchair.

About 30 children and parents took part in the fun run, which looped around the rugby club. Anna Bickerdike, nine, from Fleet, came first.

She said: “I am happy as I didn’t expect it and I feel really out of breath. I am proud of my medal and trophy.”

The runner-up was Wilbur Lait, seven, from Highmoor, who finished third last year. He said: “I am really pleased that I came second — I ran really quickly.”

In third place was Olivia Greaves, nine, from Peppard, who enjoys cross-country running.

She said: “I love running and am happy that I kept on going, I am used to running distances at school.”