HJ Newsletter – Summer 2026

Welcome to the summer 2026 edition of the HJ Newsletter.

It has been a pulsating few months at the club. The April to June period we’ve just had is arguably the busiest of any year the club has experienced and some phenomenal achievements have taken place, and more of that is to come later in the Newsletter.

The Chairman has also asked me to avoid making too many one-liners about the recent hot weather we have endured. So, there will be no such references to anything weather or heat related. We must be sensible here and not steam in all and sun-dry, or things risk boiling over.

Seriously though, what I will say is this – our club never ceases to amaze. From the support received from fellow club members, both competing in and volunteering across multiple events (all year round), to the hard-working Committee members we have, this club is unique and I know I’m not alone in thinking that. This past quarter in particular has underlined our strength as a unit and we continue to grow. Few clubs of our size have the unique atmosphere we have, and so we should always make sure we embrace it and keep it.

I think some of the success stories of the past three months underline exactly this. So, read on and let’s find out what we’ve been up to …

Unsung Hero – Penny Sanders

It’s a huge thank you in this edition to Penny Sanders. Penny posts the weekly parkrun results, which shows how every HJ’er taking part has done at the previous weekend’s parkruns across the world.

Collating and sharing it with the club members, Penny always personalises this by highlighting the achievements of individuals, and I know lots of members enjoy reading the stats from her weekly update. As ever, these things take time and effort made by an individual to pull this together.

Thank you, Penny!

David Maurice – Visit to Lage

As part of his 80^th birthday celebrations, club stalwart David Maurice visited our twin-club Lage. David had a fantastic weekend and we are hoping some of the Lage team will come over for the Barns Green Half at the end of September.

Happy 80th Birthday, David!

HJ Committee – Two Vacancies

Please note there are currently two vacancies on the Committee. If you would like more information about joining this very rewarding role, please contact the Committee by email at info@horshamjoggers.co.uk or alternatively speak directly to a current Committee member for details.

South Downs Way Relay (SDWR) – 6^th June 2026

Six Horsham Joggers took on this year’s SDWR on 6^th June 2026, covering the 97-mile route from Beachy Head to Winchester in a superb display of teamwork, endurance, and organisation.

The relay is split into 18 legs, with teams of six runners each completing three non-consecutive sections of the course throughout the day. The team of Rob Sherwood, Matt Gordon, Tom MacDonald, Mark Alger, Chris Moore and Matt Mason, supported by timekeeper Luke Minogue and driver Paul Aylett, completed the course in a club record time of 11 hours 17 minutes and 56 seconds, and ended up a staggering 4^th place overall.

The result was made even more impressive given the conditions. While the SDWR is often associated with glorious sunshine and warm temperatures, this year’s event was characterised by persistent rain and a yellow weather warning for strong winds for much of the day, making running and support duties considerably more challenging.

Despite this, the team broke the existing Horsham Joggers course record by more than 24 minutes and finished just 5 minutes and 18 seconds behind Brighton Phoenix in 3^rd place.

Some of the fastest ‘leg’ times were completed by HJ’ers too. Legs 8 and 15 were the fastest overall, and legs 2, 3 and 16 second fastest, and then the third fastest on leg 12.

A fantastic effort – well done everyone!!

Brighton Marathon and London Marathons –  Sunday 12^th April and Sunday 26^th April

It seems a long time ago now, but the two ‘big’ local (ish) Marathons took place in April, with some tremendous personal achievements recorded along the way. So many HJ’ers took part (particularly at Brighton) that it would be a little unfair to list individual achievements at the risk of omitting someone! However, I can select a couple.

Sam Cook actually won the Brighton Marathon in 2 hours 25 minutes and then followed that up by placing 105^th at the London Marathon two weeks later in a terrific 2 hours 27 minutes.

His brother James Cook also ran the London Marathon, coming home in a staggering 2 hours 22 minutes (and was an incredible 35^th overall, including the elites!!).

Well done to both on these exceptional times. Many of you will know Sam and James from setting up the Brolly Brewing weekly run, but they are also (relatively) secret HJ members and so deserve the praise and rightly so.

It’s a huge congratulations too to all the other runners at both of these Marathons.

At both these events, HJ also volunteered providing a water stop at mile 3 of the Brighton Marathon and being part of the London Marathon meet and greet team, with really positive feedback from the organisers of both races. As I mentioned at the start of the Newsletter, this is where this club really excels. At Brighton it was very much a last-minute request from Phil Liberman to see if we could gather together a team at short notice to help and, as ever, we stepped up to the task!

Other Marathons

There have been a few other Marathons taking place during the period, with some phenomenal achievements by our club runners including (but certainly not limited to!) these:

Melissa Galea continued her rich vein of form by running a perfectly executed Marathon in a whopping time of 3 hours 11 minutes at Hamburg on 26^th April – her HM splits being only 35 seconds apart!

Kat Owens then rocked up and smashed out a time of 3 hours 9 minutes at Cape Town (her 7^th Major completed), in extremely warm conditions. Kat actually qualified for this Marathon via the Abbott Masters World Championships!

Frankie Cooper ran a GFA qualification time at Manchester Marathon with a staggering 3 hours 29 minutes and 12 seconds.

Now, Dawn Whamond has been hard at work this year making the WSFRL races a success, but in April instead of running in the WSFRL Chicken Run she took some time out by taking part in the Guernsey Marathon Relay – I won’t say she chickened out of the WSFRL race as I’d imagine the Guernsey race was just as challenging. Well done Dawn!

And to cap things off Brian Frost and Alan Pettitt took part in the Purbeck Plod, a 25-mile run starting at Swanage Pier incorporating a route all the way to Corfe and back again to Swanage. Nearly 4,000 ft of ascent which in the hot conditions made it a challenge. As ever, Brian and Alan achieved what they set out to do with their usual aplomb.

Also, huge thanks must go to everyone involved with the setting up and organisation of the Sunday morning Marathon training runs. I’m sure many of the achievements of our club runners could not happen without these so thank you all.

Haywards Heath Ten Miler – 3^rd May

There was also a great turnout for the Haywards Heath ten-miler, part of the Mid Sussex Marathon weekend, Sussex Grand Prix and an HJ Challenge Trophy race.

Simon Markham, Bryan Camfield, and Steve Wright were the first 3 HJ males home, and Katie Horton, Laura Stephenson, and Naomi Manvell were the first 3 HJ females home.

There were a number of other HJ’ers taking part on the day too, so well done to everyone. However, the race took a dramatic turn as far as Emin Akbay was concerned, rolling his ankle and landing awkwardly on his arm.

I know Emin is fast on the road to recovery (and he’s fast enough anyway!) so we wish him well.

Three Forts Half Marathon – 3^rd May 2026

Mark Alger continued his impressive form by winning the (undulating) Three Forts Half Marathon in beautiful but rather warm conditions.

Mark ‘fort’ off all challengers and ran superbly, navigating the early steep climb, which is trademark to this event, holding his form to the end to bring home a well-deserved first place finish nearly 50 seconds ahead of the 2^nd placed athlete, in 1.37.14.

He wasn’t the only HJer taking part either as a few others took on the challenge, notably Brian Stone (2.09.23) and Jo Stone (2.21.12), Rachel Hamson (2.32.36), and Laurence Levine (2.37.01), with Crystal Barrell running the 5-miler in an excellent 41.55.

Well done everyone!

Run to the Sea – 9^th May 2026

A number of hj’ers took part in the ‘Run to the Sea’ on 9^th May. Some selected times (apologies for any omissions!) as follows:-

Richard March ran a terrific 4 hours 54 minutes, David Wilkinson 5 hours 20, Henry Footer 5 hours 56, David Estyn-Jones 5 hours 57, Malcolm Footer 6 hours 15, Neil Barnes 6 hours 15, Tim Hampson 6 hours 33, Linzi Williams 7 hours exactly, Paul Barnes 7 hours 37 and Lee McGeean 7 hours 54.

Outstanding!!!

Horsham 10K – 10^th May 2026

There can be no denying with so many of our club members involved that the Horsham 10k was such a roaring success it was (no Dinosaur-pun intended).

This event required some excellent planning and a lot of hard work, along with 100 volunteers on the day to make this day one to remember with cakes, food and drink, and along with the Dino-dash and kids race it really was a family event.

The 10k race itself was terrifically attended with runners from many local (and not so local) clubs turning up to take part. The feedback was extremely positive.

Well done to all our members who helped make this day a joyful one.

Wisborough Green 5k and 10k

There is always a good turnout from HJ’ers and this year’s Wisborough Green 5k and 10k races were no exception.

Some remarkable results took place in fact, not least by Simon Markham who ran BOTH the 5k and the 10k.

This was achieved legitimately by running with both chips as he crossed the start line (as the races began at the same time), then passed his 10k vest for safekeeping, ran and finished the 5k and then swapped over his running vest for the next 5k to complete the 10k, ensuring both the 5k and the 10k times recorded correctly (and to stop him having to run with 2 vests!). Just trying to get my head around this is more exhausting than Mr Markham’s pit-stop type race!  

Gary Tomlinson was first home in the men’s 5k in 16.46, with the aforementioned Simon Markham first home in the Male Vet 60 category with 19.17 (before his vest exchange!) though only just ahead of the next fellow v60 male, the effervescent Malcolm Footer (19.41).

In the women’s races, both Melissa Galea and Kat Owens took a break from their Marathon running as they came home 1^st overall in the 10k and 2^nd  overall in the 5k respectively!

Selected results, though noting if you didn’t put your club-name down as Horsham Joggers on the entry/results then I’m afraid it’s not included below, as follows:

10k (women): Kat Owens (40.42 – 2^nd female overall), Holly Shazell (43.17), Noami Manvell (51.47), Kelly Docherty (54.17), Dionne Adams (53.56), Margreet Potter (55.19), Lee McGeean (55.27), Lucy Marriott (56.45), Rachel Cook (1.00.25), Chris Garner (1.06.38), Ali Shears (1.11.00), Sue Hensman (1.14.55), Sue Horne (1.37.54)

10k (men): Charlie Beckley (38.18), Ryan Stokes (40.50), Simon Markham (42.35), Greg Light (43.56), Jack Brown (44.20), Tom Emson (48.09), Jamie Atkins (49.03), David Searle (48.47), Tim Jordan (57.56).

5k (women): Melissa Galea Holmes (19.31), Katie Horton (19.56), Laura Stephenon (21.09), Rosaline Pollard (22.05), Crystal Barrell (22.46), Jo Tomlinson (23.44), Val Purnell (24.32), Leia Judge (24.27), Emma Catlow (25.54), Viv Underhill (32.19), Caroline Bransden (33.19), Fiona Lear (33.15), Dawn Whamond (33.17), Jane Footer (34.27), Jane Adams (39.34),

5k (men): Gary Tomlinson (1^st overall in 16.46), Simon Markham (19.17), Malcolm Footer (19.41), Pete O’Connell (20.31), Ian Dickinson (21.17), Michael Catlow (21.43), Christopher Lee (24.26), Matthew Horne (24.35), Stephen Wilson (26.22), Trevor Scott (32.17), Richard Barron (33.18).

England Masters Championships, 10^th May 2026

A few HJ’s competed at the UK Championships which took place on 10^th May in Bideford.

The Magnificent Six who qualified to take part were Phyl Weston, Elizabeth Sessions, Penny Barron, Gary Tomlinson, Simon Perkins and Pete O’Connell.

Against top-level competition, we saw excellent performances across the board and as ever they did the club proud. Inspirational stuff!

Improve Your Time Runs

The Improve Your Time Runs are well underway at Roosthole (along Mick’s Mile in St Leonard’s Forest) with two of the four runs having taken place so far.

These time trials are proving popular again with the next one due to take place on Tuesday, 14^th July.

Anyone can run in this (relatively flat) 5k which is basically a race against yourself, even if you missed the first two.

In the pre-Covid days, these races used to take place doing a two-lap circuit of Fulfords Hill and Westons Hill, so count yourselves lucky the course is a lot kinder these days, the blessing of Mick’s Mile of course being that it is closed to traffic (unlike the Itchingfield loop).

Parkrun away days and the Boomerang visit to Horsham Parkrun

A parkrun ‘boomerang’, named B20, started its journey around the world on 12^th July 2025. After nearly a year, it turned up at Horsham Parkrun on Saturday, 27^th June 2026.

The boomerang has so far travelled to 49 parkruns in 9 countries and Paul Aylett handed this over to a new custodian (Laura Stephenson). Laura is taking the Boomerang to Wales for its next parkrun on 4^th July, enabling B20 to continue its amazing journey!

WSFRL Update

No fewer than six WSFRL races have taken place since the end of March. And we’re absolutely rocking each and every one of them!

Apart from being extraordinarily good value for money one of the best things about the WSFRL is how unique each race is. In this quarter alone we’ve seen a Hedgehopper run, a Chicken Run and a Beach run, let alone the (iffy named in my opinion) Roundhill Romp.

At the recent Beach run, an astonishing 67 Horsham Joggers took part, with 12 runners scoring the maximum 10 points (evenly split 6 women and 6 men!). Whether it was the lure of post-run fish and chips which inspired us to this I’m not quite sure and we’ve not only scored well with the points but also hopefully kept Littlehampton’s premier Fish and Chip shop in business for another 12 months!

As it stands at the time of typing, we sit top of the table just ahead of Haywards Heath Harriers in 2^nd and Chichester Runners in 3^rd, with Lancing Eagles a distant 4^th. Well done to everyone who has taken part in these races so far this year. Keep it going!!

HJ Quiz Night, 16^th May

The annual HJ quiz night took place at the Holbrook Sports Club on 16^th May.

This was wonderfully led by Florian Yeates and hosted by our very own Bradley Walsh impersonator Damon Hughes, who avoided any teams enacting potential scathing lynch-mob mentality by conducting the questions with a calm and measured approach, even the occasionally complicated ones Florian thought would be answerable.

A competitive but very enjoyable quiz saw ‘Between a Walk and a Hard Pace’ take home the winning prize.

And my own team didn’t come last, which makes a change but now we’re a little low on kitchen utensils.

Upcoming

Barns Green Half Marathon training

With the Barns Green 5k, 10k and Half Marathon races less than 3 months away, the Sunday morning training runs are due to start in July.  

This year they are being organised by Kelly Docherty, Liz Giannopoulos, Matt Horne and Trevor Scott. Thank you!

These very enjoyable routes typically start at the Bridge on a Sunday morning at 8am (meet 7.45am) though please keep your eyes peeled on HJ Runs for announcements of this. Each week is a different route and is suitable for all but you need to be able to run at least 6 miles (any pace is fine) before the first week, as the training usually starts around 6-7 miles in distance and increases slightly in distance each week.

Please ensure you bring your own hydration with you too as typically there are not water stops on these routes.

Summer Handicap – Tuesday 28^th July 2026

The Summer Handicap will take place in Horsham Park on Tuesday, 28^th July.

The Summer Handicap is effectively running a 5k in different paced groups with the idea being we all set off in a group with people who have a similar 5k time, and then all groups finish the run at the same time. Of course, in reality this doesn’t happen.

Please keep your eyes peeled on HJ Runs for more details as we get closer to the event but it’s always great fun.

Naked Run, Horsham Park – Rescheduled for Tuesday, 18^th August

A new date for this has just been announced after the postponement of the original planned date in June. The postponement was due to a recent event the Chairman won’t let me mention (but consisted of something relating to the careers of Michael Fish, John Kettley, Wincey Willis and the even more phenomenally named Tomasz Schafernaker).

Just to reiterate the Naked Run is running without a watch/phone etc – not actually running naked, although who am I to tell you what (or what not) to wear on a hot summer’s evening in Horsham Park.

We hope lots of you can make the new date.

For those of you who are new to the club, the above two annual club events are great fun to take part in, and you have a chance of winning regardless of pace.

Horsham Round, Sunday 30^th August 2026 (note the date change)

More details will follow about the forthcoming annual Horsham Round, but please note the date of this event will be Sunday 30^th August (NOT the Bank Holiday Monday). The event will start/finish at the Horsham Rugby club.

We look forward to seeing as many of you taking part as possible at what is always one of our most enjoyable HJ days of the year.

Alf Shrubb Memorial 5k, 10k and children’s races – Sunday 13^th September 2026

The countdown is on to the annual Alf Shrubb event which takes place on Sunday, 13^th September.

This is a fantastic day of running, community spirit, and family fun.

The day consists of a 5k, a 10k, kid’s races. The 10k is part of this year’s HJ Challenge Trophy.

Whether you’re thinking of taking on one of the races, or cheering from the sidelines, it promises to be a brilliant morning for all ages as it celebrates and remembers one of Sussex’s greatest ever athletes.

Entries are filling up fast, so now’s the time to sign up if you haven’t yet done so! Enter Here.

Barns Green 5K, 10k and Half Marathon – 27^th September 2026

You’ll have noted the upcoming training runs for the Half Marathon earlier in the Newsletter. The date for Barns Green is Sunday 27^th September 2026 so make sure you remember to actually sign up to the event! Enter Here.

Five minutes with … Melissa Galea Holmes               

• How long have you been a runner and what made you start?
  I have been running since 1994, when I was in Year 8. My teacher, Mrs Fogolin, noticed I was very good at warming up for phys-ed, but not particularly skilled at anything else. She suggested I try out for the cross-country team and the rest is history.
  
• Why Do You Run?
  I have been running since it wasn’t fashionable, so why stop now when we are in a running boom?!
  
• How long have you been at Horsham Joggers?
  I joined HJ in 2022 and started attending the odd track session to get my fitness back after a break from running to connect with others. I both improved my fitness and met lots of lovely people.
  
• Biggest running achievement so far?
  I broke 3 hours at the London Marathon in 2014 by the skin of my teeth. This was before carbon shoes and the fuelling revolution, so looking back it seems like some kind of miracle. From a Team perspective, it was fantastic to contribute to HJ’s WSFRL trophy in 2023, completing all fixtures and scoring max points each time.
  
• What are your future running goals and ambitions?
  I have a 50k trail run approaching imminently, and the goal is to take in the scenery and enjoy the orange slices. After this, I’ll get back to shorter events like WSFRL and road races before a spring marathon build. These days I don’t plan too far ahead.
  
• What’s the best thing about Horsham Joggers?
  The fact that it is open to members from Billingshurst (I’ve met so many wonderful friends through the club – from Horsham and beyond!).
  
• Specialist subject on Mastermind? 
  Peripheral arterial occlusive disease – the subject of my PhD thesis. Ask me anything!
  
• Tell us something we don’t know about you?
  I am Canadian, although my accent sounds very American. For those who didn’t know, this will spare you having to ask.

Other News

Membership Numbers

As of 26^th June 2026, HJ currently has 624 members, of which approximately 161 of us are EA affiliated.

If anyone wants to know more about EA affiliation then please feel free to ask for an explanation into how this works and whether joining EA is suitable for you.

Dates for your diary

As ever please check the HJ calendar on and HJ Runs on Facebook for any updates/changes which take place.

• WSFRL (West Sussex Fun Run League, SGP (Sussex Grand Prix)
• 1^st July – WSFRL Roundhill Romp
• 5^th July – SGP Bewl 15
• 12^th July – WSFRL Hove Stinger
• 14^th July – Improve your Time Run 3
• 15^th July – SGP Phoenix 10k
• 19^th July – WSFRL Henfield Seven Stiles
• 25^th July – Parkrun awayday at Bevendean
• 28^th July – Summer Handicap (Horsham Park)
• 31^st July – Brighton and Hove Rainbow Run
• 2^nd August – Harting 10 Trail Race
• 11^th August – Improve your Time Run 4
• 16^th August – SGP Henfield Half Marathon
• 23^rd August – WSFRL Windlesham 4
• 30^th August – Horsham Round (starts/ends Horsham Rugby Club)
• 30^th August – Arundel Castle 10k
• 5^th September – Parkrun away day at Worthing
• 6^th September – Littlehampton 10k
• 6^th September – WSFRL Tilgate 5
• 13^th September – Alf Shrubb 5k and 10k
• 13^th September – SGP Hellingly 10k
• 20^th September – Outrun Cancer Angmering 5k and 10k
• 27^th September – Barns Green 5k, 10k and Half Marathon

That’s all for now, I hope you all have a great summer. Happy running!

Be lucky.

Simon Holmes