On Saturday, July 26th, Newmarket Joggers (NJ) member Sarah Osborne made the trip to the National Water Sports Centre at Holme Pierrepoint, Nottingham, for the English Aquathlon Championships, which included a 750m swim followed by a 5km run. These championships were incorporated into the Outlaw Nottingham weekend of sport, which also included the Outlaw ‘Full’ Triathlon (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, Marathon run) and an Aquabike event (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike).
In the Aquathlon, Sarah put in a top effort, finishing 22nd of 223 overall, 5th F of 124 and 1st of 12 in F35-39. Her time in the swim was 11:08 and in the 5km 20:20, for a total of 32:29, including 1:01 transition time. This performance qualifies her for the European and World Aquathlon Championships 2026. She has been gaining fitness and momentum all season, since getting back to training after the birth of her baby.
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Above from left: Sarah Osborne with aquathlon medal; the medal; a photo of her award presentation. Thanks to Sarah for photos.
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Also on Saturday, two Joggers competed at the London Masters International track & field event at the Lee Valley outdoor track in Essex. Elke Hausler recorded a PB time of 71.41s in the W60-64 400m event, earning an impressive age grade of 90.90%. Shane Mcandrew M35-39 also ran 400m in a separate heat, clocking 57.60s, which was just short of a PB time and earned him 78.99% age grade. Elke returned on Sunday to compete in the W60-64 800m, recording 2:47.32, about 3 seconds short of a PB.
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Above from left: Elke Hausler at London Masters International T&F event at Lee Valley; Lee Valley outdoor track. Thanks to Elke and Mike for her photo and to better.org.uk for track photo.
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NJ Steve Oglesby is bravely working his way through 10 x half marathons in 10 days in the Great Barrow Challenge (GBC) at Barrow, near Bury St Edmunds. In this event, runners were invited to challenge themselves to complete 10 events in 10 days, be they 5km, 10km, half marathons, marathons or ultras. The GBC started on Thursday, July 24th and, at the time of writing, Steve had completed six half marathons, all at a very even pace and around the 2h:30m range, achieved by a run 3 min-walk 1.5 min technique. We wish him luck.
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Above from left: The official Zig Zag GBC Challenge Day 6 photo, thanks to Zig Zag (note Ben Blowes front right); Steve Oglesby at Suffolk Running Centre HQ in Barrow after two of his half marathon races. Many thanks for photos.
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Fox Inn 6M navigational trail race, Ousden, Wednesday evening, July 23rd: Chair of Newmarket Joggers (NJ), Jimmy Smith, organised this 6-mile trail event (repeating a similar event held in 2024), with the grateful help of his wife Nicole. There was also a 2.3 mile option. Thirty-four Joggers were among 87 participants who enjoyed the scenic course, through woods, along enclosed footpaths and over fields. The runners started at staggered times from 5:30pm to 7:00pm.
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The fastest men’s time of 40:52 was recorded by NJ Jonathan Pye, who finished 1st of 87 overall and 1st of 36 men, from NJ Paul Holley 41:18 and NJ Chris Underwood 43:17. NJ Lilian Corbett 49:03 was 1st of 49 women, followed by NJ Kirsty McDermott 50:09, with a tie for 3rd place between NJ Catherine Bragg 1:16:37 and NJ Anna Mayhew 1:16:37. The very reasonable entry price included a drinks voucher to spend in The Fox Inn, which was race HQ and the host of a relaxing, after-race social gathering for all.
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Above left: Jimmy Smith presenting Jonathan Pye with his winner’s award for first place in the Fox Inn 6M trail race; right: Lilian Corbett receiving her first female finisher award. Many thanks for the photos.
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On Saturday, NJ Rory King thoroughly enjoyed taking part in a 5k charity obstacle race called ‘Pretty Muddy’ in Priory Park, Bedford, clocking a time of 23:41. This race was part of the Race For Life charity weekend, with the regular 5k event taking place on Sunday. Also in Bedfordshire, Suzanne Bailey enjoyed taking part in the 5k charity colour run in Stotfold, where she clocked 30:11 with a friends and/or family.
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Above from left: Rory King after the Pretty Muddy 5k charity race in Priory Park, Bedford; Suzanne Bailey’s photos from her 5k charity Stotfold colour run. Thanks very much for photos.