Page 30 - Summer2018Gazette

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The Parris Handicap Series 2018

The April race was won by Rob holding his lead narrowly over
The monthly handicap race Brown followed over the next Steve Evenden, Heath Griffin
series started in 1993 when a 5 months by wins for Hugh and father and son team Tom
decision was made to hold a race Haffenden, Anita Evenden, and John Leeson. Steve gained
in place of the usual Ted Pepper Tom Leeson twice in June and a narrow lead next over Rob
10km which was cancelled from August, and Maz Turner. The with Tom moving into the top
the early May bank holiday. A fastest man over the course three in July, but it was Tom’s
replacement race was held instead was Marco Arcuri in a time of continued improved effort in
on a Wednesday in the late sum- 17:24 and the fastest lady was the fifth race which pushed him
mer. It became in 1998 the Roy Amy Peach in 19:35. The course up to first place and in position
Parris Memorial Handicap, record remains at 15:13, which to take the series with a six point
club member and social runner was set by Barry Stephenson in lead over Steve.
Roy Parris having died of cancer June 2004.
that year and in his memory the In the last race the top places
annual Parris Handicap was At the end of the series the over- were taken by outsiders, but
then established. all winner for 2018 was Tom Tom managed another decent
Leeson who has been a regular performance to stretch his lead
competitor in these events in and win the Shield comfortably
After there had been a few recent years so very well done by eight points over Steve who
unofficial winners an official to him. deservedly clinched second
trophy, the Parris Shield was place. Third on the podium
presented to its inaugural win- His performances steadily was Heath Griffin who at nine
ner Mark Ellison, and over the improved over the course of the years old attained an impressive
years a succession of runners of season with times ranging from follow up to his second place
varying abilities have claimed it 31:32 to 26:35. Interestingly for last year. The pack of five
after a series of six 5k races held enough his net time improved in remained well ahead of the rest
in the months from April to each race from one event to the of the field in the final placings.
September. next over the six months of the
series. Apart from the first two There were plenty of tight
It is a testament to the success races, his placings in the individ- finishes and as with last year the
of this race that in 1993 the ual races were, always thereafter, Leesons went head to head for
maximum number of runners in the top 4, including two wins the finishing line. They were
in any race was 19 whilst 34 dif- and a third place. separated by 3 seconds in June
ferent runners took part in the and went even closer in August
series. This year between 10 and The early lead was taken up by as Tom Leeson beat his dad
24 runners turned out for each Rob Brown who after winning John (again) this time by only 1
event and 48 different runners the first race was comfortably second. There was another very
made at least one appearance ahead of Steve Evenden after tight finish in the April race
during the summer with 4 of two events with the eventual when Rob Brown and George
them completing all 6 races. winter Tom Leeson some way Collins were also separated by a
We had several regular juniors behind after an average start. margin on 1 second.
taking place and its always great However his first of two wins
to see them turning up putting in June moved him up to join
in creditable performances. the leaders who now started to
dominate the rest of the series.
For the second half of it, a lead-
ing pack of five runners steadily
moved away from the rest of
the field, with Rob Brown still