Events news

Farrow & Ball report from the Hospice 10k & 5k:

On a dry but overcast morning on Bournemouth Seafront, the first thing I saw were the two F&B umbrellas which marked the meeting point for the F&B 10k and 5k runners. 
Emma Dews (Marketing) was already there having jogged several miles from home (!) together with Julie Stamper (Head Office), Rob Murray (Marketing), Tracey Mack (Marketing) and Tracey’s other half Steve Pearce.  After a few anxious text messages the last 10k runner James Dale (Labelling) arrived with his pacemaker Hendricks …. ...see photo (left, second down).
 Most of the F&B team declined the group warm up but at 9.00 exactly the race started with nearly 200 runners heading along the sea front towards Southbourne.
The first runner returned in 36 mins 36 secs and shortly after that the first F&B runner, Emma Dews appeared, proudly wearing her customised Hospice 10k top, in 3rd place overall with a stunning 37 mins 49 secs.  The next F&B runner to come in was James in an admirable 48 mins, 48 secs.  It has to be said that whereas Hendricks looked liked he could do it all again, I am not sure James could?  Rob followed up, then Julie at 58 mins easily breaking her 1 hour target then a very tired but still smiling Tracey.
Mo and Ken (Customer Services) manned the meeting point and camera all day and deserve special thanks, providing drinks, snacks, encouragement, congratulations and sympathy as required.
After a while the 10k runners drifted away, with Emma running back home!  The 5k team then arrived with Clare Atkin (Customer Services), Toni Pounds (Customer Services), Jenny Wall (Customer Services) and Sally Bennet (HR).  They were joined by the Julia’s House representative Caroline.  Rather concerningly Toni was applying Ibruprofen gel before the race started.  By now the sun had broken through and it was actually very warm.  The 5k runners were more game and happily joined in the group warm up exercises (embarrassing photographs available).  At 12 noon, off they went.  First F&B runner back in 28 mins was Clare, then Toni in a very respectable 32 mins followed by Sally and Jenny.  It was great to see everyone back and excited to have finished.
Overall our runners raised a fantastic £1766 with Clare Atkin leading the fund raising, closely followed by Julie Stamper and Emma Dews.
All round it was an enjoyable morning and I am sure our team members have all started their training for next year already.
Race Reporter Lyn Daplyn