Splashpoint 5k

A huge thanks to everyone who turned out for the Splashpoint 5k – it was a Tremendous Tuff Turnout matched by some excellent results.

With a long history in the event stretching back to the early noughties, Tuff Fitty had lost the team titles at the last race pre-covid – so how would we do?

As the klaxon sounded there was a surge of Tuff colours across the line and now the results are published, it transpires our ladies and gents squad accounted for 42% of the total field. Starting from the Rowing Club at Splashpoint -it was an out and back course, and as Tuffs came back on the home leg they faced a very strong headwind but it was clearly a case of quality as well as quantity.

Ben Thomson who has only recently been coming along finished as our first finisher in a rapid time of 17:44 – that is an impressive debut. Rory Napleton 17:57 was next followed just three seconds later by Mark Walford. (18:00) Alex Webb finished in 18:07 and their times totalled 1hr 11:48 which claimed first team by 1 minute 14 seconds over the second placed team of The Tractor Boys.

The swift Tuff results continued with Gareth Coombes achieving a PB time in 18:45. Next Simon Thistlethwaite wanted to do well but had been cautioned not to over stretch himself with London at the weekend. As you can see from the start photo above, Simon still decided to be in the thick of it and recorded 18:49. Tom Goddard 18:55 and Phil Scales (19:01) kept the results coming. James Togneri was timed home at 19:32 – Impressive nine Tuff sub twenty minute 5ks.

There was a procession of Tuffs next as Jon Babbage (20:55), Pete Littleboy (21:00) Barry Davids (21:02) Dom Amey (21:04) with Esther Fair and Craig Blackman (both awarded the same time of 21:47). Congratulations to Esther as she was our first Tuff lady home and that was six Tuffs finishing one after the other. Not to be left out Nick Francis finished in 21:52 and Mark Sole 22:05 – eight Tuffs finishing within 1 minute ten seconds of each other.

Well done to Olivia Morey who answered the call to arms after having run 10 miles the previous day – 22:26, and one second behind came Adrian Oliver and then Andy Crawford; and that was not even half the Tuff field.

Ben Abbott, Paul Martin and Les Pearce all finished within 5 seconds of each other and Ed Lay was tucked in behind. Next home was Kate Cooper and Clare Worgan. Together with Esther and Oliva, Kate and Clare comprised our quickest four ladies and won the ladies team prize 2 minutes and 4 seconds ahead of the second placed team of Lancing Eagles.

Having joined last summer it was great to see Sam Babbage make his debut as a Tuff and then Leah Simms who is running well and just just 11 seconds outside our scoring team. Catharine Gray, Colin Simpson and Carey Woods were followed by Andy Vincent and Clive Harvey.

The flow of Tuffs across the finish line continued with Wendy Frost, Vicki Hedger, Janet Shepherd, Sue Simpson, Susan Douglas & Al Evans. Wendy Kane, Shelley Babbage & Kate Evans keeping the Tuff name on the results sheet along with Jenny Oliver, Claire Moyle, & Elaine Rousseau. Special thanks to our Tuff ladies as together they comprised exactly 50% of the female field.

Thanks to Dave March, Ollie McDonald, Sue Pinky and Liane Davids for coming along to cheer meaning we had just short of 50 Tuffs for a great evening of Tuffness and winning both the Men’s and Ladies team award.

Finally there are two special people to thank. Firstly Shelley Babbage who works so tirelessly as our club kit superwoman. It was so rewarding to see such a vast swath of club colours on the course supporting the Tuff flag flying over proceedings.

Secondly thanks to Pete Littleboy who’s birthday it was the previous day. After Jonny B had brought cakes the previous Sunday at the Grand National, a high bar had been set as Pete said he would bring cakes here. He certainly didn’t disappoint with different flavours and flagged with swim, bike run emblems. Most impressive – is this setting a precedent for cakes whenever we get a large squad out ?

Thanks to everyone for playing their part in contributing to a very successful evening with several lingering in the clubhouse for the results with a drink in hand.

The full results are on the link below