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First-Time Marathoner Rachel Phillips Leads Inspiring Fundraising Effort as Lewes AC Excel in Brighton
Members of Lewes Athletic Club delivered an outstanding set of performances at the Brighton Marathon Weekend, with 13 runners completing the marathon and a further 17 taking part in the 10K event.
Starting at Preston Park in Brighton, the marathon runners tackled a scenic yet demanding course. It wound through the city centre, swept along clifftop coastal roads, and passed iconic landmarks including Brighton Pier, the i360, the Grand Hotel and the Peace Statue, before heading through Hove and finishing on Hove Lawns.
Despite gusty conditions along the seafront, runners were treated to bright sunshine throughout the day.
Lewes AC athletes excelled in the marathon, highlighted by an exceptional performance from Flaminia Gold, who finished as the second woman in 2:51:42. Patrick Wilding also impressed, placing 8th overall in 2:34:34.
They were joined by a strong contingent of club runners achieving personal milestones and impressive finishes: Claire Davis (4:27:29), Emma Goodhead (4:47:11), Sam Goodhead (3:52:30), James Hawkes (3:25:48), Ben Hodgson (3:20:37), Heidi Hodgson (4:28:57), Poppy Joshi (5:00:30), Ella Mundy (3:59:35), Fred Newton (3:46:20), Rachel Phillips (5:06:47), and Nick Williams (5:06:46).
In the Brighton 10K, Lewes AC also delivered a series of strong results. Ben Pepler finished as 5th man in 33:21, closely followed by George Stewart (6th man, 33:26) and Theo Tarafder (12th man, 34:19). Jack Niner secured 17th place in 35:12, while Adam Vaughan placed 7th in the V40 category with a time of 37:46.
Congratulations to these Lewes athletes who also completed the 10k course: Reece Clark, Patrick Donovan, Amy Fines, Abbie Hills, Ruth Johnston, Clare Martin, Stephen Matthews, Patrick Mcmanus, Charlie Phipps, Emma Shepherd, George Stewart, Charlotte Swope, Theo Tarafder and Joe Whiting.
For many, the event marked a significant personal achievement. First-time marathon finisher Rachel Phillips reflected on her experience: “Although I’d run a half-marathon, I’d never completed a marathon, so it was a bit of an unknown. The marathon atmosphere was incredible. It felt like running with friends the whole way.
Lewes AC supported me enormously, from training sessions and advice to constant encouragement. The biggest help was Lewes AC Coach Nick Williams offering to run the entire marathon with me just days before the race. We crossed the finish line together. I couldn’t have done it without that support.
It was a tough journey at times, but an amazing and inspiring experience. I’m incredibly proud to have completed my first marathon.”
Rachel Phillips also highlighted the club’s support in fundraising for the Motor Neurone Disease Association, with members contributing generously to help her reach her fundraising target.
Want to Improve Your Running Performance with Lewes AC?
Lewes AC offers various training sessions to help boost your performance at road and trail running events:
- Strength and Conditioning: Join our coaches on Monday nights to improve core strength and stability. Sign up here.
- Track Sessions: Fine-tune your technique, pacing, and endurance on with distance based track sessions Thursday evenings, or time based track sessions on Saturday mornings. Sign up here.