This year’s Dorstone Dawdle was held on Sunday 2nd July.  The weather was perfect for runners – cool, dry with a refreshing breeze and the recent rain had helped soften the ground considerably.  Over 60 runners set off from the village green on the stroke of 11 after listening to a safety briefing from Nick Longman.  They were followed a few minutes later by the record number of fun runners of all ages.  It hardly seemed any time at all before the first fun runners hoved into view – Master Albie Forbes with a time of 24.20 and the first girl, Miss Beth Davies at 29.45.  Dorstone is raising some seriously good young runners! 

 

The Dawdlers then began to appear – the first two over the line with barely a few seconds between them were Hereford Couriers’ Ryan Knight at  37.03 and local lad Chris Hayward at 37.18.  Chris has had several years off racing owing to injury.  As he said afterwards ‘if I’d trained more I would have won’!  Fighting talk, Chris! 

 

The first woman was the Couriers’ Ellie Smithers at 46.35 and the team prize went to the newly formed Snodfathers.  

 

It was wonderful to see the whole village coming out to support the race.  And even better that runners of all ages were either dawdling or fun running.  Step forward Ray Heaton, the octogenarian who completed the Dawdle in 1.45 mins!  And hats off to the Hayward/Goodwin clan who had four generations, from two year old Finn to his great granny Pam, in one or other of the two races!

 

Heartfelt thanks to all who helped to make the race such a success – the marshals, the village hall crew supplying refreshments, the generous sponsors, the two sweepers who ensured nobody was left behind, the timekeepers and the parking attendants.  We couldn’t do it without you and with your help we raised around £2,000 for the three village charities. 

 

Next year’s Dawdle will be on Sunday 7th July.  See you there!