The Master completes his Master Joiner’s Walk and Run Charity Challenge with a run in the Hastings Half Marathon
21 March 2010
In September 2009 our Master, James de Sausmarez, set out on the first part of his Master Joiner’s Walk and Run Charity Challenge by taking on Wainwright’s 192 mile Coast to Coast Walk over three national parks – the Lake District National Park, the Yorkshire Dales National Park and the North York Moors National Park. Accompanied by his pal Terry and supported by his tennis partner Sue, he completed this task in 11 days, which is one day less than the 12 recommended by Wainwright, and in doing so opted for nearly all the high fell option alternative recommended by the great fell walker. This left the second part of the challenge, which our Master wanted to be equally challenging. The Hastings Half Marathon is reckoned to be the hardest half marathon in the country due to the significant climbs in the first 5 miles of the race.
On 21 March 2010, our Master arrived at the start with his Chaplain, Liveryman the Reverend Paul Hunt, who some had rather unkindly suggested was there to perform the last rites rather than to provide verbal and spiritual support. However, as a local resident Paul had mapped out a way for the Mistress, Apprentice George de Sausmarez and himself to cheer on the Master at the start, at 8 miles and at 12 miles. Somewhere amongst the other almost 4000 competitors was Past Master John Corp who as well as supporting the Master was using the run as training for the London Marathon. Once the starting hooter had gone, the Master and his tennis partner Sue set off and it took about a minute and a half to get over the starting line and then the race began in earnest and the Master and Sue were soon threading their way through competitors to allow themselves to get into their strides. A number of small hills had to be faced before the formidable Queensway loomed at the 3 mile point when a steep hill persisted for nearly 3 miles. At the top Sue had to stop for a 3 minute breather before completing the run but our Master ploughed on determined to get the best time possible. Just after mile 6 he had loud shouts of encouragement and was delighted to see Liveryman Tom Appleby urging him onwards. At mile 8 Paul Hunt, the Mistress and Apprentice George roared further encouragement and the Master headed down into picturesque Hastings old town running alongside a young triathelete. The last 3 miles were along the sea front where the Master was again roared on by Paul Hunt, the Mistress and Apprentice George. With the finish in sight our Master managed to sprint the last 200 yards and finished in a creditable 1 hour 50 minutes and 19 seconds placing him 1,372nd in the race, his tennis partner Sue finished in an equally creditable 1 Hour 54 minutes and 11 seconds and Past Master Corp, who has a few years on the Master, finished comfortably in 2 hours 7 minutes and 41 seconds, some 16 minutes better than his best time. Past Master Snelling was on hand to see him finish but unfortunately he missed the Master.
Thanks to his walking and running efforts, our Master has raised around £21,000 for his chosen charity, Botton Village.