Ascension : Ascension Island Adventure Run
Submitted by The Islander (Shari Parkhill) 02.07.2009 (Article Archived on 16.07.2009)

The Ascension Island Adventure Run was held this past Sunday. It was a bright and beautiful morning and we had 51 participants in the three categories.

The Ascension Island Adventure Run was held this past Sunday.  It was a bright and beautiful morning and we had 51 participants in the three categories.  It was a great day, with runners of all ages challenging themselves on three different courses.  The Adventure Run took the hardy souls to the summit of Sister’s Peak, and down the scree slope on the other side!  The Road Run traveled along the roads, while the Junior Run started at the Camel Sign on English Bay Road.

          All runs ended at English Bay.  Here the runners were greeted with the welcome smell of sausages cooking on the barbecue.  A hearty thanks to our cooks for feeding us all.

          Everyone had a chance to relax, swim, and refresh themselves.  Then it was time for the presentation of the trophies, medals and certificates.  Here is a list of the first & second place finishers in the various categories!  A complete listing of the times, along with more pictures will be in next week’s Islander.

Adventure Run:  1^st Place Ladies:   Olivia Renshaw

                           2^nd Place Ladies:  Hannah Britton

                           1^st Place Men:  Aide Penwill

                           2^nd Place Men:  Steve Bassi

                           1^st Place Youth:  Morgan Tobin

                           2^nd Place Youth:  Faye Morgan

Road Run:  1^st Place Women:  Tracy Williams

                  2^nd Place Women:  Kathy Bowers

                 1^st Place Men:  Jim Reed

                 2^nd Place Men:  Max Johnson

Junior Adventure Run:  1^st Place Girls:  Evette Bowers

                                      2^nd Place Girls:  Kayla & Allison Bailey

                                     1^st Place Boys:  Daniel Hiorns

                                     2^nd Place Boys:  Alex Peters

          I’d like to thank all the participants for turning out so early in the morning to challenge themselves in a worthy cause.  Over £650. was raised.  A hearty thanks to all those who made donations as well.  All money raised is going to the Porter Memorial Playground Fund.  Donations can be made to the account in this name at the St. Helena Bank for the next week.  Then, the account will be closed and all funds will be transferred to the Fund.  A complete acounting of the funds raised will be published at that time!

          A very special thanks is extended to all the volunteers who donated their time, efforts and energy to this Run.  I could not have done it without all your help.  To our cooks Mick Holland & Martyn Smith, and Claire Holland; and to all who helped man checkpoints, registration desks, water stops, and did other important tasks like timing, preparation of certificates and race tags, and supplied medical support:  Soo Matthews, Richard Whitear, Bobby & Jacqui Magill, Larry Poultney, Caroline Harris, Caroline Croson, Gene Austin, Miles Miller, Tracey Williams (RAF), Chelley Tulloch-Reed, Justine Yon, Kate Trodd, Sam Leo, Lucy Johnson, Ron Hunt, Johnny Hobson, Bernard Peterson and any others I might have missed!   Also, to all who donated food, loaned radios, vests and all the other things we needed, a heart felt thanks!

          A great big thanks and well done to everyone who made this day such a huge success! 

Shari Parkhill