1951 - 2002

By Hugh Barnfather

Larger versions of the images below can be seen in the History of the RAFAA gallery.

FIFTIES

In 1951 RAF Henlow and RAF Cardington decided to have a challenge between runners from the two Stations in the form of a road race over a distance of 10 miles. The first race was from Cardington to Henlow and reversed in '52.

The organiser was Flt Lt 'Monty' Mountford, who was 'Mr RAF Running' in the post-war era. (His accounts of the RAF X-Ctry Championships were a pleasure to read, with masses of facts in the initial write-up, prior to the results list.)

Jnr Tech Don Aldred of Henlow won both races in 59.04 and 58.28 respectively. The Team result for these races is not known.

Whether the above 2 races are recognised in the calculation of "How many Henlow 10s there have been" is arguable.

In 1953 the race was given official recognition by the presentation of a cup, "The Henlow Ten" Challenge Cup, to the winning Team of 6 to score. The photograph shows the presentation of the Cup and the description states: 'Royal Air Force Annual Road Race Cardington-Henlow Instituted 25 March 1953'. Henlow won the Team race and Lac Bill Pawsey and Cpl L Ellis were given a joint 1st place in 59.38 with Lac Dennis Davidson 3rd in 62.42.

In 1955 the race became an 'OPEN' race and a further 12 stations, within a reasonable distance of Henlow, were invited to send Teams. The Henlow 10 Challenge Cup remained exclusive to the contest between Henlow and Cardington.

RAF Cardington donated a trophy, "The Cardington Invitation Road Race" Challenge Cup, which "shall be open to competition by ALL competing stations and awarded to the first Team to finish (6 to score)". This trophy is for annual competition.

The winner was Sgt Don Cobley from RAF Halton in 54.47. (Sadly Don died on the 4 Feb 99 whilst on holiday in New Zealand.) RAF Halton won the Team Race.

The 1956 race had 2 points of interest:

• Shortly after the 6 mile point there was a horrendous hailstorm with hailstones so large they killed the birds, and dead birds were strewn along the route as were twigs and branches from the trees!!!
• The RAF Halton team missed the race, so were not able to defend their title, because they had to make a detour on the journey to drop off their Rugby team!! (Source for the above 'Gen' was George Scutts who was 3rd in the race.)

The race winner was Plt Off Mick Reeve in 56.21.

1957 and 1958 saw RAF Halton win the Team race and provide the Winner in National Service Scottish International Fg Off Alastair Wood in 51.40 and 50.28 respectively. The 1956 winner, Mick Reeve, was runner in the 57 race 21 secs behind with Bill Rigby (Halton) 3rd in 52.21.

English International Frank Seal (Henlow) was runner-up in the 58 race 1 min 01 secs behind with Bill Rigby taking the Bronze again in 51.35.

1959 Sgt Peter CLARK from RAF Waterbeach won in 53.49 with AB John McHale (RN South) runner-up in 54.11.

SIXTIES

1960 got off to a flying start with the winner John Lindsell, a National Serviceman from Portsmouth AC, going under 50 minutes in a time of 49.51 for a new course record followed home by LAC Ian Evans in 50.31 and LAC Tom Pugh in 51.19.

1961 and 1962 are somewhat a mystery to me as there were no races held!!

My thoughts as to why are: Flt Lt 'Monty' Mountford died 9 Aug 1961 and they could not get anyone to organise the race in time for the November deadline???

Bill Rigby tells me that the 1962 race was not held because the Services were needed to man the Green Goddesses due to the National Strike by the Fire Services.

The 1962 'postponed' race was held in March 1963 and the 1963 race 'proper' was held on 9 Dec. The winner of both races was Sgt Bill Rigby in 55.00 and 53.10 respectively.

The first past the post in the 1964 race was John Pinner a Civilian from Bedford and County AC in a time of 53.30, some 19 secs ahead of the first RAF man Mick Hurd from Waddington, with Cpl John Jones (Wyton) 3rd in 54.12.

SAC Tom Pugh (Halton) won the 1965 race in 51.01, 14 secs ahead of his great mate Bill Bennett (also Halton). The 1966 race saw Tom win again this time under 50 minutes and a new course record of 49.27. (Sadly Tom died on the 9 April 1999 in his home in Adelaide where he had emigrated to on leaving the RAF in 1972.)

1967 saw Officer Cadet Roger Clark (Henlow) have a run down the course in 50.11, 15 secs ahead of the "Flying Welshman" Cpl Brian Jeffs (Wyton).

1968 Cpl Ian McLennon won in 52.19 ahead of Cpl Mick HURD.

1969 saw the only 1 2 3 where a representative of each Service won a medal. Flt Lt Roger Clark won the race in 49.39 ahead of Capt Keith Darlow (Army) and Lt Rees Ward (Navy).

SEVENTIES

1970 Flt Lt Clark (Cranwell) won the race in 49.36 with record-holder Tom Pugh 2nd in 49.50.

After being runner-up in 1964 and 1968 Cpl Mick Hurd (Abingdon) crossed the line 1st (time now known) in the 1971 race.

1972 saw Mick Hurd revert to runner-up spot again when a super-fit Roger Clark (Medmenham) beat Mick by 50 secs despite Mick turning in a time of 48.43 to beat the existing record by 44 secs Roger took 47.53 to cover the 10 mile course!!!!! Confirming his International form at that time. 3rd spot in under 50 min also was Cpl Pete Flatman (Valley) in 49.53.

In 1973 Cpl Mick Hurd ran down the course 1 second slower than the previous year to win in 48.44, some 45 seconds ahead of SAC Ray Crabb (Wyton) and Jnr Tech John Wild (Wyton) who were both timed at 50.29.

Mick Hurd duly won again in 1974 in a time of 49.08 this time 1 min 23 secs ahead of SAC Ken Vooght (High Wycombe) with Jnr Tech John Wild (Wyton) in 3rd place.

A strong tail-wind 'pushed' all the runners to fast times in the 1975 race (so the winner Ray Crabb tells me). Ray recorded the fastest time ever (still stands to-date) when he won in 46.23. A copy of Ray's certificate can be seen below.

1976 saw the number of finishers increase to 280 from a previous best of 212 in 74. The best man on the day was SAC Steve Jones (Lyneham) in 48.14, some 50 secs ahead of SAC Howard Marson (Benson) and Sgt Pete Hurt (Coningsby) clocked 49.16.

1977 This race was cancelled due to the Firemens NATIONAL STRIKE. It was re-arranged and held on 22 March 1978. The winner was Cpl Normal Wilson (Army) followed home by Gordon Rimmer, Lossie, 51.13 and John Fretwell, Digby, in 51.38.

In 1978 the race must have been a scorcher with SAC Ray Crabb (Lyneham) and Cpl John Wild (Wyton) crossing the line in what must have looked like a 'dead-Heat' but the result came out in the favour of Ray Crabb with 49.20.7 to John's 49.21.00 (0.93 of a second !!). 2 mins and 16 secs later! SAC Howard Marson (Benson) crossed the line for 3rd place.

The final race of the SEVENTIES saw 'Evergreen' CPL Mick Hurd (Wattisham) win from a record field of 308 finishers in a time of 50.37 just 7 secs ahead of Sgt John Bigham (Cosford) followed by the 'other' Jones, Alan, 4 secs behind.

At the 2002 Henlow 10 WO Gordon Rimmer was the starter of the race. Looking through my history of results he remarked on the fact that the 1977 result was not included when he finished 2nd to Normal Wilson.

The next day Gordon faxed me the results of the 77 race which he had in his scrap book. It was a copy of the 'AW' of March 1978. It recorded the first 25 runners. This result is now in my results history.

EIGHTIES

The opening race of the EIGHTIES saw Scottish International CPL Gordon Rimmer (Cranwell) run away from the field (341 finishers) to win the race by 2 mins 41 secs from (yet again !!!!) Cpl Mick Hurd (Wattisham) who clocked 50.58 with Jnr Tech Alan Jones (Scampton) 3rd in 51.45. Gordons' twin brother Steve was 4th in 52.41.

1981 was the year of the first London Marathon and interest in running spread like wildfire throughout Great Britain. This was reflected in the massive field of 455 finishers spreading from the winner in 51.19 to the last person in 2 hrs 03 mins !! The 'Gold' went to Sgt John Wild (Cosford) with a 25 sec victory over Jnr Tech Alan Jones (Scampton) with Cpl John Flanagan (West Drayton) 3rd in 51.51.

An even bigger field finished in 1982 with 500 runners crossing the line after the clock had been ticking for 1 hr 58 mins 50 secs. A new name for the Trophy this time with SAC Mark Flint (Cosford) beating Sgt Damien McKay (Halton) by 16 secs. English International, from the Sixties, Dr Mike Turner (Liverpool Harrier but a Cambridge University Lecturer) was a worthy 3rd and first Veteran at the age of 43 in 50.25.

Mark Flint put Cpl Alex Watt (Brampton) and Cpl Ian Crilly (Marham) behind him by 02 secs and 10 secs respectively in the 1983 race which had 551 finishers.

1984 saw the introduction of the RAF Ten Mile Championship to be held within the Henlow '10'. A new course was established, to cater for the increase in the number of runners, with the start at the back of the big hangars. The Road Runners Club measured and certified the course as an accurate 10 mile and performances be recognised for the award of Road Runners Club Standards.

The winner and the FIRST "RAF 10 mile Champion" was Cpl Ray Crabb (High Wycombe) in a time of 51.06. 10 secs behind was SAC Mark Flint (Cosford) who was denied a hat-trick of wins following his 82 and 83 victories. Mick Hurd was yet again 'in the frame' to take the Bronze medal 20 years after his runner-up debut of 1964. A record 591 runners finished the race.

1985 saw the 'other' Jones (Alan) take the title in 49.30 (New Record) from Cpl George Reynolds (49.34) and Civilian Steve Brace (Bridgend) 3rd in 49.42.

1986 Cpl Pete Jenkins (St Athan) 50.17 beat Steve Brace 50.23 and Cpl Paul Watson (Cottesmore) 50.24. A new record number of finishers 628!!!

In 1987 the number of finishers surpassed the 86 figures when 748 passed over the finish line !!!! First across the line was Cpl Alan Jones (Swinderby) 50.50 followed by Sqn Ldr Keith Brackstone (Biggin Hill) 50.56 and Cpl Bruce Chinnick (Lossiemouth) 51.04.

The same 3 filled the 1 2 3 slots in 1988 and also they all went under 50 mins. But this time Bruce Chinnick broke the course record to clock 48.06 with Alan Jones runner-up in 49.29 and Keith Brackstone 3rd in 49.33.

The final race of the 'EIGHTIES' saw a Civilian winner for the 2nd time since John Pinner won in 1964. Gary Spring (Luton AC) ran 48.24 to beat Cpl Pete Jenkins (Chivenor) 49.19 and Sqn Ldr Keith Brackstone (Innsworth) 49.24 with Cpl Tom McKeith (Wattisham) taking the RAF Bronze medal in 50.10.

NINETIES

The first race of the "Nineties" was won by Cpl Barry Griffiths (Brize Norton) in 51.11 with Cpl Al Murray (Marham) 2nd in 51.25 beating Sqn Ldr Keith Brackstone (Innsworth) 51.39.

The 1991 race had Cpl Jerry McCarthy (Brize Norton) clock in 50.47 ahead of Cpl R Rollins (St Athan) 51.50 and FS Pete Golding (Brampton) 51.53.

1992 the 'other' Jones Alan (now Fg Off) (Cosford) won in 52.07 with last years winner Jerry McCarthy runner-up in 52.20 some 10 secs ahead of 3rd placed SAC Andy Hawkins (Lyneham).

1993 saw 3 'new' names in the frame with SAC Graham Sunners (Lyneham) stealing the race 'on the line' from Cpl Sandy Dalziel (Digby) in 52.33 to 52.34 and Sgt Rob Payne (Cranwell) 3rd in 52.43.

Again in 1994 three 'new' names came in the frame. This time Jnr Tech Chris Harry (Brize Norton) won in 50.31 from Cpl Paul Gardner (Innsworth) 50.43 and 3rd was Cpl Tom Doughty (Wittering) in 52.24.

1995 saw Cpl Mark Flint (Cosford) make his first appearance since 1987 and duly won in 51.50 with a new record winning gap of 2 mins and 46 secs. Sgt Rob Payne (Cranwell) did 54.36 for 2nd and Cpl Mark Prestwood (Cranwell) was 3rd in 55.01.

1996. Cpl Owen Haynes (Waddington) ran 51.10 to beat Civilian Steve Plews (Bedford and County AC) in 52.35 ahead of Sgt John Siddons (Innsworth) 52.52. The bronze RAF Championship medal went to Chf Tech Geoff Brewster (Brampton) 54.27.

1997 saw Waddington runner Cpl Mark Heaton win in 54.28 from team mate Flt Lt Tom McKeith (Waddington) in 54.58 ahead of ex-Waddington runner Fg Off Simon Bell (Cranwell) 55.19.

1998. This year we had an ARMY winner in Sgt Collin Palmer (Benson) in 53.29 from Sqn Ldr Dave Cole (Halton) 54.34 and Sgt John Siddons (Innsworth) 54.36 3rd but silver medallist in the RAF Championship. Veteran Sgt Dave Reed (Coltishall) was 1st Vet and Bronze medallist in the RAF Champs in 55.08.

1999. Cpl Steve Gould (Wittering ran around the course in 52.25. 15 secs ahead of runner-up Fg Off Simon Bell (Waddington) with Henlow PTI Cpl Greg Macdonald taking the bronze medal in 53.34.

MILLENIUM 2000

A civilian winner for only the 3rd time in the history of the race. Pete Galpin competing for the Peterborough based club (Advanced Performance) - finished 41 secs clear of Flt Lt Simon Bell (also runner up last year). He was followed by Coltishalls Alec Moore with a time of 54.32.

2001 The race was cancelled due to a tightening of security following the 11 Sep bombing in New York. It would have been the 50th Anniversary of the race.

2002 This race saw the first ever win by a Veteran, Chf Tech Andy Wood (Waddington) won in 53.34 ahead of another veteran Group Captain David Blore (Chairman of the RAFAA) with Sgt Tom Doughty (Cottesmore) taking the Bronze medal in 55.03.

2003 There were only 115 runners in the field. This continued the diminishing trend of smaller turn-outs over the past 5 years (98-(391) 99-(331) 2000 (273) 01 (Cancelled) 02 - (200). Two reasons (I think) account for this:

• The number of out-of area detachments due to the Iraq situation.
• The knock-on-effect of the personnel still in the UK unable to leave their jobs to run in the Henlow.