Got to run

HERM residents Mat Nicholl and Andrew Bailey took part in the Guernsey half-marathon on Father's Day.

For Mat, it was a huge achievement as he took up running only three months ago. He finished in 1 hour, 36 minutes and 10 seconds. After struggling to give up smoking for several months, Mat finally beat the habit on 24 March and took up running three weeks later.

'I started because I wanted to do the Herm Run this year, which I've never done before,' said Mat. 'Once I got going, I really liked it.'

Mat did a little cross-country at school, but hasn't run since he left 16 years ago.

'Now I'm quite into it and I'm running every other day. Apparently my lungs need time to repair, so I'm hoping to get faster.'

His goal is to run the Paris marathon next year on 11 April.

As a double incentive to stay fit, Mat and wife Katell are expecting their first child on 4 January.

Andrew Bailey has run the half-marathon for the past three years and finished in his own personal best time of 1 hour, 44 minutes and 24 seconds.

He started jogging seven years ago on his 40th birthday. It is a Bailey family pastime, with wife Lesley and their three children – Jonathan, Kathryn and Richard – all keen runners.

'Everyone was running before me,' said Andrew, 'but I took it up seriously around five years ago.'

He takes part in the Herm Run every year and will be doing the Sark run on 4 September for the second year.

Both Andrew and Mat aim to take part in the OSA All-Terrain Challenge, which consists of seven races in seven days over varying terrain and distances.

'It starts in Guernsey on 25 July and the last race is on Herm,' said Andrew. 'It should be fun.'

Tomorrow, Herm school will be holding its annual fete.

The money raised keeps the school going for the whole year, so it is important to raise every penny possible.

The event is organised by the Herm school's unofficial PTA (i.e. the Herm mums) and the children, and all support is greatly appreciated.

The fete runs from 10.30am until 2pm by the harbour and there will be a bouncy castle, tombola, plant and veg sales, a cake stall, face painting and lots more. There will also be an adult and children's raffle with prizes donated by Guernsey shops, restaurants and salons.