The Upchurch Marathon first began in July 1952 as an annual event one week before the carnival. Many competitors turned up in fancy dress at the starting point outside The Crown pub and treated it as a fun race, but it became fiercely competitive over the years. The marathon continued into the late 1970s and during its time several great village runners were produced.
Two of the most successful male competitors from Upchurch were Trevor Sifleet from The Street and Bernard Sketchley from Chaffes Lane (now from Forge Lane), while Jane Bachelor from Forge Lane became the most successful female runner.
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Trevor Sifleet. |
Trevor Sifleet, who also became well-known as an Upchurch Football Club goalkeeper during the 1950s and early 1960s, won the first ever marathon of 4.5 miles in 26.5 minutes in 1952 and received the Jim Atkinson Challenge Cup. Bob Witherden came second and Bill Barling third. The following year he once again showed his ability as a long distance runner with a time of 24 minutes 33 seconds to win a second time. He then tried for three victories in a row on his twenty second birthday in 1954 while doing National Service in Oxfordshire. He managed to get a special 72 hour army pass to participate in the race. Because of determination to win he started the race too quickly and collapsed of exhaustion near the end which allowed Tim Wraight from The Street to pass him for victory. However, he made no mistake in 1955 when he became victorious for the third time in four years. Trevor later worked for Upchurch builders E C Gransden Limited.
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Bernard Sketchley. |
Bernard Sketchley, a well-known and life-long resident of Upchurch, proved to be a great marathon success of the 1960s and 1970s. He became a very successful long distance runner at school. He held the record for the fastest time in the one mile event at the Gillingham Schools Sports competition and competed in the Kent Schools running events.
After his father Albert had competed in the early village marathons Bernard followed his example and became a competitor in the event. His first victories were as a teenager when he won three boy’s marathons. He went on to win two consecutive adult marathons in 1968 and 1969 then a third in 1977. After this he became involved in sponsoring and contributing to various village organisations. Some of his contributions have included forming the Upchurch Boy’s Football Club in 1986 and contributing a new kit of black and white stripes and black shorts to Upchurch Football Club in 1999. He has sponsored Upchurch Cricket Club and in 2016 he contributed a new fire escape door to Upchurch scouts for their hut. He has also become a successful local businessman with his company Kent Trade Frames Limited.
Jane Batchelor from Anne’s Cottages in Forge Lane won the first of three ladies marathon victories while still a pupil at Fort Pitt Grammar School for Girl’s during the late 1960s. She went on to win two more to become the most successful long distance female runner in the history of the Upchurch Marathon. Her sister Nikki, who went on to become a successful jockey in national flat racing and point to point, also won the village marathon during the same period.
Although successful and well supported for many years, the Upchurch Marathon eventually lost popularity and finished after the 1979 race which had become reduced in distance and in numbers of competitors.
About David
David Wood was born and raised in Upchurch and is able to write from personal experience about many people and aspects of the village and of changes that have taken place over the years making ‘Memories of Upchurch’ a very readable book and a detailed historical study of the village. David's book ‘Memories of Upchurch’ is available direct from David at: david3702001@yahoo.co.uk or from us here at Upchurch Matters. Price £12 + £3.50 postage and packing.
David Wood
