It rained a lot and you couldn’t call it a warm June day, but hundreds of runners turned out Sunday in their shorts and T-shirts to participate in the 40th year of the Rotary Classic Run to raise funds for children in Brantford.
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Scattered across the grounds of the W. Ross Mcdonald School and several nearby roads, more than 1,000 runners, supporters and long-time volunteers made the magic that has been continuing – with a short break during the COVID pandemic — since 1982.
“My dad ran the marathon when I was a kid and I ran as a child,” said organizer Nicole Goodbrand, who is in her second year of running the Classic.
“Multiple generations have participated and it’s one of the things that drew me to the Rotary Club of Brantford.”
Many of the runners and walkers were returning or running with groups that have made the Classic a tradition.
Herman Kruis, 72, of Paris, got a medal in the 70-75 years old age bracket after running the 5-km race in 40:18.
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“It started in Boston, Ontario and I’ve entered lots of races over the years, but this is the one I always come to,” said Kruis, who now has a record of running his 35th Classic.
This year’s race drew more than 1,050 registrations and the bulk of them were at the starting line, despite the damp weather.
“Rain’s my favorite kind of weather to run in,” said Stephanie Johnston, who was raised in Brantford but now lives in Windsor.
“The first time I ran was in 2003 and I ran every year until 2015, so I just thought it was time to get back.”
Johnston was the fastest woman in the 5-km portion of the event, sharing the honors with the first man in — Gavin Stafford, of Paris.
Stafford’s time was 16:17 while Johnston’s was 19:09.
The top prizes in the 10-km race went to Brantford’s Vincenzo Prior with a time of 39:59 and to Katelin Barkey, from Huntsville, with 43:05.
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In honor of the 40th celebration of the race, participation medals for all and specific age group awards were brought back, said Goodbrand, along with a DJ doing live music and some on-site fun.
People or groups could get a commemorative plate made, there was an on-site five-minute escape room in a tent to try, group warm-ups and pizza.
“We love it,” said Kristin Pass, executive director of Braemar House School.
“We like having the kids involved in the community, it’s good fitness and something nice for us to do together as both parents and kids.”
The school entered about 25 kids and a lot of their parents joined in for the three-mile walk or the 5-km run.
“The weather hasn’t stopped them. They’re all here and they’re all smiling,” said Pass.
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Calling the race on the microphone was Gary Surrette – as usual,
Surrette, a former radio personality, is one of three volunteers celebrating 40 years of working the Classic.
“I admire the Rotary Club and this is amazing,” Surrette said.
“They’ve raised $3.1 million over the 40 years and it all stays here in Brantford, going to the Boys and Girls Club and Lansdowne Children’s Centre. How can you go wrong?”
Now almost 84, Surrette shares his 40-year record with Dennis Duce from the Sherwood Restaurant and John Wilkinson, who retired from the W. Ross Mcdonald School years ago.
“This wouldn’t be possible without them,” said Goodbrand.
“I literally can’t imagine 40 years of running an event like this. It’s really impressive, and there are many others who have been volunteering for decades.”
Final race results can be seen at www.raceroster.com.
@EXPSGamble
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