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in 1986, the idea for the Discovery Run was conceived when two members of
the Harwich Runners (John Gibson and Nigel Mower t) met up with Johan
Knoester. Johan, already an inspired runner, and a member of The Hague
Road Runners, was employed on one of the Stena Line ships. Today Johan is
enjoying an early retirement and is a member of Athletics Club Heerenveen
& Sports Club Friesland.
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As many as fifty runners from the
U.K. and the Netherlands were participating in contests in both countries
and enjoying the festivities surrounding the events. The Harwich Runners
organized a 10k run and a half marathon, while The Hague Road Runners
organized The Hague 10 miles. A local artist Russell Thomas (t)
contributed the prizes, beautiful watercolour paintings. Anne van Schuppen
was one of the winners in the early years. |
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The
runners were enthusiastic about visiting each other on both sides of the
North Sea, but it was initially very expensive to attend a running
weekend. Things changed when the fast ferry, the Stena Discovery (HSS)
came on the scene. It became easy for Dutch competitors to travel to England on the Stena Discovery, run 5 or 10k in Harwich, visit the city of Colchester and get home again within 16 hours. The Discovery Run was born. |
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1999 until 2006 an annual four to six hundred runners would take the fast
ferry to Harwich to participate in a run organized by the Dutch committee
and John Gibson of the Harwich Runners. The Dutch athletes received a warm
welcome in true English style from The Town Crier and the Mayor of Harwich
who also presented the prizes.
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The Discovery Run makes significant donations each year to various charities. One of the charities is chosen by the city council of Harwich. And among the other recipients are two sea rescue organisations, KNRM and RNLI. Unfortunately the Stena Discovery is no longer in service. But due to the huge popularity of the event over the years, the organisers decided to keep the famous name.
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Nowadays the journey to England takes place on the super ferries of the
Stena Line, the Stena Britannica and the Stena Hollandica (check news,
homepage). The numerous facilities on board make the voyage into an
adventure of its own. Runners taking part in the Discovery Run can now
enjoy a minicruise, starting on Friday evening at 10pm when leaving Hook
of Holland, until Sunday morning when the ferry arrives back in Hook of
Holland at 8.30am.
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2006
RNLI,Lifeboat crew,Harwich |
2006 |
2006 Prize
presented by the
Mayor of Harwich,
1st Prize Helmy
Ramakers |
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