Keen runners battle injury to complete equivalent of nearly six marathons

Outdoor recreation - Adventure racing

6th April, 2023, Melanie Harriss

Two experienced marathon runners have pushed themselves to their physical limits by running 142 miles while battling serious injury and a major medical setback.

Firm friends Neil Gayton and Martyn Benstead took part in the Positive Steps Grand Slam, a series of three endurance ultra runs across the countryside of Norfolk and Suffolk, which must be completed in the space of 12 months.

But just before they were due to start training Martyn suffered a detached retina in his eye leaving him visually impaired and unable to cross a road alone.

Coupled with Neil damaging his foot, pulling a hamstring and Martyn suffering a problem with his other eye, challenge completion seemed in serious doubt.

Despite all the setbacks, the pair, who are also work colleagues at chartered accountants and business advisors Stephenson Smart, completed the gruelling trails just inside the year.

Positive Steps Fitness and Wellbeing is an organisation hosting trail challenge events and races from half marathons to 100km across East Anglia.

Martyn and Neil, who work in Fakenham and King’s Lynn respectively, began with running The Peddars Way, the second longest course of 48 miles in January 2022.

They followed this in June with a 100km trek, the equivalent of 63 miles, beginning at Castle Acre and ending at Beeston High School along the Norfolk Coastal Footpath.

Their last, and shortest at 31 miles, took place in December beginning and ending at Ickworth in Suffolk.

They have since been awarded with a special tankard for their efforts.

Martyn said: “We’ve known each other for years through working together, but we’re good mates and have become closer friends since we began running and training together.

“During lockdown in August 2020, I had a detached retina and I lost sight in one of my eyes. Neil was brilliant by offering to go out for a walk with me as I was at the point where I couldn’t cross a road safely.

“Running is a massive part of my life and not being able to do it really affected me mentally and physically as I couldn’t do it for at least two months, so I had less training than I would have liked to.

“We needed to complete three courses in 12-months, but it did look in serious doubt as I then had a problem with my other eye, which put the third event in jeopardy. Neil then pulled his hamstring not long into the course.

“Neil is much fitter and stronger than me and I never had a thought that something would happen to him, but when he became injured it occurred to me that it would all mean nothing if he couldn’t finish it too. I would have piggy backed him to the finish line if I had to.”

Neil said. “I felt like I was being held up by gaffer tape at the end. During the first event I had a problem early on with the top of my foot, the second was easier as I didn’t have an injury, but during the third I knew something wasn’t right and it was a real struggle to make it to the end. We went into survival mode, but after many obstacles we achieved it and we’re proud of that.”

Food was key during all three treks with some interesting snacks consumed, including flasks of soup, cherry bakewell tarts and salt and vinegar crisps.

Neil said: “Trail running leads on naturally to longer runs. Having done a lot of marathon running, I think we wanted to do something where we could set ourselves a personal challenge and also enjoy our countryside at the same time.”

Although there’s no events planned for the immediate future while Neil recovers from injury, Martyn said he knows Neil will have something up his sleeve.

“He’s always thinking of something we can have a go at. The obvious one would be Lands End to John O’Groats, but we’ll have to think about that!”

Ultramarathon - Marathon 2) Martyn Benstead, left and Neil Gayton on one of the courses.
Martyn Benstead, left and Neil Gayton on one of the courses.

Stephenson Smart’s Sporting Accountants

Stephenson Smart's Sporting Accountants

3rd January, 2023, Melanie Harriss

Accountants link to sporting success

An ultramarathon runner, a ladies football team captain, an internationally acclaimed cricketer and a world championship pool competitor is quite an impressive list of sporting credentials.

Especially when it’s revealed they all work at Stephenson Smart accountants.

In fact, these achievements are just a snippet of the sporting success across our firm, leaving us wondering if sport and accountancy have a greater connection than people realise?

Kayleigh Wilson, Tax Manager

“I think there must be a connection,” said Kayleigh Wilson, pool player and Tax Manager for all six offices.

“Accountants are methodical and logical people and most sports require this trait in order to succeed. Pool is definitely quite a strategic game.

“What is it they say? One side of your brain functions better than the other. I would say accountants excel in the use of their left cortex brain function, however the right cortex that controls creativity and artistic skills – not so much!”

Kayleigh began playing pool at the age of seven after her family moved into The Bowling Green Pub in Wisbech and she discovered she could beat many of the regulars.

She started playing for the Wisbech pub leagues at age 10, won the Division Two singles league at 11 and became the only girl on the under 16s England Juniors team at age 12.

By 13, Kayleigh was playing for England Ladies and went on to represent the UK in the World Championships in Germany.

“I’m planning to enter the IPA and the English Blackball Pool Federation ladies tour events in 2023. Ladies pool seems to be getting a lot more publicity at the moment, so now is a good time to see what happens.”

Lexi Waters, Accountants Assistant

Lexi Waters, Accounts Assistant at the March office is captain of the March Town Ladies Football Team.

She started playing football at age five and training with the Outwell Swifts, playing competitively in the Norfolk League.

“My Dad was my football manager at Outwell until age 11, then I started to play for Wisbech Town Acorns on Sundays and Hungate Girls on Saturdays,” she said.

While Lexi was playing for Hungate Girls she had the opportunity to play a tournament against Tottenham Hotspur Girls at the FA’s national centre at St George’s Park, who they beat to come third overall.

Over in the men’s league, Michael Clunan, Manager at the King’s Lynn office, is captain of King’s Lynn Football Club, while Neil Gayton, also Manager at King’s Lynn, is coach for the under 11s West Lynn Football Team, a four times London Marathon runner, triathlon competitor and recently finished a 48-mile ultramarathon.

Neil said: “Sport is good as the job is intense and there’s a lot of sitting in front of a screen. It’s a much-needed release, I think I would go a bit stir crazy if I couldn’t get out and exercise!”

Kirwin Christoffels, Accountants Assistant

With success in football, running and pool under their belts,  the team can also add cricket and hockey to the list thanks to Accounts Assistant Kirwin Christoffels.

Kirwin started playing cricket as a young boy growing up in South Africa.

After an abundance of accolades, which included winning the under 19’s Cricket World Cup, he was chosen as the overseas cricket professional to travel to the UK to play several seasons at North Runcton Cricket Club, which led him to stay and pursue a career at Stephenson Smart.

As well as cricket he has now extended his interests to hockey, which he plays almost every weekend for the Pelican’s Hockey Club in King’s Lynn.

“I definitely think there’s a link between accountancy and sport,” said Kirwin.

“Both require a fair bit of analysis, forecasting and being able to think on your feet.

“The rules in sport and accountancy may change as the game and accounting period go on, so being flexible and adaptable to the changes in one aspect may lend a hand to being alert in the other aspect.”

 

 

 

 

 

London Marathon success adds up for Dan, Andy and Neil

London Marathon Success Adds Up

10th October, 2022, Melanie Harriss

Dan Jastrzebski, Partner, Andy Doyle, IT Manager and Neil Gayton, Manager, all took part in the London Marathon this year, with all three finishing within five hours and raising thousands for charity.

Andy, who ran for East Anglian Children’s Hospices, completed the course in three hours, 51 minutes, putting him into the top 1000 of males aged 50-54.

He said: “I’m very happy with my time as it was what I was looking for. The atmosphere was great, the crowds created a wall of noise all the way round, but the last few miles were unbelievable.”

Despite battling a knee injury Dan managed to cross the line in four hours, 52 minutes.

He said: “My knee was painful throughout, but by the end everything below the waist hurt! I had a few issues with my hamstrings on the day, but I managed to get through to the finish, which was great.

“I’ve currently raised £3,395 for St John Ambulance with more sponsorship still coming in.”

Ultramarathon runner Neil Gayton also didn’t waste an opportunity to run another marathon, taking part virtually with his brother Wayne, finishing in four hours, 23 minutes.

He said: “All of our kids were there with a makeshift finish line. I drove to my brother’s in Gayton for a 6am start, so we could make the one-way trip to west Lynn, via some scenic woodlands and riverbanks, so I could get to coach my son’s football match that kicked off at 10.30am!”

Stephenson Smart, which has six offices in Norfolk and Cambridgeshire, has a matched donation scheme that will add to Dan and Andy’s charity totals.

Related Articles: Double London Marathon Bid for Dan and Andy

Double London Marathon bid for Dan and Andy

Double London Marathon bid

29th September, 2022, Melanie Harriss

Dan Jastrzebski, partner at Stephenson Smart and Andy Doyle, IT Manager will be taking on the London Marathon on Sunday, 2 October.

Andy will be running his second marathon in the capital to raise money for East Anglia’s Children’s Hospices, the company’s chosen charity for the year, while Dan is taking on his first race for the St John Ambulance.

Andy said: “I’ve had a four-month training plan. I did the GEAR 10k here in King’s Lynn, the Great North Run, a 10k at Holkham, a half marathon at Sandringham in June and some runs and events with my running group Renegade Runners.

“Training has been more challenging because it’s taken place in the summer instead of the winter. I did a lot of early morning runs to contend with the heat. I was getting up at 4am so I could finish before it got too hot.

“I’ve been running for six years as a hobby just to keep fit, I’ve got to that age where I can’t rely on nature looking after me properly!”

Dan gained a charity place with St John Ambulance after volunteers supported a work colleague during a previous London Marathon.

He said: “I started my training in July and I did the Great North Run, but all the other runs have been training runs locally.

“I’m up to 21 miles so far and my plan is to leave a bit for the day. Hopefully the crowds will carry me through!”

Andy is hoping to finish quicker than his 2021 time of 3.57, while Dan would like to cruise across the line in four-and-a-half hours.

Both are part of a core group of athletes at the King Street office, which also includes Neil Gayton, who took on an ultra-marathon of 48 miles earlier this year.

“I don’t know if there’s a link between accountancy and sport, but there are quite a few of us who run,” said Dan.

“We are very office based, so it’s nice to have that element of releasing some energy and getting out and about. It just helps you to unwind, relax and have a work/life balance.”

Andy added: “I can remember the first London Marathon when I was 10 in about 1981. It’s always been something once a year we would sit and watch and I never imagined I would run it once, let alone twice!”

Sponsor Dan 

Sponsor Andy

Sporting accountants take Ultramarathon in their stride

Ultramarathon

16th June, 2022, Melanie Harriss

Martyn Benstead, partner at our Fakenham office and Neil Gayton, Manager at our King’s Lynn office have pushed themselves to their physical limits by running an Ultramarathon.

The duo began the course at the Peddars Way in Castle Acre at 7am and finished 14 hours and 38 minutes later at Beeston, just after 9.30pm.

Run by Positive Steps Events, the 100km Ultramarathon is part of a trio of races participants can enter, named the Positive Steps Grand Slam.

Neil and Martyn ran the 48-mile Peddars Way Trail course in January and hope to complete the third race soon – a shorter 50km in comparison.

“Most people start with the 50km and build themselves up, but Martyn and I seem to have attempted the most difficult and left the 50km till last,” said Neil.

“It was really hard because there wasn’t a lot of shade on the coastal path and you are very exposed, but there was good camaraderie and everyone looked out for each other.”

Martyn said: “It was a tough finish. The last eight miles consisted of four miles of pebble beach then tough terrain on Sheringham Golf Course hills and Beeston bump. A bit of a challenge after already running the equivalent distance of two marathons.”

Neil added: “The shingle beach at Cley was horrendous and every time we hit the top of a hill at Sheringham we kept thinking we were nearing the finish line – only to be met with another hill! It was really great to watch the sunset though.”

Both men were supported on the day by their wives and children and are just happy they finished the course.

“I think we were both happy with the time because you have a goal you want to reach and we certainly came within that,” said Martyn.

Neil added: “I’m not sure what comes next, but I quite fancy entering in the Ironman Triathlon competition. I think the 112-mile bike ride may need some considering though!”

 

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