Sevenoaks AC women retained their lead in the Kent Fitness League after the fourth match at Minnis Bay on 2nd January.

The cross-country course at Minnis Bay is unique, adds Jim Knight. Runners start at the end of Marine Parade and follow the coastal footpath towards Reculver Towers. After 3 miles, they turn inland, across the fields, over the railway embankment and then they have to jump over five deep mud-filled dykes before returning to the embankment for the final two miles to the finish. The dykes get progressively deeper and wider. The first is jumpable, but the 3rd is virtually impossible to cross without falling into waist-deep mud. A real cross-country course.

27 Sevenoaks AC athletes joined the 467 runners taking part in the race. By the finish their pristine white SAC vests were various shades of grey and brown.

The SAC women’s team ran well and were just beaten into second place by Canterbury Harriers. With two wins each, Sevenoaks and Canterbury have the same score in the series, but on count-back Sevenoaks retained their lead. The next two races, at Rough Common, Canterbury and Knole Park, Sevenoaks will be crucial in deciding the series winner. The SAC scorers on the day were Bridgit Weekes, Cath Linney, Suzy Claridge and Hannah Sangham with the rest of the team also running brilliantly over the soaking course.

Meanwhile, Jamie Philip was third overall, and first veteran, in his first appearance in the league. Along with fellow-scorers James Graham, Jonathan Marsh, Andy Evans, Mike Lochead, Ed Saunders, Richard Alford-Smith and Harvey Taylor, Jamie led the SAC men to seventh place on the day, but fifth after four races.



All this meant that Sevenoaks AC's combined team were fifth on the day and stay fifth in the standings. The SAC results were:

Ov Pos Lg Pos Bib Runner Age Time Club Score Rtg #
3 3 1062 Jamie Philip 44 36:53 Sevenoaks AC V40:1 99.33 Debut
15 15 688 Edmund Saunders 39 38:08 Sevenoaks AC M1 95.29 15
30 30 673 Michael Lochead 41 40:09 Sevenoaks AC V40:2 90.24 15
50 48 637 Richard Alford-Smith 45 41:39 Sevenoaks AC M2 84.18 8
61 58 694 Harvey Taylor 17 42:08 Sevenoaks AC M3 80.81 4
68 65 652 Chris Fenn 30 42:29 Sevenoaks AC NSBLS 78.45 4
75 72 676 Andrew Milne 39 42:49 Sevenoaks AC NSBLS 76.09 31
79 76 702 Daniel Witt 46 43:06 Sevenoaks AC NSBLS 74.75 61
81 77 680 Sebastian Naughton 47 43:08 Sevenoaks AC NSBLS 74.41 3
95 90 678 Shaun Mullen 45 44:19 Sevenoaks AC NSBLS 70.03 6
116 9 672 Catherine Linney 52 45:40 Sevenoaks AC V45 95.29 38
124 114 703 Tim Young 49 46:00 Sevenoaks AC NSBLS 61.95 4
128 118 679 James Nash 30 46:10 Sevenoaks AC NSBLS 60.61 8
134 11 642 Suzy Claridge 49 46:18 Sevenoaks AC V35 94.12 8
137 12 916 Hannah Sangan 27 46:35 Sevenoaks AC F1 93.53 2
147 15 657 Vanessa Gilmartin 46 47:09 Sevenoaks AC NSBLS 91.76 20
156 138 650 Graham Dwyer 49 47:44 Sevenoaks AC NSBLS 53.87 14
160 20 647 Julia Davis 24 47:56 Sevenoaks AC NSBLS 88.82 4
175 151 669 Leonard Lai King 42 48:42 Sevenoaks AC NSBLS 49.49 4
180 155 659 James Graham 68 48:57 Sevenoaks AC V60 48.15 25
192 163 1059 Jonathan Marsh 61 49:34 Sevenoaks AC V50:1 45.45 Debut
196 166 651 Andrew Evans 51 49:41 Sevenoaks AC V50:2 44.44 48
219 35 699 Bridgit Weekes 63 50:49 Sevenoaks AC V55 80.00 14
301 71 685 Ella Pyman 55 55:48 Sevenoaks AC NS 58.82 16
333 252 701 Jeremy Winter 68 57:37 Sevenoaks AC NS 15.49 5
337 84 704 Samantha Znetyniak 46 57:51 Sevenoaks AC NS 51.18 6
349 90 1000 Sarah Fisher 25 58:34 Sevenoaks AC NS 47.65 5


The full results are here.

The next (fifth) match is at Blean Woods, Rough Common on 6th February.