Match 2 of the SCVAC Kent league took place on 12 May at Canterbury. We had a team of five and finished the meeting in fifth place. This is also our position in the series, having now, as predicted, overtaken Istead & Ifield.
The weather was tolerable at the outset, but then heavy rain moved in. The high jump was abandoned after the first few jumps: Fosbury flopping onto wet cushions was a most unpleasant experience! In the 200m race (M35, A string), Martin White was unlucky to be second amongst the scoring athletes with 26.9 seconds – the race had been split into two, decided on times, and the winner came from the other race with 26.8 seconds, so there was no opportunity to run head-to-head. Martin’s time was, however, a PB, perhaps facilitated by new spikes, essential in these running conditions. Maurice Marchant picked up fifth place in the M35 B race and Geoffrey Kitchener came third in 30.2 seconds in the M50 competition. These two athletes also ran over the 1500m distance, with Geoffrey coming seventh in the M35 A race, his race numbers falling off as soggy pulp on the way round, and Maurice securing fourth place in the M60s in a time of 6 minutes 31.8 seconds.
In the field events, David Simpson took third place in the M50 javelin competition with 18.46m and also fourth place in the M60 shot put. Richard Pitcairn-Knowles masqueraded as an M35 javelin thrower, securing fifth place. He also ensured that we were able to field a team in the final event, the 4x100 metre relay, in which we came fifth, undoubtedly the team with the widest age range of competitors. The full results are here.
The next meeting will be on Friday 30 May at Bromley (the Norman Park track, Norman Park, Hayes Lane, Bromley, BR2 9EF), so this will be relatively near to hand for us. There is parking at the track; the nearest station is Bromley South.
The programme times are as follows (men’s events unless otherwise mentioned):
6.45 p.m. Discus, including over 60s (the women also compete in the 100m sprint and long jump)
7.15 100m
(7.45, the women run 800m)
8.00 Long jump (the women also compete in the discus)
8.15 800m
8.45 (the women run the 4x200m relay)
8.55 4x200m relay.
So, we are looking to put a club team together for these events. Please let me know by Friday 23 May, if possible, what events you would particularly like to do, and whether you would be prepared to fill in for any others as well. I think we're going to need help in the relay team! Remember, if we are over-subscribed for any event, it is generally possible to compete in it as a non-scoring guest - ladies can participate in this way, too, in spite of our not fielding a ladies team.
If anyone wants or can offer a lift, please let me know.