Sevenoaks AC Handicap – 14 December 2003

 

Although club chairman Paul Tabor was already confirmed as series winner, the minor placings were still up for grabs in the twelfth and final event of the Sevenoaks AC runners handicap 2003 series. Four runners were still in contention: second-placed Lyndon Collins, third-placed Michael Clark, fourth-placed Simon Hallpike and fifth-placed Jim Fitzmaurice. However, on a cool bright morning with a brisk wind, only two of them, Clark and Fitzmaurice, were fit enough to compete in the hilly seven-mile decider.

 

Into the race, early leaders Andrew Dykes and Sylvia Lewis were together until newcomer Lewis began to pull away in the later stages, only to be passed by over-70 veteran Richard Pitcairn-Knowles. By the time the leaders reached the final run-in to the Sevenoaks School track, Pitcairn-Knowles was well clear, but Lewis was closely followed by Simon Lewis (no relation), with Heather Fitzmaurice-Cotton gaining ground on them both.

 

Fast-moving Fitzmaurice-Cotton was too quick for both Lewises over the final 400 metres, but the gap to Pitcairn-Knowles was unassailable as the former club chairman cantered home to win by 42 seconds in a new over-70 course record of 55:25. Fitzmaurice-Cotton, who like Pitcairn-Knowles has been gradually sharpening her form in cross-country races this winter, was second in an impressive 49:07, the fastest woman and second-fastest person on the day.

 

As the remainder of the field began to descend on the finish, Simon Lewis (54:32) got away from Sylvia Lewis (63:38) to clinch third place, while the latter held on for fourth ahead of Howard Dilley (53:26) in fifth and Chris Rowley (54:39) in sixth.

 

Back in seventh place, Michael Clark was unable to make any impression on Lyndon Collins’s series position of second. But by overtaking Jim Fitzmaurice in the final 100 metres, he made sure of holding on to third place in the series, and his time of 43:07 was fastest of the day.

 

The 2003 series may be settled, but there is little time for the athletes to rest as the 2004 series is due to start with a five mile race on Sunday 4th January. This starts from the Sevenoaks School Track at 9 am and newcomers are very welcome to come and run.

 

Detailed Result:

 

name                     Jan      Feb      Mar     Apr       May      Jun      Jul      Aug     Sep      Oct      Nov   pos time   net

 

richard pitcairn‑kno                                     15 40:37           5 41:30                                      1 62:25 55:25

heather fitzmaurice‑                    8 37:41           9 36:26 10 50:15                                      2 35:46  2 63:07 49:07

simon lewis           5 41:12  7 55:13                    8 39:46  5 54:37                                               3 63:12 54:32

sylvia lewis                                                                                                   xx 48:41  4 63:38 63:38

howard dilley                                            13 38:55 12 54:09           9 58:33           5 55:46  8 38:08  5 63:56 53:26

chris rowley          9 41:50           3 38:39                                                                          6 64:39 54:29

michael clark         2 30:57  2 41:55  4 30:55  4 42:19  4 29:50  9 43:35  3 31:06           2 30:37           6 31:14  7 65:07 43:07

jim fitzmaurice                         9 40:38          14 41:56  6 54:38  7 40:27           1 37:30  1 50:33  5 37:46  8 65:10 52:30

geoffrey kitchener             5 47:50  6 35:45           5 34:03                                      4 49:30  7 35:33  9 66:08 49:58

andrew dykes          8 48:59  8 64:01 10 49:01          11 47:47 13 67:36 11 49:38           4 46:46          10 49:11 10 67:55 67:55

paul tabor            3 38:41  1 51:25  1 36:45  1 50:20  1 35:09  3 49:37  2 35:16           5 36:45  2 48:59 12 39:18 11 68:20 53:40

gerald ashby         11 47:40  9 62:28                                                        7 47:00          13 45:39               

lyndon collins        1 34:24  3 47:05  2 34:07  3 47:11  6 33:50          14 38:26                             3 34:29               

simon hallpike        7 37:54  6 49:46  5 36:44  2 49:04  3 34:51  2 48:22 13 39:24  7 50:29  3 35:43  3 49:28  4 35:49               

jason chan                                                        xx 52:38  4 39:31  3 53:56                                          

peter dillon                                     6 60:55 12 43:48 14 61:48 12 44:38                                                   

geoff vine                                                         4 48:55                                                            

june johnson                                              7 39:32           9 42:02                                                    

david simpson         6 46:10                                                                                                         

tony woolven         10 44:27                                                                                                          

alison walker                                                      7 54:10                                                            

andrew johnson                                            2 33:59           8 36:10                                                    

john denyer                             7 33:36  5 47:44 10 33:59 11 48:15  6 34:04  5 48:37                   11 37:28               

robert brophy                                            xx 37:05                    1 53:37                                          

suzy hall                                                         xx 61:05           6 60:30                                          

christine dimech                                                           xx 38:41  8 56:01                                          

robin canty           4 31:26                                                                                                         

erik folkesson                                                             xx 36:01                                                   

marion middleton                                                           xx 42:58  4 60:20                                          

chris desmond                 10 60:07                                     10 32:25                             9 32:29               

gordon cooper                                                                       xx 52:33                                          

david speechly                                           xx 38:55  1 52:38                                                            

pete ashworth                                                                                 6 37:42                                 

david alcock                                                                                                   xx 37:59               

paul shelley                   4 47:27                                      1 33:30                                                    

marcia peacock                                                             15 44:36  2 59:38                                          

robert peers                                             xx 32:15  8 46:24          10 49:35                    1 32:04               

paul beadle                                                                xx 41:09                                                   

 

Final placings: 1. Paul Tabor (M40) 4 pts; 2. Lyndon Collins (M50) 9; 3. Michael Clark (M40) 9;  4. Simon Hallpike (M50) 10; 5. Jim Fitzmaurice (M60) 13; 6. Simon Lewis (M40) 20; 7. Geoff Kitchener (M50) 20; 8. Heather Fitzmaurice-Cotton (W) 21; 9. John Denyer (M55) 23; 10. Howard Dilley (M55) 27; 11. Andrew Dykes (M70) 30; 12. Gerald Ashby (M65) 38; 13. Peter Dillon (M55) 44.