We opened the season at Sutcliffe Park on 23 April, fielding a team of 5 , writes Geoff Kitchener. David Simpson won the M60 shot put and our next best placings were Geoff Vine, 2nd in the M60 1500m race at 5 mins 46.8 secs, and Geoffrey Kitchener, 2nd in high jump and 200m, stepping back an age group to compete as an M50. Maurice Marchant did likewise in the 1500m, stepping back to compete in the M50 age group so as to secure 3rd place in a time of 5 mins 53.1 secs.

This gave us 4th place out of the 6 teams in the division. However, a strong effort at the Canterbury meeting on 7 May pulled us up to the 3rd position. Jim Duffill ran the opposition into the ground with a determined 10 mins 11.5 secs for the M50 3000m race. First places (and club best performances) were also claimed by Geoffrey Kitchener in the M60 400m and, disguised as an M35, in the 2000m walk which finished in dark and drizzle. The absence of an M60 category for the 3000m competition meant that John Denyer also stepped back from M60 to M35 for the 3000m race, pairing with Rob Carr, both securing valuable points. If there had been an M70 category for the pole vault, David Simpson would have been its star, but was contented with 2nd place competing in the M50 category.

At Erith on 17 May we consolidated our 3rd positioning in the division, now with clear water from the nearest opposition. With a team comprising Peter Ash, Rob Carr, Jim Duffill, Geoffrey Kitchener, Maurice Marchant and David Simpson we managed to fill all events and age categories bar the two younger age categories for discus (David, as so often, plugging the M60 gap for the throwing event). Whilst Geoffrey took first place in long jump (M50) and 100m (M60), Peter, Jim and Maurice joined to bring us home in the 4x200m relay in 3rd place. Rob Carr also doubled up on 100m and 800m for two more 3rd places.

The next meeting will be on 14 June and, although advertised as being at the new Black Lion track at Gillingham, will in fact be at Ashford, as the Gillingham track is not now expected to be certified for use in time. We shall then be looking for team participants to cover 200m and 1500m races, together with relay, high jump, javelin and shot.