Sittingbourne 10 Ashford 10k KFL-Rough Common KFL-Swanley KFL-Knole Maidstone Half Wilmington 10k
KFLs Avery and Nurstead Kent XC Champs KFL-Minnis KFL-Oxleas Kent League Final Thanet 20
Canterbury
10 Knole Park
10k Folkestone
10 KFL Relay Tunbridge Wells Half Paddock Wood Half
SCVAC Sutcliffe Pk London Marathon
Rob
and Geoff excel at SCVAC
Sevenoaks were sixth in the first match of the SCVAC at Sutcliffe park on 21 April. Highlights were second places for Rob Peers in the M35 Pole Vault and Geoff Kitchener (a blur of speed above left) in the M50 200m. Can you see Rob Carr and Fraser Partridge on the start line of the 1500 above right? Results HERE.
Lel Just Holds Off
SAC Eight
SAC athletes posted some great times at the London: FISHER, MALCOLM D 3:08:51; CARR, ROBERT 3:12:18; ASH, PETER D 3:22:11; MILLER, JAMES 3:31:22; HAGGARTY, SCOT I 3:51:17; BERRIMAN, LINDSEY K 3:58:33; LINDOP, JANE 4:08:51; AITKEN, MARYANNE 5:17:10. Full results HERE.
Kaileen Folkesson
fastest at Paddock Wood
Rob Carr led Sevenoaks in at the Paddock Wood half on Sunday 30 March. Carr made a late start to the race but still overtook all his clubmates for an excellent 230th place in an official chip time 1:32:32. Lyndon Collins (above left) and Erik Folkesson were close together throughout the race with Collins pulling out his trademark determined finish to beat Folkesson by three places 289th to 292nd, although Erik's chip time was slightly quicker 1:34:02 to 1:34:08. Behind these three were Simon Hallpike 410th in 1:37:20, Simon Bishop 453rd in 1:40:08 and Andrew Mead 485th in 1:40:44. For Sevenoaks' women, Debbie Munton led them home in 847th in 1:50:05, followed by Shona Campbell 1167th in 2:01:05 and Lynette Van Der Berg 1316th in 2:07:41. But the fastest Sevenoaks athlete on the day was Kaileen Folkesson who zoomed round the 1.5 mile fun run in 10:15. (Kaileen is the shorter one in the picture of team Folkesson, above right). Full results HERE.
Seven Contest
Folkestone 10
Seven Sevenoaks athletes made the long trip to Folkestone for the County 10 mile Championship and GP event. Chris Desmond led the club's challenge in 47th place in 1:04:58. Mark Haworth was 88th in 1:10:05, followed by Scot Haggarty 126th in 1:12:52, Erik Folkesson 137th in 1:13:31, Sally Shewell 211th in 1:18:36, Debbie Munton 292nd in 1:25:13 and Maryanne Aitken 465th in 1:46:56. See if you can spot Chris at about 1'12" and Mark at around 1'45" - and maybe some others - on the video. Full results HERE.
Knole Park 10k -
16th March
Five runners represented Sevenoaks AC in the rain at the Knole Park 10k on Sunday 16th March. Chris Desmond was a fine fifth in 37:11, with Mark Haworth a couple of minutes and places behind in eighth in 39.18. Ron Denney was a bit further back in 289th in 58.08, while Cathy Hughes was 75th in 45:08 and Lynette Van Der Berg was 284th in 57:59. Can you spot Chris and Mark on the start line? Full results and more pictures HERE.
SAC Seventh at KFL Relay
Sevenoaks fielded a team at the end-of-season KFL relay race at Shorne Woods Country Park on 9th March. Cathy Hughes led Sevenoaks off in 16:29 for 11th place, which Fraser Partridge improved to 9th with 14:37. Sally Shewell held on brilliantly against mainly male opposition to 10th with 16:49, which Mark Haworth improved to 7th with 14:06. Chris Desmond finished off with a fast 13:35 to hold 7th for a total SAC time of 1:15:36. Full results HERE.
Six Brave Thanet 20
Six Sevenoaks athletes made it all the way to Thanet for the Thanet 20 GP event. In windy conditions, Rob Carr led the club's runners home in 85th place in 2:32:27. Rob was followed by 127th Scot Haggarty 2:39:39, 129th Lindsey Shing 2:39:45, 131st Erik Folkesson 2:39:47, 155th Sally Shewell 2:46:23, and 399th Maryanne Aitken 3:53:56. Full results HERE.
Women third at Tunbridge Wells
David Ives was tenth and Scot Haggarty and Lindsey Shing recorded PBs at the TW half on 24 February. And Shing led Suzy Claridge and Sally Shewell to third place in the women's team race - only two points shy of second. Sixteen Sevenoaks athletes took part: David Ives 1:18:42, Malcolm Fisher 1:24:02, Scot Haggarty 1:34:10, James Miller 1:34:40, Robert Carr 1:36:12, Peter Knight 1:35:31, Peter Ash 1:37:52, Lindsey Shing 1:38:45, Lyndon Collins 1:40:36, Suzy Claridge 1:41:00, Sarah Shewell 1:41:22, Simon Hallpike 1:41:44, Simon Bishop 1:50:47, Jim Knight 1:51:54, James Fitzmaurice 2:00:40 and Maryanne Aitken 2:22:20. Full results HERE.
Men Finish Ninth in Kent League
In the final race of the four race Kent League Cross Country Series, David Lee and Mark Haworth backed up Allan Lee and Chris Desmond to give Sevenoaks AC an excellent sixth place in the 10.1 km race at Nurstead Court in Meopham.
On a cold, bright afternoon, Allan Lee took a big step towards recovery from a long-term injury with twelfth place (37:06) over the demanding course with its icy watersplash feature. The other three Sevenoaks runners packed well in the top half of the field with Chris Desmond 55th in 44:01, David Lee 60th in 44:35, and Mark Howarth 62nd in 44:40. The race was won by Dean Lacey of Cambridge Harriers, while the team race went to Tonbridge AC. In the final series positions, Sevenoaks were ninth while Medway and Maidstone AC finished series champions. Full results HERE.
Sevenoaks Finish Ninth in KFL
SAC only just managed to field a full team for the final race in the KFL at Oxleas Wood on Sunday 3rd February. David Lee and Cathy Hughes were the stars on the day. Full report HERE.
Sevenoaks AC Run Well At Canterbury 10
Twelve Sevenoaks AC members competed in the Canterbury 10 mile Road Race in good conditions last Sunday and produced some excellent individual performances. Click HERE for a report by John Denyer. For full results, click HERE.
Two Men Short at Minnis
Chris Desmond was 13th in 39:49, David Lee 28th in 41:23, John Denyer 41st in 43:06, Geoff Kitchener 97th in 47:06 and Peter Nuttall 170th in 55:15 for the under-strength men's team at the KFL XC at Minnis Bay on 13 January. However, with Cathy Hughes 16th in 49:30, Sarah Shewell 27th in 51:42 and Deborah Munton 39th in 53:55, the women scored well for 8th place, with the combined team 12th. For full results, report and standings, click HERE. See also Minnis - the movie HERE.
Sevenoaks Runners Compete at County XC Champs
David Ives (top left) was 39th, Chris Desmond (top
middle) 66th and David Lee (top right) 86th in the Kent XC champs at Detling on
5 January. Allan Lee (above) started the race but had to drop out to protect
his recovery from injury after feeling a twinge. In the under 13 girls race,
Ellie Desmond was 24th and Amelia Gibbons 37th. Full results here.
Road Race and Junior and Senior Track and Field Grand Prix Winners
Announced
For details of the Sevenoaks AC Road and T&F GP final standings click HERE.
Lee Shows His Muddy Heels to the Pack
Allan Lee won the
fifth race of the Kent Fitness League series at Avery Hill on 30 December.
Click HERE for details
Win for Allan at Nurstead Court – 16 December 2007
Allan Lee won the fourth KFL XC at Nurstead Court. For a full report, click HERE.
Members Wear Hats at Xmas Do
Paul Tabor sent
these pictures of the meal on 15 December:
David organised an excellent party as always. The winners of the fancy dress (mad hatters) were June Johnson and David Simpson. Rob Carr was awarded the marshalls’ London Marathon place.
Kent Road Race Grand Prix 2008 Events Announced
For a list of the 10 events involved click HERE.
Sevenoaks M50s Eighth at Kent Vets XC
John Denyer led the team home in 16th place, backed up by Geoff Kitchener and Lyndon Collins. For results click HERE.
Big SAC Turnout at Knole - 25 November 2007
The third round of the Kent
Fitness Series was played out in the stately surrounding of Knole Park on a
crisp and bright November morning. Over 320 made it to the start line in the
middle of the long valley with several dozen deer included amongst the
spectators. Despite the recent rain which had softened up the ground, and the
biting headwind on the return journey, conditions were just about perfect for
racing.
Reigning champion Andy
Pickett led out the field from start to finish to record his 10th league win in
20 attempts, covering the 5.3 mile rollercoaster route in a time of 30.30. Half
a minute behind him, Allan Lee's lack of recent training caught up with him in
the final run in as he just failed to catch international duathlete Graeme
Knott and had to settle for third place in 31:05.
Backing up Lee for the host
club, David Ives had his best run to date in finishing 5th in 31:31, with Lee's
brother David (above left, centre) 36th in 35:16. There were also superb runs
from seventeen year old Mark Haworth (35:30) and fifty-nine year old John Denyer (36:09), who were 40th and 49th
respectively. Lyndon Collins completed the male team scorers in 85th place with
38:27.
In the women's race, there
was a clear win for Tina Oldershaw. The Paddock Wood runner finished ahead of
all but 16 of the men to come home in a time of 33.18. The SAC women were led
in as usual by Heather Fitzmaurice (above centre, centre), who was 4th in
36:27. Fitzmaurice had brilliant support from Jill Bastable (above right,
right), representing SAC in this league for the first time, who was 13th in
39:51, and Sally Shewell, 24th in 41:35. These three placed SAC 4th in the
women's race, won by Dartford Road Runners, while the combined team were fifth
behind Paddock Wood.
In an impressive turnout,
the other SAC runners were Geoff Kitchener 39:19, Erik Folkesson 39:21, Simon
Hallpike 39:50, Cathy Hughes 42:26, Debbie Munton 44:28, Lyndsey Shing 44:29,
Vicky White 45:41, Peter Nuttall 47:56, Ron Denney 50:34, Lynette Vanderberg
56:30, and James Fitzmaurice 57:44.
After 3 races, SAC women
are sixth in the standings and the combined team eighth. Full results HERE.
In the junior race, SAC’s
Caitlin Carr was fourth in the 13-16 girls category. Results HERE.
The league organiser thanked members of Sevenoaks AC for their hard work in staging the race and Rob Carr in particular who
coordinated it all. The next race is at Nurstead Court, Meopham on Sunday 16th
December.
Sevenoaks First and Second at
Swanley
Kent Fitness Cross Country League Match 2: Swanley Park, New
Barn Road, Swanley - 11 November 2007
A full team
from Sevenoaks AC was among over 400 runners lined up for the second race of
the Kent Fitness League series at Swanley Park. This was believed to be the
biggest ever field seen in Kent for a single cross country race outside major
championship meetings.
At the head
of the field was 8 times Kent Cross Country Champion Barry Royden. In a guest
appearance, Royden (below right) took the early lead over the 5.2 mile course,
with Sevenoaks AC’s Allan Lee (centre) matching his pace over the first half of
the race, and his Sevenoaks clubmate Darrell Smith (left) chasing Royden in the
later stages.
The
illustrious guest runner was just strong enough to hold on and crossed the line
15 seconds ahead of Smith in 28:55. But Smith, who was making only his second
league appearance, took maximum points in the individual contest with 29:10 for
the official first place.
Lee, who is
quickly getting back to fitness after a long layoff with calf trouble, came
another 18 seconds back in third in
29:28.
Although missing David Ives, the club’s fastest man last season and in the first match of this series, Sevenoaks AC still had excellent backup for their first two finishers. Veteran Chris Desmond was 20th in 32:14, while 17-year-old Mark Haworth was 48th in a fine 33:47 in his debut in this league.
The other
three scorers for Sevenoaks were David Lee 66th in 34:51, Paul
Shelley (leading, below left) 87th 35:42, and Geoff Kitchener, the over-50
scorer, 126th in 37:27. Also running for the men were Simon Hallpike 151st
in 38:36, and Jim Fitzmaurice (3rd from right, below right) 195th, and second over-65, in
41:06.
In a ladies race won by in-form Tina Oldershaw (Paddock Wood AC), Sevenoaks AC’s Heather Fitzmaurice was 5th in 34:42. She was ably backed up by Sally Shewell 26th in 39:09 and Carol Beadle 29th in 39:42, as well as Cathy Hughes 44th in 41:03 and two recovering athletes: Debbie Munton 62nd in 43:14 and Vicky White 92nd in 46:15.
These performances gave Sevenoaks 5th place in the ladies team race and 6th in the combined event. With five more races to go, the women are 9th in the series and the combined team 10th.
The next race in this
increasingly popular series is hosted by Sevenoaks AC on Sunday 25th
November in Knole Park.
Full results at this link.
Multiple Medals at
Wilmington – 28 October 2007
Eleven runners from Sevenoaks AC contested the county 10k road race championships at Wilmington, winning several medals.
Over an undulating course in windy damp conditions, David Ives was first Sevenoaks athlete to finish, just out of the individual medals in 5th place, in a time of 35:36. Ives was closely followed in 8th place by Jim Duffill, running his first road race of the year in 35:53 and convincingly winning gold for first man over 50.
The next Sevenoaks runner was John Denyer, who won individual bronze in his final year in the over 50 category with 40:37. And to add to their success, these first three runners won the men’s overall team silver, successfully defending the medals which the club had also won the previous year.
In addition, Jim Fitzmaurice was only just outside the over-60 medals finishing fourth in 46:58.
Backing up the men’s team were Lyndon Collins, running his fastest 10k of the year in 43:16, with Simon Hallpike (44:51) and Simon Lewis (48:59) also in attendance.
The club’s first female finisher was Heather Fitzmaurice (seventh over-35) with an excellent 41:50, followed by Carol Beadle who ran a personal best 45:31. Next was Sally Shewell, who crossed the finish line just behind Jim Fitzmaurice and in the same time of 46:58. Shewell was also close to the medals finishing fifth over-45 woman.
But the star of the women’s team was Marion Middleton. Middleton had won gold in her category at the Maidstone half marathon the previous week (see below), and she kept up her good form here with the over-55 bronze in 50:20. Full results here.
Middleton victorious at Maidstone
October fixture congestion left SAC with only two representatives at the Maidstone half on 21st October. But there were excellent performances by Suzy Claridge and, particularly, Marion Middleton. Middleton (No. 462 above left) was first FV55 in 1:52:08 and received a bottle of wine and a glass trophy for her efforts (above right). Claridge recorded a fine 1:43:13 for 14th FV35. Full results here.
Ives leads Sevenoaks home in the Cross Country at Canterbury
Sevenoaks AC competing in the first Fitness League cross country event of the season at Canterbury managed a solid start finishing 10th in the combined team competition despite missing some key runners.
Over 300 runners competed over a five mile course mainly through woods in ideal sunny conditions. David Ives kept up his high standard in this competition and led the mens team home in 6th place with a time of 30.06 mins. Allan Lee returning in his first race after recent Achilles surgery ran well to finish in 20th with a time of 31.56 mins. Fraser Partridge also ran well to finish 48th in a time of 34.07 mins, in his last race before the Amsterdam Marathon in a week’s time.
Not far behind was David Lee finishing 54th but looking decidedly off colour in 34.41mins, and just in front of Rob Peers in 34.43 mins, who has just finished a successful summer season in the pole vault. The battle for the sixth and seventh team position went right up to the line with Geoff Kitchener taking the honours holding off a gallant effort by Geoff Vine with times respectively of 37.59 mins[107th] and 38.02 mins[108th].
The ladies team was led home by Sally Shewell with a very creditable time of 39.30 mins in 28th position in the ladies race. Second finisher for the team was Debbie Munton in 42.24 mins in 50th place overall who ran courageously with a not fully operational shoulder as a result of a recently broken collar bone sustained at the Windsor Triathlon. The final scoring lady was a Sevenoaks new comer Suka Goldfield who did very well for her first race to finish 89th lady with a time of 50.33 mins. Full result here. SAC results here
ASHFORD
10K 7/10/07: GEOFF VINE STORMS HOME 2nd OVER 60 MAN
The Ashford 10k is one of the leading road races in Kent and attracted over 700 runners in perfect still conditions on 7 October. The race starts and finishes at the magnificent Julie Rose Athletics Stadium and is run over a generally flat and undulating course around the town. The local Ashford AC dominated the front of the race and filled the top three positions, Andrew Welch finishing first in 32.39. Also taking full advantage of the conditions a team of three Sevenoaks AC runners produced some excellent performances.
The major honours fell to Geoff Vine who having just recently moved into the Men’s 60 age category shook off recent injury problems to finish 2nd M60 in his first outing in the age group. Geoff’s time of 44.15 saw him placed 118th in the overall rankings and was also an improvement of over a minute on his time in the same race last year.
First Sevenoaks runner to finish was John Denyer in a time of 40.23 in 41st place overall. John is in a good run of form at the moment and at 59 despite being at the top of his age category still managed to secure 4th in the M50 category. Rob Peers completed the Sevenoaks team and following a hard cross country race the previous day finished 73rd in a time of 42.09. Rob is also now concentrating on the Pole Vault and recently became Kent M40 champion with a clearance of 2.60m at the Kent Masters Championships at Erith. Full results here.
Left, L to R, Geoff Vine, John Denyer, Rob Peers at
Ashford. Above, L to R, Simon Hallpike, Scot Haggarty, Jim
Fitzmaurice, Heather Fitzmaurice at Sittingbourne.
SITTINGBOURNE 10
MILE 7/10/07: SAC RUNNERS CHALLENGE FOR GRAND PRIX
At the same time, six Sevenoaks AC runners were contesting the Kent 10 Mile championships over a very hilly course at Sittingbourne. That race was also part of the Kent Road Running Grand Prix – the ninth of ten races in the series. Among the Sevenoaks AC runners taking part, David Ives and Heather Fitzmaurice were in sight of senior series prizes, while Jim Fitzmaurice and Marion Middleton were in the hunt for veterans awards. All four of them kept up their challenges with excellent performances.
David Ives was first to finish in a fine sixth place in 1:00:42, while Heather Fitzmaurice finished in 36th place overall with 1:08:11. Fitzmaurice was under pressure throughout from other women in her over-35 category but held up well to place fourth woman and third F35.
In the masters categories, Jim Fitzmaurice was 5th M60, 122nd overall, in 1:18:33, while Marion Middleton was also 5th, in the W55 category, and 163rd overall with 1:24:55.
Also running were Scot Haggarty and Simon Hallpike, who was overtaken by Haggarty around the six mile mark. Haggarty held on strongly to finish 95th in 1:15:19, with Hallpike a few places back in 99th in 1:16:00.
The final event of the series will be the Wilmington 10k near Dartford on 28 October. Full results here.