I attach the interim results for yesterday evening’s (29 June) meeting at Ashford. By the narrowest of margins, 33 to 32 points, we squeezed past Swanley AC to take third place in Division 2. This means that, barring catastrophe, we should take third place overall in the series when the last meeting takes place – at Gillingham on 10 July.
Every performance yesterday counted towards this, in a context where the journey to Ashford created great difficulties. Rob Carr was defeated by holdups on the M3 and M25, attempting to reach the meeting from Southampton. Duncan Cochrane and James Graham were caught by the closure of the M20 between Leeds and Ashford, as the police imposed Operation Stack following the closure of Calais Port, so they missed their first races. Geoffrey Kitchener and David Simpson just got through in time as the police were arriving to close the motorway.
Our star performance was by James Graham in the 3000m, his victory in the Division 2 M50 event in 10 minutes 54.0 seconds probably placing him sixth in the UK M60 rankings, and so improving his current twelfth place by 24.5 seconds. This time also took apart John Denyer’s long-standing M60 club best performance. Duncan and Maurice Marchant, amongst the youngsters of the M35A and B 3000m races, both took fourth places. Because of the traffic problems, our only 400m runner was Ron Denney, who participated as an M35A athlete, achieving 1 minute 44.5 seconds. This looks likely to be worth a place in the top ten M75 UK rankings.
Ron and David Simpson both competed in the hammer throw, as M60s and M50s respectively. The M60 event was, in spite of the age categories, the tougher competition; David took third place with the lighter implement in the M50s. Maurice earned three points in the M35 hammer throw. Rounding up the field events, Duncan captured second place in the M50 triple jump.
Triple jump officiating duties detained Geoffrey Kitchener for the length of the meeting, just releasing him in time for the final event, the 4 x 400m relay. Our team comprised Geoffrey, Duncan, Maurice and James, and came in fourth with a time of 5 minutes 19.8 seconds. We were the oldest relay team competing, our youngest athlete being in the M55 age category; and as there appears to be no SAC club best performance previously recorded for the M55 group, we finished with another club best!
The next meeting, the final one of the series, is at Gillingham on Friday 10 July.
The Gillingham programme is:
6.45 men’s long jump (including over 60s); women’s 100m and discus
7.05 men’s 100m
7.25 women’s 800m (including over 60s)
8.00 men’s discus; women’s long jump (including over 60s)
8.05 men’s 800m (including over 60s)
8.45 women’s 4 x 200m relay
8.55 men’s 4 x 200m relay.
I shall be away on 10 July, but Rob Carr has kindly agreed to undertake the team management for that meeting, although I would like to sort things out as far as possible beforehand. So, if you are able to attend, please let both me and Rob know, as soon as practicable, mentioning your preferred event(s) – and any others you might do in addition, if we cannot fill a gap.
If anyone needs a lift, please advise. The venue is the Black Lion Leisure Centre, Medway Park, Mill Road, Gillingham ME7 1HF. Approaching from the Medway Tunnel, go past the first junction. Then at the next turn right onto the B2004/Gillingham Gate Road, left onto Mill Road and right into Medway Park. There is a pay and display car park, but last time we had a competition here, we found that centre users are supposed to be able to obtain a refund of parking fees on production of a part of their ticket at centre reception. Gillingham station is 10 minutes’ walk. The stadium has an 8 lane track and is an excellent venue, which has only rarely been made available for league competition.
Best wishes,
Geoffrey