A Mud-Yee Weekend!
A Mud-Yee Weekend!
Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 24/11/24–
KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN
24 November 2024
Yesterday two dozen Kent runners went to Guildford to contest the South of the Thames Junior race, in which Kent has a proud history, and which is one of few (along with the corresponding Senior race) to have men and women running together. Despite the challenging conditions of wind and mud, Kent men won the 8-man competition and were second in the 4-man behind Belgrave, who had the first 3 runners home, while we had the next 3. The women came 2nd in the 4 to score – full report below from James Boustead.
Many other races were cancelled due to the weather conditions, including the San Sebastian Marathon, to which Alex Morales had travelled in vain, but Andrea Barber managed a 97 minute half marathon at Battersea in the wind.
Don’t forget the AGM is this Tuesday, at 2030 in the Blythe Hill Tavern, after track. Food will be provided!
And there are still tickets available for the Christmas Party, see below.
Also, in the week that the Good For Age notifications came out, if you didn’t get a London Marathon place, you have another chance in the club ballot. Two places available, and so far not that many names on the list, so your chance is much higher than in the main LM ballot. The draw will be at the Christmas Party, so another reason to go.
“This lovely tribute from my local community is the first time I’ve felt this emotional since Paris and realised the significance of what I’ve achieved,” was Alex’s typically modest and touching response at the ceremony renaming Ladywell Arena in his honour held on Friday morning.
Lewisham’s great and good – Mayor Brenda Dacres, Vicky Foxcroft MP and Cllr Edison Huynh, cabinet member for communities and culture, were there along with children from Stillness School and their head Annie Grimes, plus Kent AC members, plenty of council officers and Better/GLL staff, and the media. The entrance and area outside reception had been tastefully decorated with gold balloons and bunting.
It was Alex’s day and he spoke warmly about his roots and early years. “I’m very honoured and it was brilliant to have so many people here, my family, coaches and teacher, who have helped me so much with my career. I hope that many more young people in Lewisham continue to enjoy and use this arena to follow their dreams and become the very best versions of themselves.”
It’s another worthy and permanent local recognition – two place name murals have already been tweaked in his honour. Alex unveiled a tasteful brass plaque with the new name and just to be sure there’s a huge new sign in a font big enough to be read from the train.
Ken Pike, Spenser Lane and Jon Horsman from Crystal Palace Tri Club spoke of Alex’s talent, determination and development and Cllr Dacres and Vicky Foxcroft spoke more widely of what the achievement means locally and to generations to come. In Vicky Foxcroft’s words “grassroots organisations and venues – such as this very arena – have a vital role to play in ensuring every child gets those choices and chances, no matter what their background”. Len did a brief intro to the club.
In case any member is unaware (surely impossible) Alex is current Olympic and world triathlon champion (pause and say that back to yourself) and, with four medals, Olympic triathlon’s most successful athlete; he’s also widely recognized as triathlon’s strongest runner. He has an outstanding (pure) athletics cv: British 10,000m champion in 2018; senior GB/NI vest at European championships; individual 3rd in National Cross country, 3rd fastest British 5k and 3rd fastest parkrun worldwide (if one is allowed to say that). He also won our 5000m champs in 2014. He joined Kent AC as a teenager and was coached by Spenser Lane and Ken Pike and had a fleeting presence in the B group too. And he still occasionally turns out in a navy blue vest.
His Lewisham roots are impeccable: he was born in Lewisham Hospital, grew up in Brockley and attended Stillness primary school
If that wasn’t enough later in the day he was awarded Team GB’s moment of the games award, having also won on Wednesday the Sports Journalists’ Association’s sportsman of the year award.
This makes Ladywell the third London track to have a personal dedication – Linford Christie/West London and David Weir/Sutton being the others. It strengthens our sports and our bond with the local authority is a major landmark in the track’s history (first opened in 1937, despite what the new plaque says) but most importantly is a tremendous honour to a world-famous athlete who is still very much one of us.
More pics available courtesy of Laurie here.
Len Reilly, Kent AC co-President
As cross-country races go, the weekends South of Thames Junior Race at West Horsley Place wasn’t merely a battle against other runners — it was an elemental war against the wrath of Storm Bert. There was an unspoken camaraderie in the air — this wasn’t just a race; it was survival. The five-mile course had been laid out with optimistic tape that flapped like desperate flags of surrender. The whistle blew — or rather, a shout muffled by the gale — and we were off, slipping and sliding, each runner immediately swallowed by the chaos of the storm.
Owen Hind was our first man across the line – a performance in the Tempest. Just behind him, the mud-loving Cam Dockerill in 5th. Next in was Felix Delgado, who nailed a 6th place finish in his last Kent AC XC race of the season, great to finish with a true taste of British cross country. Mathew Speed, another who knows exactly how to handle adversity, finished closely behind in 10th, with Lyndon Marfell coming home in 12th, after keeping the rest of race honest with his blistering start. Isaac Parker was next through the mud, finishing 15th overall. Calum Fraser came in at 16th overall – continuing his consistently strong 24/25 performances with a no-nonsense performance that every team needs. Finally, rounding out the mens top 8 was Alex Harris, finishing 22nd overall, his great fortitude enough to ensure the mens team took home the Brent shield (top 8 to score) by a near 3 points. The men also finished a commendable 2nd and 3rd in the 4 to score.
Owen and Cam going strong
On the women’s side, it was no less intense. Aisling Ahern was our first finisher, crossing the line as the 4th place woman (57th overall) – strong in the storm and setting the tone for the rest of the team. The 9th woman (79th overall) to cross the line was Victoria Cartwright – she wasn’t going to let the storm dictate the race, she was the storm – showing true determination amongst the downpour. The unyielding spirit of Amy White followed closely as the 12th woman (90th overall) to finish, and it was Elyse Jenkins, portraying calm in the chaos to close the women’s scoring 4 as the 18th woman (111th overall) to finish and securing 2nd place in the women’s team competition!
Storm Bert may have tested us to our limits, but the Kent AC army held strong. We shook hands, caked in mud and grinning like fools. This was cross country at its purest.
Full results can be found here.
Kent AC Christmas party tickets are on sale🎄✨
It’s going to a dazzling affair and we hope to see many of you there to celebrate 2024!
£20 per person including an arrival drink, a buffet and a dancefloor🥂
Purchase your tickets here – get them before they’re gone!
This is notice of our Annual General Meeting, which will be held on Tuesday 26th November at 20:30, upstairs at the Blythe Hill Tavern, 319 Stanstead Rd, SE23 1JB.
Please come along after the track.
Food will be provided.
The AGM is a yearly gathering of the club members, primarily to hear reports from committee members, about the club’s activities and finances; to appoint the committee and vote on any contested positions; to ask questions to the committee, and express your ideas and concerns.
The committee is made up of volunteers and each year every post is up for election.
This year we have the following vacancies:
- President: Our co-presidents Victoria Buck and Len Reilly stand down after their three year stint: a three year fixed appointment ensuring good governance, good decision making and that all the club’s members and activities get a fair allocation of resources; chairing committee
- Membership co-secretary: a job-share role to assist the current incumbent in processing applications and maintaining the membership database
- Track manager: ensuring smooth running of track pass system
- Health & safety: ensuring risk assessments both ongoing and for events are appropriate as well as current and risks mitigated
We’re truly grateful to all for their hard work over this and previous years.
Big thanks, too, to those putting their name forward for roles this year.
A full list of committee, juniors – sub committee and non – committee posts can be found on our website.
Thanks
Vic and Len
When you’re waiting around on the cross country field, then layering up after the race, your best friend is your Kent AC bobble hat. If you are still lacking this style essential, you can go to the Kent AC online shop to order and pay. Your ears will thank you for it.
If you failed to get a London Marathon place, you have a second chance.
The club will have two places and we’ll run a ballot as in previous years. There is one extra criterion, to encourage volunteering at the club – you have to have helped the club out in some way this year.
The criteria are:
1. Be a fully paid up club member.
2. Been rejected in the London Marathon 2025 ballot (need to provide evidence)
3. Have run for the club in 2024 (state which race)
4. Have volunteered for the club in some way in 2024.
This can include manning the gate at the track, marshalling or otherwise helping at an open meet or a race, being a coach or holding a committee post. You still have a chance to do so before the draw.
The draw will take place later this year at the Christmas Party on 14 December.
If you wish to enter the draw, send an email to Phil at , with evidence of your LM rejection, what races you have run, and what volunteering you’ve done.
Deadline: 13th December
November
23 – South of Thames Junior XC – West Horsley Place, Guildford
26 – AGM – Blythe Hill Tavern
30 – Kent Vets XC Championships – Central Park, Dartford
December
7 – SEAA Masters XC Championships – Horspath, Oxford (tbc)
14 – Christmas Party – St Dunstan’s Jubilee Ground, Catford
21 – South of Thames Senior XC – Somerhill School, Tonbridge
2025
January
4 – Kent County XC Championships – Brands Hatch
11 – Surrey League XC – tbc
25 – Southern XC Champs – Beckenham Place Park
February
8 – Surrey League XC – Epsom
22 – National XC – Parliament Hill
March
30 – 12/6 Stage Road Relay Championships – Milton Keynes
April
12 – 12/6 National Road Relays – Sutton Coldfield
25 – London Marathon
Over 7,000 brands pay easyfundraising a commission when you start your shop through their platform, so you can raise FREE donations for us no matter what you’re buying. These donations really help us out, so please sign up if you haven’t yet. It’s easy and FREE! You can get started at https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/kentac
You can also install a helpful Chrome extension, which prompts you to donate whenever doing any online shopping – really handy
Buy your track pass here.
The usual track times are:
Tuesday 17:30 – 20:45
Thursday 18:00 – 20:30
Sunday 09:00 – 11:30
Please note that individuals are permitted to do their own sessions during club opening times, but coached group sessions continue to take priority.
Track Pass – Juniors
Please purchase your £5 junior monthly track pass in advance here. When purchasing the track pass can parents/guardians please enter the athlete’s name when completing the transaction
Please see a helpful FAQs guide here
Ladywell Arena has opening hours dedicated to the public. While during these times the Kent AC track pass is not valid, members can pay for an individual session.
Session times are:
Monday: 07:00 -15:00
Tuesday – Thursday: 1300 -1700
Friday: 07:00 – 15:00
Saturday – Sunday: 09:00-15:00
Price:
Adult resident: £2.70
Adult non resident: £3.00
Junior (U16): £1.30
The Kent AC track pass continues to be required for training on Tues/Thurs evenings and Sunday mornings.
Track staff have encouraged people to double check the opening hours before their training session, as they may occasionally be closed for school sport days and football friendlies. Hours can be checked here. This will likely suit members who can’t make training sessions but would like to train in the morning/lunchtime/evening.
Pay as you go fees can either be paid via cash to the desk or using the Better app (note: staff are working to add the sessions to the app).
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