In a league of our own
In a league of our own
Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 10/11/24–
KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN
10 November 2024
On Friday, Clare Elms won a well deserved award for the Kent County Female Masters Athlete of the Year. A woman that never fails to amaze us!
Clare looking glam
We’re just over a month away from one of our favourite events on the Kent AC calendar. Tick it off the to-do list, head to the SumUp store and purchase your ticket for the Christmas party now!
Read on for some very exciting news involving our golden boy Alex, a full race report from our XC captains and an important message from our welfare team below!
Lewisham Council have just told us that they have agreed to rename our home, Ladywell Arena, the Alex Yee Arena in honour of member and Olympic champion Alex.
This is a huge and well-deserved accolade for Alex, concluding a season that has seen him crowned Olympic and world champion. Not only will it bring Alex the very public and permanent recognition he deserves, it will strengthen the bond between the track, those who manage it and those that use it. A win for everybody.
A renaming ceremony will take place in the near future, which will of course involve the club, plus the council and other dignitaries.
More to follow.
57 men and 23 women, not counting marshals, officials or supporters. Crikey, what a turnout from you all making for a great day out for our home match. Results wise there was an uptick from the first match, with men moving fifth to fourth following a 152-point improvement and our women holding steady in sixth but shaving a few places off the total score to 206.
It feels like the SL has been increasing in depth and quality for some time. This year seems no expectation. Pre-covid, being within a minute of the winner would comfortably put you in the top 10, now it’s struggling to make the top 25. Within two minutes would be top 25th but now it’s top 35th. The phrase ‘every second counts’ becomes truer by the year.
The men’s team was a strong mixture of experience, impressive returns from injury and new joiners. Leading us home in 4th was Jonathan Collier, new to the club but extremely experienced and boasting a sub 65-minute half marathon. Next was Owen Hind showing an acceptable return to form in 12th for his second-best SL position since February 2020. Rob Sesemann was comfortably in his favourite position of 20th. Our Bourdeaux loanee Felix Delgado improved from October to finish 24th before a gap to new father showing off his dad strength, Max Nicholls in 36th. Dame was as dependable as ever in 40th, Isaac improved massively thanks to his consistent training this autumn to 41th. Kurt put in possibly the performance of the match after his recent injury struggles in 50th. Matt Speed made a welcome return in 71st and Chris Greenwood passed a late fitness test to close the team out in 78th. Honourable mention to Guy Barnett for travelling back from uni to race for us and to James Steatham for closing out the Kent pack in the 300s.
Nearly all 57 made the shot!
On the women’s side, I say Amy, you say Clements. I say Amy, you say CLEMENTS. Yes, Amy is truly back on form leading the line with verve and strength again; coming home in 11th. Bryony was next home in 35th for her season opener. Aisling Ahern improved on the last match by 10 places for 43rd, ahead of Ellie in 52 continuing her very strong year. And closing the team was Clare (no surname needed), somehow still fresh after her latest award night the night before. Lastly, congrats to Annabelle Hadlow for closing out the very long Kent blue line.
Glowing girls
Photos: Kieran Fitzpatrick
The next fixture is the South of the Thames Junior in two weeks’ time. There are still a few days to sign-up via the spreadsheet, so get that admin done nice and early.
Thank you
XC captains
Anti-Bullying Week (11-15 Nov) is an annual event in the UK that aims to raise awareness of bullying and promote ways to prevent it, and aligns with Kent AC and England Athletics Anti-Bullying policy.
Its primary objectives are to empower children and young people to take action against bullying, to promote respect and kindness, and to encourage a positive culture where everyone feels safe, valued, and included.
Kent AC is committed to providing a caring, friendly, and safe environment for all of our members so they can participate in an inclusive sport where everyone belongs and can flourish.
Bullying can be defined as repeated behaviour which is intended to hurt someone either emotionally or physically and is often aimed at certain people because of their race, religion, gender or sexual orientation, or any other aspect such as appearance or disability.
This statement relates to both online and face to face bullying. Bullying of any kind is unacceptable. Bullying takes many forms but ultimately it is the perception of the victim that determines whether or not they are being bullied rather than the intention of the bully. We expect that all volunteers and staff will work together to prevent and reduce bullying.
If bullying does occur, everyone should be able to speak up and know that incidents will be dealt with promptly and effectively.
This means that anyone who knows that bullying is happening is expected to tell the club welfare officer, committee member, competition provider or England Athletics.
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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