Saturday night and Sunday morning
Saturday night and Sunday morning
Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 15/12/24–
KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN
15 December 2024
In Uganda the weather was hot, and that was more of an issue for Ralph Weir, who ran the first ever Gulu marathon. Managing a sub-sub-four-hour time in the punishing conditions there was a huge achievement.
Stevenage Half Marathon went ahead (it was one of the few races not to be cancelled in the run-up to the tempest). So without further ado, let’s recap …
Alex Robbins took to the tornado conditions like a duck to water and ran the half in 90mins.
Peter Range ‘snuck in under 1:34’.
Big congratulations to any Stevenage runners who took on the weather and raced.
Races that took place today (15 December) included the excellent Lesnes Abbey 5 mile trail race and the Telford 10k.
Also in this weeks news, we have important festive track opening times (don’t forget the Paarlauf on Tuesday 17 December), a gentle reminder to renew your annual track pass and step up to the gate once in a while. We’re also in need of Marshalls for the cross country on 4 January.
The event of this weekend was, of course Saturday night’s Kent AC merry annual Christmas bash. We raise our Santa hats to Ellie Freeden, who organised the whole shebang. Evidently this year’s main attraction was karaoke, with Amy Clements revealing a talent for crooning that’s nearly as good as her running. People were too busy enjoying themselves to take loads of pictures, but just feast your eyes on the gorgeously appointed runners out of Lycra below:
Party shots (above)
L to R (below) Jo, Anna, Ellie and Sophia scrub up well...
(l to r) James Bowler, Ronnie Haydon, Dame Dibaba, Nicky Hayes, Rob Harvey
Dame won!
Dame enjoying his trophy
A few eagle-eyed members spotted there was a trail race going on this morning, starting at the ruins of Lesnes Abbey and negotiating five miles’ worth of hills and spills through Oxleas Woods. It was a gnarly and challenging course and a well-marshalled and organised small race. Thanks to Plumstead Runners. First man across the tape: our Dame. Apologies to Ian Ellwood, who also ran, but this camera person’s phone died before we could get him in a picture. No official results yet.
Kent AC runners also made their way to Telford for a 10k challenge (whether these same runners also attended the party the night before isn’t clear, but respect if they did). Here are the 10k results
Owen Hind, 12th in 29.22
Jonathan Collier, 21st in 29:35
Cam Dockerill, 30:39
Kurt Wilkinson 31:25
Rob Seseman 31:33
Jake Simmonds 31:35
Harry Tivnen, 32:11
Luke Rowland, 34:43
At the Kent AC Christmas party, Victoria Buck announced the President Awards – for exceptional services to Kent AC
As there hasn’t been an awards evening for a number of years, the awards were given for the years 2021-2024. They were:
2021 John Barron
2022 Dan Ansell
2023 Sarah Crichton
2024 David Devlin
In their capacity as co-presidents, Len and Victoria also determined that the following individuals should be recognised for their achievements in 2024:
Best overall female athlete Clare Elms
Best overall male athlete Joe Appiah
Best road athlete Nick Torry
Best track athlete Alexa Parker
The question on everyone’s lips: Will we be able to train on the track on Christmas Day? Of course not, that would be ridiculous, there are parkruns to consider.
However it’s worth noting the Christmas holiday track opening dates:
Tuesday December 17: track open as usual, and Coach Adrian organises a Paarlauf – a not-to-be missed opportunity for mixed-ability teams chosen by Adrian to run 4miles per team.
Thursday 19 December: track closed
Sunday 22 December: track open
Tuesday 24 December: track closed
Thursday 26 December: track closed
Sunday 29 December: track open
Tuesday 31 December: track open
Thursday 2 January 2025: track open for all those NY resolutions to come to fruition
2025 Track passes will be available from Monday 16 December.
If purchased before 31December you will get 2 months free (£130/year).
If purchased in January, it will be 12 months for the price of 11 (£143/year).
After that it will be the £13 per month.
Please give some thought to volunteering for gate duty. It’s essential that people buy their passes and show them to a representative at the gate.
KCAA have requested clubs to help out with marshalling at the Kent County XC Champs at Brands Hatch on Saturday 4th January. If you can help, please fill in the form on their website. If you’re running, you can still potentially help before or after your respective race.
http://kcaa.org.uk/
A message from a south-east London borough that’s gone triathlon mad:
Come on Lewisham! Let’s vote for Alex Yee as BBC Sports Personality of the Year
Alex is not just a very talented athlete, he is humble, generous and committed to sport in Lewisham. He is a real inspiration to young people in Lewisham and everyone within the sporting community.
He reminds us that dreams do come true!
Alex is on the shortlist of six for the 2024 BBC Sports Personality of the Year. This is being broadcast on BBC1 at 7-9pm next Tuesday 17 December and voting will take place live during the show via phone or BBC website.
So COME ON LEWISHAM!
Let’s do it for Lewisham sports and tune in to BBC1 at 7pm next Tuesday to VOTE FOR ALEX!
“Lewisham to the World!”
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. How will you get your hands on one? Contact Sarah Young, either on any of the WhatsApp groups, or via the website
For all those who are wondering who the lucky winners to be drawn out of the hat for a place in the 2025 TCS London Marathon, the agony is over.
The two Kent AC runners whose agony is about to start with 16 weeks of winter training are:
John Gilchrist and Rob Harvey
Well done, both!
December
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
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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
NOTE that seasonal adjustments mean that track will be closed 19, 24, 26, 31 December (see Seasonal Track, above)
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.
If you renew your annual pass before 31.12.24 you will receive 10 months for the price of 12.
Buying your pass in January gives you 11months for the price of 12.
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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