No Horsleying Around
No Horsleying Around
Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 12/01/25–
KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN
12 January 2025
Read the Kent AC newsletter and you’ll find that it is in fact hot.
That’s because navy vests were lining up to race and set their PBs alight this weekend, whether at the Surrey League in West Horsley or over in Valencia. Well done to our own Alex Yet for finishing in 28:08, for what is technically his first 10km road race outside of triathlons. Meanwhile, Jonathan Collier finished in 29:27, Owen Hind in 29:57 and Jeremy Kempke in 33:52. Over at the Olympic Park, Robbie Smith also scored a 10km PB in 36:15.
This week’s newsletter has some important information about the upcoming National XC, on home turf at Parliament Hill, with a deadline for action by 28th January. If you need any spurring on, then read the report from yesterday’s XC below.
Yesterday’s baltic Surrey League third fixture at West Horsley Place was riddled by train cancellations, random cars on the course and of course the classic cocktail of ice and mud mixed together.
52 Kent AC runners graced the course, putting those winter training sessions into good use. A full report will follow next week, but for now, it’s suffice to say that pictures speak more than a thousand words. Check out Laurie’s lens of the day here and you’ll see the scenes that unfolded as the men’s A team came 4th, men’s B team came third, women’s A team came 6th, women’s B team came 8th.
Well done everyone who raced at West Horsley Place. For anyone who thought ‘gosh, 7.8km felt a bit short for a race’ or ‘what I really want is a much bigger hill to run up in the name of an enviable hobby’? Perhaps you are too familiar with competitors in the south London area. Well good news, the XC nationals are being held on 22 February at Parliament Hill, London!
After last year’s fiasco of last-minute cancellation, the premier XC race being close to public transport and actual paved car parking means everyone can once again do battle alongside the bravest and best in the country.
The committee has agreed to continue asking athletes for personal contributions to championship races. In the name of openness, entry is £16 (or 45% of your club membership fee) and anyone keen to run is asked to contribute £5 of that cost.
The sum-up link is open until 9pm on Tuesday 28th January. This is to allow any last-minute chats with coaches or captains at training that night to agree racing plans.
Please purchase your place right here.Don’t delay!
We have not one but two exciting opportunities upcoming to fill your feel-good quota and get some volunteering in. It’ll make dry January fizz by in a flash, I promise.
First up, we have the the Southern Cross Country Championships take place at Beckenham Place Park on 25 January. We need more marshals for this race. If you can spare an hour or two to volunteer and help the club put on a great race, please contact Phil Marsden and the comms team directly here.
Secondly, the club will be organising a social parkrun at Catford on Saturday 1st February. If you would like to volunteer and be the real star of the show, adored and applauded by all, then please drop a line to catford@parkrun.com to offer your services.
Winner is the offer closest to the total number of years of Kent AC membership in the above image. Answers on a postcard please.
Len will share the magic number in next week’s newsletter.
The latest winner of this year’s Club Draw was Dennis Fairbrass, as No. 4 was the bonus ball last Saturday.
This is a monthly fundraising draw.
Each participant is allocated a number from the lottery for the year and whoever has the bonus ball on the first Saturday of the month wins £250.00.
The annual cost is £72 or it can be paid monthly by a standing order of £6.
A few numbers have become available this year, if you are interested, email treasurer@kentac.org.uk
January
25 – Southern XC Champs – Beckenham Place Park
February
8 – Surrey League XC – Epsom
22 – National XC – Parliament Hill
March
30 – 12/6 Stage Southern 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.
Buying your pass in January gives you 11 months 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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