The (Cape) Wrath of Kent
The (Cape) Wrath of Kent
Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 25/05/25–
KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN
25 May 2025
First up, this Thursday we have our second track event of the summer, with races over 200m, 800m and 3000m. We have heard suggestions that these races are for the ‘pros’ or very serious runners only – this isn’t the case, all races are open to anybody (age limits permitting for the juniors) So if you want to set a time in an event you haven’t run before, or beat a PB, or just do it for fun, then sign up below.
We’re at the time of year when runners find more adventurous places to challenge themselves. Last week saw a few Kent runners doing various distances in Snowdonia. Undoubtedly the runner of this week – in fact it took him all week – is Alex Morales.
Alex completed the Cape Wrath Ultra, a fearsome 8 day 400km (250 mile) race in the far north west of Scotland, ending this afternoon at the Cape Wrath lighthouse after 65 hours of racing! It was his 3rd attempt and first success, his previous two having been curtailed by injury and illness. A huge achievement that it’s exhausting just to contemplate.
Alex with lighthouse
Closer to home, 3 Kent runners completed the South Downs 50k today – Gian Valentini in 4:43, Alex Robbins in 5:07 and Ash Green in 5:58. Last week Pierre Flasse did the Jurassic Coast 100k in 16:06 hrs.
Ash, Gian and Alex
More conventionally, James Stewart completed the Edinburgh marathon in 4:19, and Alex Gillespie ran the Folkestone 10k in just under 40 minutes.
Last Sunday dozens of our juniors competed well in the KYAL at Bromley against tough opposition – results and report below.
And in midweek, several Kent teams did the fun annual relays in Beckenham Place Park, picking up a few medals – full report below.
There’s another fun relay event in Dulwich Park in a few weeks, entries are being submitted soon, so if you want to take part – the format is teams of 3, 1 mile laps each – then add your name to the sheet here. You don’t need to have a team, just sign up and you’ll be slotted into one.
We have lots of events – running and social – filling out the calendar in the summer months, so do check down below. The first track social – just a few drinks at the track clubhouse – is on Tuesday 3rd June. See you there!
Highlights of the afternoon include Reuben Smith gaining 3rd place in both the U15 200m and LJ, Evie Atanda 2nd in the U13 70mh, Georgia Fox 2nd and Holly Hales 1st B string in the U13 1000m walk, Thomas Brain 3rd in the U13 800m, and Zacharias Murray 2nd in the U13 75mh and HJ.
The secret to doing well in these team competitions is not just having outstanding athletes, but it’s filling out the card with scoring performers in every event. Kent managed to field athletes in 85 out of 86 events, which is tremendous, and a great improvement on last year, for which credit goes to the coaches. Thanks too to Kent-supplied officials, mostly willing parents, who also contributed maximum points to the total.
And well done to all junior athletes who competed, especially if doing non-favoured events. Roll on the next fixture, in Medway on July 5th!
On Wednesday, 21st May, 32 Kent AC runners proudly represented the mighty blue vest at the 2025 Beckenham Relays, reports road captain Jake Simmonds.
Kicking things off on the first leg were Joe Vis for the men’s team, Claire Oxlade for the women’s, and Ellie Freeden for the mixed team. The hilly 2.6-mile lap was no problem for Joe, who got the men’s team off to a great start, finishing 3rd on leg 1 with a time of 13:19. The next blue vests to appear over the final hill were Ellie Freeden (15:47) and Molly O’Connor (15:59). Ellie and Molly were in a close battle coming back into the park, but Ellie’s experience on the course showed as she pulled away in the closing stages. Samuel Wilcock (16:24) and Claire Oxlade (16:29) followed soon after. There were also great runs from Hugh, Lesley, Alice, Elyse, Fran, and Anna Delis—to name just a few who ran leg 1.
Rob Sesemann and Amy Clements both showed their class on leg 2. The local legend of Beckenham Place Park, Rob, demonstrated how experience on the course pays off. Running 12:49, Rob clocked the fastest male leg of the day and brought the mixed A team into 1st place in the category, and into the overall top 10. Up next was Amy Clements—who has recorded top 10 women’s parkrun times on multiple occasions this year. Amy ran an impressive 14:36, potentially setting a women’s course record, and brought the women’s A team into 1st place in their category. Robbie Smith (14:24) and Flo Ingram (16:35) kept the men’s A team and women’s B team in medal contention. Chris Schofield, Aaron Ben-Joseph, Tim Church, Nesrin, and junior Lucas Stickland also ran strong leg 2s.
Leg 3 saw several Kent runners hold firm to secure team medals. Jake Simmonds (13:20) held off Blackheath & Bromley to win gold in the mixed team category. Ellie, Rob, and Jake combined for a total time of 41:56. Alexa Parker (15:42) ran a controlled leg to bring the women’s A team home in the gold medal position. The women’s team has now won the Beckenham Relays team title four years in a row—well done Claire, Amy, and Alexa! Also in medal contention were the women’s B team: Molly, Flo, and Victoria Cartwright. Fresh off her Chislehurst Half Marathon win last Sunday, Victoria (17:37) held off a strong challenge from Blackheath & Bromley’s Jennie Butler to secure a double podium for the women. This is the second time in four years that Kent AC’s women have had two teams on the podium.
Thanks also to Sally, Jo Cartledge, Ben Hope, Dame Dibaba, Rupert Bedford, Rebecca Palser, and Ewan Willis. A big shoutout to Joe Vis, who ran another strong leg (13:59) on leg 3 to help complete the men’s D team. Special mention to the Mixed B team, made up of juniors Alice Hales, Lucas Stickland and Ewan Willis, who came 40th out of 157 teams.
Results Summary
Men’s Teams
A Team – 7th
B Team – 36th
C Team – 31st
D Team – 15th
Women’s Teams
A Team – 1st
B Team – 3rd
C Team – 42nd
D Team – 62nd
E Team – 97th
Mixed Teams
A Team – 6th overall / 1st in category
B Team – 40th overall / 12th in category
Full results here.
Sign up for our first Club Championships of the year!
When?
The evening of Thursday 29th May
Where?
Our home track, The Alex Yee Ladywell Arena
Which events?
200m (U11+)
800m (U13+)
3000m (U17+)
How do I enter?
Following feedback in previous years of wanting results to be official (i.e., on powerof10) and also to use photofinish (especially requested by sprinters, but not exclusively), we have gone to the trouble of getting an event license from UKA and hiring photofinish. This comes at a cost so whilst we have tried to keep entry fees at a minimum we are taking entry fees. Please enter at OpenTrack using the link below:
https://data.opentrack.run/en-gb/x/2025/GBR/kent-ac-esm/
Can my friend in another club enter?
Per our licensing, this is an Open Meeting. Kent AC members get discount on entry, however.
I don’t want to compete, can I still come?
We would love for you to come spectate and/or help out, please see our volunteer sheet and add your name here and how you can contribute.
Will there be refreshments?
We will set up a water station but to keep the budget and organising to a minimum, refreshments will only be available for officials and volunteers. Please feel free to bring your own.
May
29 – Early Summer Meet – Alex Yee Ladywell Arena
June
3 – Track social
5 – Assembly League – Crystal Palace Park
11 – Kent AC Wednesday social run
18 – Dulwich Relays – Dulwich Park
22 – SAL – Woodford Green
July
1 – Track social
3 – Assembly League – Sutcliffe Park
5 – KYAL – Medway Park
9 – Kent AC Wednesday social run
13 – SAL – Eltham
26 – Ron Hale Open
August
5 – Track social
7 – Assembly League – Victoria Park
16 – KYAL – Dartford
30 – SAL – Basildon
September
4 – Assembly League – Beckenham Place Park
7 – Big Half – London
11 – Late Summer Meet
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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 £6.50 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
The Alex Yee 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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