Strength, speed and endurance
Strength, speed and endurance
Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 13/07/25–
KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN
13 July 2025
Your Kent AC newsletter this week is being sent out by a 62-year-old-woman. A solipsistic start to the news, maybe, but read on to discover the relevance.
Clare Elms ran 18:11:08 at the Tracksmith Twilight London 5000 in Battersea last Thursday. While the majority of 60-plus women, your editor included, were sitting around complaining about the heat and their ailments, this extraordinary athlete was smashing her own British W60 record by 24 seconds. A very happy Clare thanked her Kent AC colleague Richard Giles for perfect pacing.
Clare Soars
Power couple: with Richard pacer Giles
In other results from the Tracksmith fixture, Owen Hind ran 14:47, Noah Armitage-Hooks ran 15:06, Harry Tivnen PB-ed with 15:22, Matthew Speed 15:30, Jo Vis 15:50; Joe Hartley 15:51, Mikhail Krivomazov 15:52, Rob Laing15:56, Sam Dames 16:16, Alex Harris 16:54 and Philip Woodford Smith 17:28
Many congratulations to all.
On Friday, in cold, rainy conditions (what those?) in Poland, John Flack ran a new 400m PB of 49:20 in the under-18 Champs at Poznan and finished eighth. The winner ran 47.77.
Also today, over in Westminster, Saucony closed the traffic for a quick 10k, although most runners found it less than speedy, what with the crowds and the heat bouncing off the streets. We had several Kent AC athletes running, but the first to hit us with an entertaining action shot was Narciso, so we’ll celebrate his 54:25-minute result with this:
Narciso celebrates with a balloon
One way to avoid the horrors of road running in a heatwave is to enjoy a little run out of town, perhaps to the seaside or through bosky woodland. Sadly, you can take this advice to extremes, as Raymond Tedders and Ash Green did this weekend, with a 100k Race to the Stones along the sun-baked Ridgeway, which does include ancient forest as well as miles and miles of dusty chalk paths. In searing heat. Some people don’t know when to stop, although I read that the refreshment stations were very alluring. Well done to both ultrarunners.
We will be hosting our next event at the Alex Yee Ladywell Arena on Saturday 26th July – the Ron Hale Open, which will have multiple track and field events.
These include the Sprint Hurdles, 100m, 300m, 400m and 1500m, and the Long Jump and Triple Jump.
Entries are open to everybody, both KAC members and members of other clubs (provided they have EA membership) – sign up here.
U17 girls Tess Hepple and Phoebe Folarin acquitted themselves in fine style. Both competed at the English Schools national championships in Birmingham on 11/12 July. Tess qualified to represent Kent in the 80m hurdles. Phoebe qualified to represent London in the high jump. Tess made it through to the final and came 6th with 11.52 secs. Phoebe came 11th with a jump of 1.57m. Huge congratulations to them – a massive achievement to participate in the games and to gain such crucial experience.
Tess Hepple
Phoebe Folarin
Fancy helping raise funds for the club and, if you’re lucky, winning some dosh? It’s £6/month to choose your numbers for the Kent AC lottery, with a chance to win £250.
If you are interested in more information, email
July
26 – Ron Hale Open
31 – Assembly League – Victoria Park
August
5 – Track social
16 – KYAL – Dartford
30 – SAL – Basildon
September
2 – Track Social
4 – Assembly League – Beckenham Place Park
7 – Big Half – London
11 – Late Summer Meet
20 – SEAA 6/4/3 Stage Road Relays @TBC
October
4 – ERRA 6/4 Stage Relays at Sutton Park
11 – Surrey League xc – Hurst Green
November
15 – Surrey League xc – Beckenham Place Park
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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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