Track to track bangers
Track to track bangers
Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 14/09/25–
KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN
14 September 2025
We bade a fond farewell to summer racing on Thursday 11 September when the 5000m championships, as well as 200m, and junior 800m races took place at the Alex Yee arena. Laurie Oliver’s entrancing photos capture the atmosphere: from twilight, when the junior races took place, through to the night-time 5km runs. A selection of images below, and massive congratulations to Alexa and Owen, our 5000m champions:
Other images from that memorable evening:
Wednesday 10 September was another red letter day for the phenomenal Clare Elms. After running 38:46:9 at the VAC 10,000m Championships at Battersea she is the proud holder of the British Record. Extraordinary achievement.
Over the weekend (Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 September a number of Kent AC’s senior athletes travelled ) to Derby to compete in the BMAFTrack and Field Championships.
Joe Appiah, one of our strongest athletes, won M50 100m hurdles in 14:07.
Lin Skinner ran 5:08:16, a PB for the silver medal in the 1500m: 
In her post-race interview, she said
“It was a very tough race: I’d planned to tuck in owning to the wind, not go for a PB and have a fast finall lap. The other athletes ran the whole thing at my PB pace, and I was fourth at the final bend so through to myself ‘ I’ve travelled all this way and I’m not going home without a medal…overtook and sprinted for the line!”
Also up there in Derby was Emily Murray, competing in the triple jump. After a great SAL season she was determined to make the podium, and she did:
Emily, a V45 athlete, jumped 9.33. Having injured her hamstring on Wednesday she only managed one jump in the first of 6 rounds then had to sit out the rest of the rounds. She was beaten to the gold in the final round by 14cm. This was frustrating as at the SAL a couple of weeks ago she had jumped a PB (and a club record) of 9.67m, and came 3rd overall, despite being the only Masters athlete in the competition, and starting the event a year ago.
For now, it’s time for Emily to rehab that hamstring before the European Masters in Madeira next month.
Victoria Buck (VW50) ran the 800m and was just edged out of th bronze medal contention with her fourth place in 2:42:76.
Another of strongest AC veteran, Philip Sanders, was first V50 in the Basildon Half Marathon in 77 minutes. Mark George (V55), who trains with Adrian and Ted’s groups, ran 1:32:27 in the same race.
Late marathon news:
In the Tallin marathon, Alex Morales ran 3:11:53.
In the Vilnius Marathon, Che Compton was first GB runner in a time of 2:50:17.
Meanwhile, when you’re a Kent AC runner and on holiday in Italy it pays to be race ready. Dee O’Brian proved this by popping on her trainers and winning the Arezzo Confartigianato Run, a “spectacular night race of two laps through the streets of the town and a thigh-busting hill to the finish.”
In a nod to her biceps femoris, she was awarded a very large ham, as well as a chunk of parmesan and a tin of cannelloni beans (covering all dietary bases, there).
Congratulations to all.
The cross-country season kicks off on 15 October for the Surrey League at Hurst Green.
Details will follow for each individual race, but for now please check out the fixtures and start signing up on the spreadsheet. Important note to please make sure that your England Athletics membership is up to date and paid for beforehand.
A reminder also that across the cross country season there are six club championships at stake: male, female, main champs (at South of the Thames on 20th December), Grand Prix and Grand Prix handicap. The Grand Prix and handicap are for the best six performances across the whole 9 races of the XC season. The grand prix rewards the overall best and most loyal performer, whilst the handicap can only be described as a dark art- a handicap using best six performances of the same 9 races.
Last year’s winners were: John Gilbert and Amy Clements for champs, Matt Speed and Aisling Ahern for the Grand Prix, and Calum Fraser and Jo Mott for the handicap. Good luck to all this year!
If you have any questions, please let your XC Captains (Owen, James, Gen, Parris, Jason, Nicky, Jules) know and they’ll gladly help. Spikes at the ready.
Huge congratulations to Auberon Dragten (U17) on being selected for the 2025-27 England Athletics Youth Talent Programme (YTP).
The YTP is a highly selective 2-year programme, open to the very best 16-18 year-old athletes and para-athletes in England. It provides specialist support — from nutrition and psychology to physiotherapy — and helps athletes develop both on the track and in education. Those completing the linked DiSE qualification also gain 64 UCAS points. Auberon is the first from our Juniors section to be chosen, thanks to his superb 400 m PB of 48.56. A reminder of the potential amongst our young athletes. With commitment, and the right support from the whole Kent AC “village” he won’t be the last — whether through the YTP or, for our U20/U23 athletes, the Talent Development Programme, which is the next step on the England Athletics pathway. The talent is there.
At the AGM all committe posts are open to election. If you’re interested in a role then please contact the President or Secretary to find out more information. Email addresses can be found here here or email for further information.
In particular, we have vacancies for the Club Secretary and Coaching Secretary. If you have the interest and time available for either of these roles, please do conact us for a job description and to discuss it with the current incumbents.
The hat, and other essential Kent AC mercy, is available via the online shop. Message Sarah Young on the WhatsApp group for collection.
…this month was Bernie Hutchinson with a bonus ball of 24 in the Kent AC national lottery draw was 24. There are still numbers available. If you’re interested in joining please email
September
20 – SEAA 6/4/3 Stage Road Relays – Aldershot
October
4 – ERRA 6/4 Stage Relays – Sutton Park
11 – Surrey League XC – Hurst Green
November
15 – Surrey League XC – Beckenham Place Park
22 – South of Thames 5 Mile XC – TBC
22 – Kent County Vets XC – Central Park, Dartford
29 – SEAA Masters XC – Horseden Hill, Greenford
December
20 – South of Thames Senior Champs 7.5 mile XC (including Club XC Champs) – Wimbledon Common
January
10 – Kent County XC – Brands Hatch
10 – Surrey League XC – Mitcham Common
24 – Southern XC – Beckenham Place Park
February
7 – Surrey League XC – Wimbledon Common
21 – National XC – Sedgefield, County Durham
March
29 – Southern 12 Stage Road Relay – Milton Keynes
April
11 – National 12 Stage Road Relay – Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham
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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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