KENT AC NEWSLETTER

31 MAY 2026

It was an auspicious post-track shindig last Tuesday. Given that it was the hottest, stickiest evening we’ve had so far this year, Kent AC runners must have been counting the minutes until their session was over and they could indulge in some refreshments and applaud the winners of the 2025/6 Outstanding Achievement awards:

Alexa Parker and Owen Hind won trophies for their 5000m performances:

Catherine Kandie won the prestigious Best Women’s Performance category:

It has been another great week for Clare Elms, who, as well as receiving Honorary Membership and a trophy for Outstanding Performer, went on to perform outstandingly in the Wimbledon 1500 Festival, where she broke her own world record to run the distance in 4.56.77. Then, a couple of days later, she treated herself to a leisurely 18:16 5km race in the Last Friday of the Month event. Her extraordinary abilities are once again highlighted in a piece in Runners’ World. I still have the 2007 RW that features her achievements as a forty-something mother of young triplets. And here she is, 62 and a total phenomenon:

Those awards in full, (and excellent handing-out, by the way, Chairman Jules)

Best performance 1500 Aisling Ahern

and Cameron Dockerill

Best cross country Amelia Pettitt, Noah Armitage-Hookes 

Best cross country Grand Prix Aisling Ahern, Matt Speed

Best Track and Field performance Amy Clements, who also received an Honorary Membership

Most track Points Alex Harris

Best Road performance John Gilbert

CONGRATULATIONS!

More about those 1500m races at the Wimbledon Festival: Guy Barnett ran 4:19:18, Isaac Parker scored a PB with 4:02:63, Olly Buck ran 4:07:90 and Noah Armitage-Hookes’s 3:55:52 PB won him his race. 

On Thursday Narcisso was the only Kent AC runner to compete in the hilly South London Harriers 10K NADI (that’s Near As Damn It). It’s the first race of a series of three that takes place every summer, and he thoroughly recommends it:  check the SLH website for the next one. Taking it slowly owing to heat and Marathon legs, he ran 1:04:20, and clearly enjoyed himself:

In Birmingham on Saturday night, Harry Foreman came second in his 800m heat in 1:49:67, a great PB at the BMC Grand Prix. 

The following day, a crack team of Kent AC runners took on the Manchester 10K: Ross Braden ran 30:30,

Richard Giles, 35:17; Caoimhe Nic Fhogartaigh, 38:17; John Maycock, 38:35.

Shining star of this weekend, however, has to be Lin Skinner, who braved the heat in Horspath, Oxford to run a mile in 5:33 and become the British Masters VW50 Mile Champion. Extraordinary work, Lin:

Now some reminders: we have Assembly League on Thursday, 4 June at Crystal Palace Park. All details of how to join in these free races are on the WhatsApp, but, to reiterate: these races are free to paid-up members, first Thursday of the month in the evening (sometimes 7pm, others 7.30pm, do check) but you have to be a member of Kent AC and England Athletics…so… if you haven’t renewed your membership yet, you won’t be able to participate, so go ahead and renew, it’s easy to do, just hit the link on your reminder email. For other upcoming events, including the Dulwich Relays, see the diary section, below.

OPEN TO ALL

The annual Ron Hale Open will be held at the Alex Yee Arena on Sunday 5 July. We will have 100m, 300m (juniors only), 400m, 3000m and hurdles, plus high jump and long jump.
Do enter if you want to compete, try an event, or just set a good time or mark.
Entries are open now, sign up here

We will need lots of volunteers to put this on, helping with putting out hurdles, crowd control, registration, lap counting, pit raking, and plenty more. If you’re available on the day, please contact Richard Giles or Dan Ansell to offer your services.

ON FORM

Narciso from C Group has proposed a series of form/technique training workshops during June and July. What is being proposed is a training block of sessions to be held on Thursday evenings (same time as usual) focusing on form and technique as a summer camp, for middle distance/endurance runners. If there is sufficient interest – 10-15 people committing to attend regularly – (in order to gain meaningful benefits), coach Ted has kindly agreed to design and run these sessions. There is also an option of running it on Sunday mornings but this can be finalised once we have an indication of interest. People can indicate interest by sending a WhatsApp to Narciso 07476721272.

EVENT CALENDAR

June
4 – Assembly League – Crystal Palace
21 – SAL – Watford
24 – Dulwich Relays
27 – KYAL – U14/U16 – Dartford
30 – Post-track Social

July
2 – Assembly League – Sutcliffe Park
5 – Ron Hale Open – Alex Yee Arena
19 – SAL – Cambridge
28 – Post-track Social
August
6 – Assembly League – Victoria Park
8 – SAL – Dartford
23 – KYAL – U12 – Tonbridge

Sepember
3 – Assembly League – Beckenham Place Park
10 – Late Summer Meet – Alex Yee Arena
29 – Post-track Social

TRACK! TRACK! TRACK!

Buy your track pass here.

The usual track times are:
Tuesday 17:00 – 20:45
Thursday 17:00 – 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.

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).