Author Archives: Christopher Boyce

TREVER KAY 5K PB AT SERPENTINE

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Ashford parkrun 20th November
A&D’s men were out in force at Victoria Park, with Jack Hodges and Scott Lynch battling it out, Hodges crossing the line in 18:53 taking 30 seconds off his previous best and taking 5th place overall. Lynch was close behind in 19 minutes exactly. Will Whittington clocked a time of 25:44 despite the slippery ground.
Elsewhere at parkrun…
Christine Costiff travelled to Plymvalley parkrun where she ran an impressive 23:48 on a hilly course to take 1st place for the ladies.
John and Ann Fidge took part in the Houghton Hall parkrun in Dunstable, where they enjoyed the 3 lap woodland course, John finishing in 26:31 and Ann in 29:38, taking 1st in her age category.

666 Trail Race
The ever challenging but popular 666 trail race at Kings Wood made a welcome return to the calendar after last year’s event was cancelled.
Julius Samson set the pace with an impressive 49:44, competing for the first time in this event. Paul Moses took on the hills completing the race in 53:23, with Alex Francis also a first timer at Kings Wood hot on his heels in 54:02. Adrian Beresford was close behind in 55:11, a new personal best for him. Tracey Calnan also impressed, coming home just under the hour mark in 59:54. Next back for A&D was Jill Crofton-Martin, setting a new best of 1:00:36 and she was followed by Aurelie Morris in 1:06:03 and Stuart Nunn in 1:06:23. Keith Lynn was next across the finish line in 1:07:29 and Lucy Johnstone finished in a new best of 1:25:25.
10 in 10
Club marathon specialist Rik Holden started the first of his 10 in 10 marathons at Samphire Hoe on 26th November, completing the SVN Black Knight challenge in a time of 4:10:45. The following day’s Fudgeathon at the same venue saw him cover the same distance in 4:25:00. Marathon number 3 for Rik was Sunday’s Bobble Hobble which he finished in 4:30:00 and his 4th consecutive marathon on 29th November saw an impressive finishing time of 3:35:58.
Rik continues his challenge into the next week, so we will have further updates on his progress in next week’s round up
Lesley Moody and Rachel Tomsett also took part in the Bobble Hobble SVN event, covering the Half Marathon distance. Moody finished the race in 2:44:32 and Tomsett in 2:46:00, on a cold morning.

Serpentine 5k

Elsewhere at the weekend, Trevor Kay travelled to London to compete in the Serpentine Last Friday of the Month 5k. His impressive time of 16:33 not only earned him a new personal best but also secured him 4th place overall at the event.

Matt Hardwick took on Ashford parkrun on a very wet and cold morning, covering the 5k distance in an excellent 24:07 despite the sleet and strong winds.
KCAA Cross Country League
Footscray Meadows, Saturday 28th November
The latest round of the Kent Cross Country races involved the Mens Under 20 and Senior Mens teams.
In the Under 20s, Jack Hodges finished in style taking 9th place in 22:37 over the 5000 metre distance. Jack took 5th place overall in the final standings, with brother Kieran unable to compete at the weekend due to injury finishing in 12th place. An impressive start for both in their first season at cross country.
The senior mens team were out in force once again, and leading the way against some strong competition was Nick Collins who took 22nd place in a time of 30:50. Second home for A&D was Aiden Gorham who finished in 32:19, followed by Trevor Kay in 33:15 and Scott Lynch in 35:08 competing the mens 4 to score team.
Just behind was Julius Samson in 84th in 35:24 and James Booth in 105th place and 36:23. A battle between Paul Crisp and Daniel Head saw Crisp edge home in 108th place and 36:44 with Head in 109th and a time of 36:47. Paul Moses was next home in 37:02 in 115th and Philip Marr just behind in 37:12. Gareth Harper took 122nd in 37:26 and Alex Francis secured 129th in a time of 38:08 after an impressive sprint finish taking the final 12 to score points.
Robin Butler and Cris Francis were not far back in 131st 38:24 and 132nd 38:25 respectively, followed by Keith Haynes in 38:31. Adrian Moody took 137th in 38:42 with Steve Hodges (38:52), Adrian Beresford (38:54) and Mark Harrison (38:57) all close behind.
Darren Fagg was next home in 39:28 followed by Richard Baker (40:48), Neil Woodham (42:23), Mark Attenborough (43:00) and Chris Field (47:10)
On the day A&D finished 6th of 18 teams in the 4 to score event and 5th in the 12 to score, and this weekend’s solid team performance leaves them in 7th place in the 4 to score competition, and 5th overall in the 12 to score event.

50K PERSONAL BEST FOR ATTENBOROUGH

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Multiple laps of Samphire Hoe provided the challenge for A&D’s masters of distance running Rik Holden and Mark Attenborough. Rik completed the SVN Armistice Day Marathon with a trademark amazing time of 3:39:57. Mark continued on to complete the Armistice day challenge making short work of the 50K event with a time of 5:07:02, a 4:39 personal best for this distance.

On Saturday the Lydd 10k offered an opportunity to chase after fast times. Aidan Gorham continues to impress being placed 4th with a personal best time of 35:00. Michael Davies was not deterred by car trouble on the way to the race, he ran a time of 44:16 and was 1st in his age category and 38th overall. This represented an age graded result in excess of 85%. Andy Dedman came in in 50th place with 46:01. Sarah Gooding was pleased with her time of 1:02:00.

Helen Weeden and Edward Rodger travelled over to Suffolk to take part in the Maverick Aruk Trail run. Edward finishing the 24k of muddy and wet trails in 2:09:52, Helen completing the 10 mile distance in 1:52:52.

The latest instalment of the KCAA Cross Country league saw the U20s men and the Senior Women races take part at Danson Park in Bexleyheath. Conditions were fair with the ground quite dry and firm in parts, but with some very muddy sections into the corners.
In the Under 20s, Jack and Kieran Hodges flew the flag for the club, with Jack bringing it home in 13th position in a time of 19:12 and brother Kieran just behind in 19:36. A tough race with some strong competition from across the district but two strong performances. After 3 races that leaves Kieran in 7th position in the league overall, with Jack in 10th – excellent from both lads.
A 13-strong ladies team took on the 5 mile course, with Rhian Shrimplin first home for the team in an excellent time of 34:19 and 34th place. She was followed by Alison Waters in 34:46, 38th place, and Alice Cook picking up 41st place in 35:10 completing the ladies 3 to score team. Christine Costiff was next for A&D in 51st place in 35:42 with Ailis Goddard hot on her heels in 36:03 in 54th place and Sally Smith in 60th with a time of 36:23 – completing the ladies 6 to score.
Next across the line for A&D was Tracey Calnan in 64th with a time of 36:31 with Sophie Edmonds in close pursuit in 66th, crossing the line in 36:35. Emma Hanna was just behind in 71st place in 37:16, Jill Crofton-Martin in 82nd and 38:13 and Gill O’Connor in 38:26 picking up 85th place. Holly Cook was next in 90th with 39:13 and the team performance was completed with Lucy Johnstone in 46:53 and 126th position.
The ladies 3 to score team are currently in 8th place overall and the ladies 6 to score team are sitting in 4th with everything still to play for.

Not content with a tough Saturday at cross country, Alison Waters ran a 12 minute half marathon personal best and was 2nd placed lady at the Marden half marathon with a time of 1:36:18. Also running at Marden, Cris Francis ran an impressive 1:34:21, with Peter Buckley breaking the 2 hour barrier with a time of 1:59:12.

Trevor Sparkes took off to run the Hayworth Park run in Surrey on Saturday. Closer to home Daniel Head and Dave Chappell targeted the Ashford park run for sub 20 minute times. Both succeeded with Dan finishing in 19:46 and Dave 19:27. Sub 20 minute times were also recorded by James Booth, Paul Moses and Cris Francis. Richard Boakes also running a personal best and Dan Green both returning from injury were just over the 20 minutes marker, as was Chris Boyce showing improvements with every run.

COSTIFF TAKES SILVER AT BECKLEY 10K

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A quieter than usual weekend for Ashford runners but still some really strong performances by those who were competing.

Will Whittington took to Victoria Park on Saturday morning posting a parkrun time of 26:02 finishing in 89th place.

Linda-Jean Delport travelled further afield to take part in Saturn Running’s event on Sunday, completing yet another marathon in an excellent time of 4:07:46.

Elsewhere Christine Costiff took on Nice Work’s Beckley 10k. Undeterred by the hilly course she posted an excellent time of 45:44 to finish 2nd lady and claim a well deserved trophy. Well done!

Trevor Sparkes was closer to home at the Howletts 5k, showing the tigers how it was done by completing the course in a fantastic 26:55, his fastest 5k outside of parkrun.

A flat course and a race filled with sunshine and fresh air was how Holly Forrest and Sandra Gooding described the Deal Castle 5 mile. Sandra crossed the finish line in a tremendous 50:14 and Holly was also under the hour mark in 58:57.
Well done to everyone who took part in events this weekend.