Thanks to the hard work of race organisers to ensure safe and COVID secure events, A&D RRC members were able to showcase yet another successful weekend of racing.

Keeping it local, Anne Fidge and John Fidge put on a remarkable performance at the Wingham 10k.  This undulating, mixed terrain course, in warm and windy conditions, saw them show determination and endurance as they crossed the line in 1:01:07 and 57:03 respectively.

Flying the A&D flag further afield, Rhian Shrimplin and Anthony Brown took part in the Kew Gardens 10k.  Putting her remarkable training schedule to the test, Shrimplin absolutely blazed round the course in a speedy 42:59, beating her previous PB by over 3 minutes and finishing 24^th lady out of a field of 802.  Brown also impressed and crossed the finish line in 48:50.

Meanwhile, James Booth ran the 10km leg of the Channel Triathlon, which helped his team claim 2^nd place overall.  Despite the heat and headwind, he completed the hilly 10km course in the 2^nd fastest time of the day (38:39).

On Friday 4^th September and kicking off the race week was Rik Holden, impressing yet again with another marathon effort at the Cyclopark for the SVN 20 in 20 series. Showing true determination and running form, he stormed round the hilly trail course in an incredible 3:38:53.

Sunday 6^th September saw a hardy A&D trio tackling the Chatham Maritime 10k.  First home for the club and claiming a PB over the distance was Adrian Beresford (43:31), he was closely followed by Adrian Moody (44:12) and Simon Jackson (49:28), who also claimed a PB.

Meanwhile down on the coast, dynamic duo Tracey Calnan and Ailis Goddard took on the Folkestone 10k. Sunny skies and and steely determination saw  Calnan finish strong in 47:37, with Goddard crossing the line in a respectable 54:26.

Travelling to Rye, Lesley Taylor (22:01) and Andrew Noble (20:05) both showed speedy form at The Rye Summer Classic 5k by coming first in the ladies and men’s Vet 55 age category respectively.

Despite races being a bit slow to kick off, Thursday 27^th August saw marathon regular, Rik Holden complete his second 26.2 miler for the month.  Here as part of the SVN 20 in 20 series at Cyclopark, Rik was the top finisher over the distance on this hilly trail course, finishing in an impressive time of 3.39.06.

Many Ashford & District RRC members have shown amazing effort and dedication to their running fitness regime over the past few months by taking part in various virtual runs.  This has resulted in an impressive collection of personal achievements and medals.   However, as the road race calendar slowly begins to open up, A&D members are once again able to start showcasing their running talents and put their lockdown training schedules to the test.

First up, and running his 2^nd marathon in as many weeks, is the tenacious Rik Holden.   For this literal marathon effort he travelled to Betteshanger Park in Deal to take part in the SVN Dragon Run.  Here he took on this gruelling, off road, undulating trail route in the unforgiving summer heat to finish in an enviable 3.49.41.

Meanwhile down in Minnis Bay, Daniel Head took on the Smugglers 10k.   Not to be defeated by the heat or coastal headwinds, he raced round the course in an impressive 48.34, grabbing himself a PB over the distance.

In a week that rocked the running community with race cancellations across the board, A&D RRC members showed grit and determination with a weekend of awe inspiring racing.

Kicking it all off with an amazing show of stamina and endurance, was Mark Harrison with the Fortitude 10 hour challenge. This event saw him battling weather, terrain and mileage as he completed 6 x 4 mile laps, followed by 3 x 3 mile laps before knocking out a final 4 mile lap to finish. This ultra superhuman effort saw him complete a staggering 37 miles in total.

Taking on this years Thanet 20 (Ricki Savage) a hardy crew braved the wind and hills with an exciting selection of results. First home, and despite having raced 20miles the week before, Adrian Beresford ran an impressive 2.46.33.   Not only was this a PB for him over this distance, but he finished 29^th overall and 3^rd in his age category.   Massah Cooper (3.19.33) was the club’s first lady to cross the line, swiftly followed by Claire Williams (3.21.10) who completed her furthest running distance to date, and Ailis Goddard (3.21.10) who knocked an impressive 23mins off her previous PB. This trio of ladies also managed to take the ladies 3^rd team prize. Next to finish was Hugh Scarlin (3.31.47) in his first official 20mile race, closely followed by Helen Weeden (3.35.15), Sarah Taylor (3.57.34) and Lucy Johnstone (4.03.28).

Anthony Brown and Rhian Shrimplin travelled to Bath to take on this years Half Marathon. Shrimplin showed excellent pace by completing the 13.1 miles in an incredible 1.47.22. Brown, making a comeback from injury, ran an equally impressive 1.56.01.

Dartford Half marathon saw Andrew Noble (1.26.38) and Lesley Taylor (1.39.58) take on yet another 13.1 mile race this month. Both showed excellent form, with Noble finishing 22^nd overall and Taylor claiming the 1^st in age V55 trophy.

Despite wet conditions, Ashford Parkrun saw a flurry of A&D members tackle the course this week. First home and 7^th overall was Paul Moses in an impressive 19.37, he was followed closely by Scotty Lynch (19.39) in 8^th position.   Despite having just completed a 20mile training run, the next 3 athletes home, Paul Ridley (20.37), James Booth (20.43), and Julius Samson (20.47) took the 9^th, 10^th and 11^th slots respectively. Gary Sage (21.23) was not far behind in 15^th position, and coming in first for the ladies and 19^th overall was Linda-Jean Delport (21.37). Not to be out done, Stuart Nunn impressed with his fastest Parkrun in over 3 years, by finishing with a time of 22.05. Next up was William Whittington (25.02), Rod Kessack (25.09), Lesley Moody (33.16), Sarah Taylor (34.55), Hugh Scarlin (34.55) and Emma Jenkins (58.07) who showed great determination in making her first appearance since injury.

A&D also represented well with Parkrun Volunteers with Terry Sellen being this weeks RD, also volunteering were James Booth, Alice Cook, Becky Hodgson, Helen Marshall, Simon Jackson and Keith Lynn.

Taking part in some Parkrun Tourism was Christine Costiff who ran Bedgebury trail Parkrun and finished 16^th overall in a time of in 21.46.   Salisbury Parkrun benefited with a visit from Rhian Shrimplin and Anthony Brown who completed the multi-terrain course in 27.55 and 27.56 respectively. Travelling to Cambridge Parkrun, Lesley Taylor and Andrew Noble both ran the course in a time of 23.48

A powerful squad of six represented A&D at the English Cross Country National Championships at Wollaton Park, Nottingham, on Saturday. The scenic course around the lakes and grounds of Wollaton House was described  as “one of the toughest” Men’s Captain Scotty Lynch had ever run. Waterlogged ground, with knee-high mud at points, made the races a true test of mettle and strength against thousands of the nation’s finest.

Despite the soggy conditions underfoot, ladies Massah Cooper (633rd; 52min 19sec) and Lucy Johnstone (860th; 1.03.57) ran their 8K race with aplomb. With ground and groundwater freshly churned by the ladies, A&D’s men finished their “cruel” 12K course in quick succession. Andrew Noble (929th) lead the men home in 1.01.25, followed by Tom Preece (987th; 1.02.13) in his best run of the season. Scotty Lynch (1053rd) was next home for the club in 1.03.21, followed by Adrian Moody (1087th) in 1.03.55.

Sunday saw Ingvild Drake hit the trails for the Lenham Cross Winter Marathon. Starting and finishing in Detling, the course featured treacherous descents and steps. Drake finished 4th lady, with a time of 5.27.00.

Three A&D runners contended with Sunday’s strong winds to represent the club at the Brighton Half Marathon. Marking a five-year PB streak on the course, James Booth achieved a PB of 1.27.00, more than 27 minutes faster than his time in 2016. Gill O’Connor placed 212nd in a field of 3431 women, with a time of 1.46.16. Reaping the benefits of focused and disciplined training, Julie Foster crossed the finish line in 3.03.20. Meanwhile, James Phillips flew the A&D flag down under at the Melbourne Half Marathon; in scorching 30C heat, Phillips crossed the finish line in 1.51.37.

Back on the trails, A&D duo Rhian Shrimplin and Anthony Brown took on the Trosley Park 10k, near Rochester. The pair showed their trail-running prowess along the muddy woodland course, as well as nimbly climbing a total of 174 steps during the race. Shrimplin was 4th lady over the finish line, with a time of 54.34; Brown finished in 57.11.

Fresh from an impressive performance at the Cross Country Nationals, Andrew Noble rounded off the weekend in the East Midlands by racing the Stilton 7 alongside Lesley Taylor.