Christopher Boyce 
A&D Success at Kent Vets cross country championships, and a Marathon masterclass.
Ashford and District took to Dartford Central Park en-masse on Saturday for the Kent Veterans Cross country championships. A total of 27 runners donned the light blue vest on what proved to be a profitable days running.
The day started with the men’s V50 race Scott Lynch and Julius Samson were up to the challenge working well together to finish 16th and 17th respectively in 34:00 and 34:14.
Paul Moses and Phil Marr were next home for the club in 28th and 32nd place with 35:51 and 36:16. Andrew Nobles first A&D cross country of the season saw him finish in 42nd place in a time of 37:12. Steve Hodges celebrated his birthday with 44th place in 37:21. Adrian Moody and Adrian Beresford finished in 54th and 56 place with times of 38:02 and 38:08. The solid performance was rewarded with 5th place in the team competition.
Paul Moses and Phil Marr were next home for the club in 28th and 32nd place with 35:51 and 36:16. Andrew Nobles first A&D cross country of the season saw him finish in 42nd place in a time of 37:12. Steve Hodges celebrated his birthday with 44th place in 37:21. Adrian Moody and Adrian Beresford finished in 54th and 56 place with times of 38:02 and 38:08. The solid performance was rewarded with 5th place in the team competition.
In a strong field a tremendous run by Nick Collins earned him 2nd place in the V40 event, only 4 seconds behind the winner and completing the 8,7Km (5.4mile) course in 29:02.
James Booth was next home in a time of 34:19, good for 31st place. Not far behind Paul Crisp had a superb run to finish in 35th with 34:41. Cris Francis used a strong finish to take places back on the line and finish in 42nd with 36:01. Mark Harrison is gaining in confidence and experience with every cross country and had his best run of the season to finish in 46th in a time of 36:31. Keith Haynes put everything into the race and finished in 48th place with 35:51, Darren Fagg was next over the line in 49th with 37:04.
Team work was very much evident in the woman’s V35 race. Nicola Moffat, Ailis Goddard and Sally Smith finishing 16th, 17th and 18th with times of 24:22, 24:32 and 24:36. A trademark gutsy performance from Emma Hanna saw her finish in 24th with a time of 26:16. Sue Reader was 28th in 29:08 and Jaclyn Kay 29th in 29:11. This saw the ladies to 5th place in the team competition.
Carrying her recent good form into cross country Alison Waters led A&D home in the V45 race with 12th place and 23:50. Strong running from Tracey Calnan, 18th, 24:20, Jill Crofton-Martin 25th, 25:25, and Massah Cooper 33rd, 26:49 gave the ladies an impressive 4th place in the team event.
There was a welcome return for Lesley Clancy, finishing 11th in the V55 competition with a time of 27:04. Ann Fidge finished in 20th with a time of 32:14.
Dover Castle was the backdrop for a hilly 5k on Saturday night. The hills did not deter Daniel Head from a 5th place finish in a time of 20:50. Stu Nunn, put hamstring issues to one side and finished 29th in 25:32. Aaron Homewood was 39th, 26:33, Peter Buckley 51st, 28:00 and Trevor Sparkes 57th with 28:32. Lesley Moody completed the 5k in 32:42.
Chris Costiff ran the scenic New Forest half marathon. Chris was first in her age group and top 10 lady with a time of 1:43:59. Steve Hickman also ran the trail half marathon with a time of 2:17:24.
Becky Hodgson completed two SVN half marathons at Samphire Hoe in times of 3:12:49 and 3:36:49.
On Friday Mark Attenborough accompanied Rik Holden at Samphire Hoe running the SVN ‘Lucky Dip Marathon in 4:50:11.
It was Samphire Hoe that saw a truly incredible feat of endurance running by Rik Holden. Over the course of 10 days Rik competed in 10 marathons, also reaching his century of marathons. During the course of the week Rik pocketed a very respectable 3:27:56. The challenge of doing 10 marathons in 10 days was made even more of an achievement when the weather conditions were taking into account. A truly inspirational feat of running, A&D salute you.
