Carpenter in pole position

Parkrun

The cancellation of Great Lines parkrun due to an Armed Forces Day event in the Heritage Park helped to increase numbers at nearby runs. Maidstone saw Tom Carpenter (Maidstone Harriers) successful again from a field of 360 finishers and W35 Alison Davey (Sittingbourne Striders) was first woman. The individual wins were clear cut, despite the best efforts of visitors from Medway Fit. M60 Paul McAuliffe’s 81% sufficed to top the age-grading. Tonbridge produced the fastest men’s time as M40 Andrew Mercer (Tonbridge) won in 16min42sec, worth 84% age-graded. Antonia Skerritt (W35) was 29 seconds clear of under-15 Tonbridge junior, Matilda Hall, in the women’s run. Malling picked up the pace as Daniel Bradley (Tonbridge) became only the fourth man to dip under 17 minutes on the two-lap course around Leybourne Lakes. Billie Rouse, 12, representing Medway-based Runfit, led the women’s entry but the agegraded result was disputed between runners-up Barry Royden (M45, Runfit) and Sue James (W65, Paddock Wood) with James prevailing by 0.02%. Sittingbourne’s parkrun was headed by unattached runner Ben Comery and fastest female parkrunner of the local events, Lilly Coward (U20 Invicta East Kent, 20.15). Martin Kelk (M45 Invicta East Kent) was best on age-grading. RESULTS: Maidstone: Men: 1 Tom Carpenter (Maidstone Harriers) 16.49, 2 Phil Carey (Medway Fit) 18.16, 3 Noel Lyons (M45 Medway Tri) 18.27. Women: 1 Alison Davey (W35 Sittingbourne Striders) 22.13, 2 Laura Watters (Medway Fit) 22.59, 3 Abbi Gutsell 23.39. AgeGrade: Paul McAuliffe (M60 Larkfield, 19.44) 81.25%. 360 ran. Tonbridge: Men: 1 Andrew Mercer (M40 Tonbridge) 16.42, 2 Matt Reid (Walton AC) 16.58, 3 William Hobbs (U17) 18.01. Women: 1 Antonia Skerritt (W35) 20.57, 2 Matilda Hall (U15 Tonbridge) 21.26, 3 Nicola Summerfield (Tonbridge) 21.50. Age-Grade: Mercer 84.23%. 342 ran. Malling: Men: 1 Daniel Bradley (Tonbridge) 16.58, 2 Barry Royden (M45 Runfit) 17.36, 3 Clayton Barrett (Larkfield) 17.57. Women: 1 Billie Rouse (U15 Runfit) 21.54, 2 Sue James (W65 Paddock Wood) 24.45, 3 Louise New (W40) 24.59. Age-Grade: James 83.16%. 160 ran. Sittingbourne: Men: 1 Ben Comery 18.30, 2 Martin Kelk (M45 Invicta East Kent) 18.37, 3 Stephen Turpie (M40 Maidstone Harriers) 19.00. Women: 1 Lilly Coward (U20 Invicta East Kent) 20.15, 2 Tanya Stelfox 22.08, 3 Karen Seymour (W50 Sittingbourne Striders) 22.41. Age-Grade: Kelk 78.60%. 169 ran.