M&M turn back the clock

The Kent Grand Prix Road Race Series proved a great success for Medway & Maidstone AC this season.

The club recorded their best results for more than 10 years and from 554 runners they claimed the top two places overall.

Lee McMeekin was the overall individual champion – as well as the M40 champion – while Chris Rampling finished in second.

M&M men’s team were fourth out of 36 teams, an impressive result considering the club’s other track & field and crosscountry commitments.

A shortage of senior distance women runners meant the club didn’t fare so well in the women’s league, but with a recent increase in women middle and longdistance runners, it is hoped to improve next season.

Justin Lane had looked set for a top place but got injured halfway through the season. Although he only completed in four races, he was still fourth in the M40 category. Neill Wright, with just two races, was 13th in the M40 category.

The club also had some great results in the Kent Short Road Championships (10k). Ben Tyler took individual gold and Tom Collins won silver. Along with Mark Wilkins, they achieved team gold.

Neill Wright took silver in the M40 category and Richard Tomlinson took gold in the M50 standings.

In the Kent Long Course Championships (half-marathon), McMeekin and Lane took M40 gold and silver respectively. Rampling was third in the Kent Marathon Championships.

The 2019 Series gets going with the Canterbury 10-mile race on January 27. The presentations for the 2018 winners will take place after the race.

Medway & Maidstone AC continued with their good form in the Kent Fitness CrossCountry League.

Sunday’s race at Fowlmead Country Park in Deal was the fourth race in the series.

There were no M&M women running, which meant the combined team position was down on the previous race. The men’s team were also missing a couple of their frontrunners.

Despite the absentees, M&M still had a good result, finishing eighth out of 18.

The first man home from the club was Neill Wright (M40), who, with an eighth- place finish, has improved in all four races this season. Wright was followed by Adam Featherstone ( M45, 27th), Darren Wright (M40), who was making his Fitness League debut, claiming 50th place, Alun Rodgers (M50, 52nd), Richard Kerswill ( M50, 84th), Aaron Hughes (M45, 116th) and M65 pair Ivon Whitmore (213th) and Nigel Read (326th).

The club also had two podium finishers in the junior race. Cameron Featherstone was second and Callum Featherstone third in the under-14 category. It leaves Cameron joint top after three races.

The next race is on Sunday, January 6 at Nurstead Court, Meopham.