Kentish Express Ashford & District
Latala pipped in tight finish
Athletics
Robert Latala finished second in the Folkestone Rotary Half Marathon on Sunday in the most dramatic of circumstances.
The Ashford & District Road Runner crossed the line one second behind race winner Lloyd Worsley, of Folkestone AC, in a time of 1hr 15min 15sec in one of tightest finishes the race has seen.
Ashford & District team-mate Julius Samson also ran a strong race in hot conditions, finishing 12th in 1:29.20 and finishing second in the male vet45 category.
Mark Attenborough was 36th in 1:36.35 and Hazel Turner continued her good form by finishing 85th and third lady in the vet35 category in a time of 1:45.15.
Aaron Homewood (274th) crossed the line in a personal best of 2:03.46, Neil Hope (295th) completed his first half marathon in 2:06.10, while Sarah Homewood (453rd) completed the line-up with a PB of 2:24.09.
In contrast to the hot and humid conditions in the UK, Dave Hunt had to contend with wet and humid weather while completing the Berlin Marathon. He completed his sixth marathon overall and his second world major in a time of 4:19.56 in the German capital on Sunday.
Meanwhile, in the Robin Hood Marathon, Stuart Nunn’s hard work paid off as he secured a personal best in Nottingham.
Finishing 224th out of a field of more than 1,100 runners, he completed the hilly course in 3:49.14. Sarah Ashberry completed the Robin Hood Half Marathon in 2:41.40.
Becky Hodgson completed seven laps of the 3.75 mile SVN Tolkein course at Samphire Hoe nature reserve for a personal best marathon time of 6:08.11.
Jon Wiles ran the Windsor Half Marathon in 1:54.44.
Elodie Paviot took on the hilly Winchester Half Marathon. It was her first attempt at this distance and she completed the race in 1:53.29, finishing 445th overall.
At the Ragnar Relay, Scott Lynch formed part of a team of 10 runners starting in Maidstone, running relay-style via the White Cliffs of Dover and along the south eastern coast to Brighton completing approximately 170 miles in total. The team finished 64th overall and completed the relay in 30:13.01.
In parkrun action, Trevor Kay finished second at Ashford in a time of 17.45, just shy of his PB.
Paul Moses took 10th place in 19.8, followed by Keith Haynes in 20.21.
24 Michael Hill 20.32 (PB), 35 Mark Attenborough 21.39, 41 Danyel Carter 22.24 ( first lady home for the club), 50 James Chapman 23.06, 56 Rod Kessack 23.19, 59 Dean Bracken 23.23, 92 Sandi Mortimer 25.29, 137 Heather Johnston 28.51 (PB), 138 Lucy Johnstone 28.53, 166 Neil Hope 31.18, 180 Jeremy Chambers 32.43.
Meanwhile, around the country, Jon Wells finished sixth in Worcestershire at the Arrow Valley parkrun in a time of 19.03. Robert Carpenter travelled to Margate and finished 10th in 20.51, Andrew Taylor finished 32nd at Southwick,Wiltshire, in 21.34 and Gareth Darch (24.30) was 54th at Havant.
Dan Green won the Great Run, Ashford, in a time of 18.44. Shakespeare beach is always worth a go, with deep water and rocky ground within casting range. We should see some large bass and maybe a codling or two from this venue. The summer species are not keen to leave our shores, with mackerel and the odd black bream still showing on the better days. This was in evidence at the Folkestone Warren where Folkestone Anglers’ latest match was won by Lee Heaver (2.890kg). Martyn Reid was second (2.760kg) and Jacob Gainey third (1.520kg). DAA seniors were on the wall at Littlestone. Alan Rudkin was top rod with a catch-andrelease total of 497cm. Second was Terry Carpenter (250cm), followed by John Wigstone (221cm). The league standings see John Wigstone (2,760cm) lead, with Ashford’s John Smith close behind on 2,700cm. The DAA members were on the point at Dungeness for their latest match. Paul Mortlock took the win (2lb 2oz). T Loveridge, a new member, was second and landed best fish (1lb 9oz), while Dave Wood-Brignall was third (1lb 5oz).