Kentish Express Ashford & District
Race maintains popularity
Athletics
The annual Givaudan Ashford 10k road race will take place on Sunday with a sell-out field of 1,100.
The event had 1,096 finishers in 2016 and race director Barry Hopkins, of Sporting Events UK, says he is delighted to have maintained the same level of support.
Entries closed last Sunday and Hopkins, who has helped organise the event for the last four years, said: “We were a little surprised to sell out the week before, because last year, which was the 30th anniversary of the race, we still had a few places available on the day.
“With last year being such a special anniversary, we got extra people compared to the previous two years.
“There were probably people who thought ‘I’ve not done it for a few years and that the 30th anniversary race would be a good one to do’ but we weren’t sure that trend would continue, so the fact that so many people appear to have returned is pleasing.”
Invicta East athlete Abel Tsegay won last year’s race, ahead of Robert Latala, of Ashford & District Road Runners, but neither man have entered this year.
Nor has the man who finished third, Invicta’s Dominic O’Mahoney, and that could leave the way clear for Orpington AC’s Alex Money, who just missed out on a place on the rostrum 12 months ago.
Ashford AC member Marshall Smith is another who could challenge in a race which has attracted entries from Salisbury in the west to Durham in the north east.
Jenny Benson, of Canterbury Harriers, will defend her title in the women’s race.
The race starts and finishes at the Julie Rose Stadium and 72 roads in and around the town will be closed for the duration.
Runners will be set on their way at 10am. There are prizes for first, second and third male and female, first male and female vet-40, 50 and 60 and a team prize (three to score).
Organisers will provide a live feed onto their website for results – so competitors can check their finishing time within seconds of crossing the line.
Marshals will be provided by a variety of local clubs but Hopkins says they always welcome more and it is not too late to volunteer.
He added: “We never say no to more on the day, you can never have too many marshals.”
Anyone interested in helping on the day can contact Barry on 07872 003965.