Kentish Express Ashford & District
Duo excel in England vest
Ashford & District Table Tennis League Athletics
The writing appears to be on the wall for Challock D in Division 3 of the Ashford & District League, adrift at the foot of the table by 13 points and still seeking their first win.
Their encounter with Ruckinge E provided a final chance this half for Michael Howells, Christopher Hazelden and Richard Partridge to pick up points on the teams above them. Unfortunately Ruckinge E were in no mood to oblige, winning 9-1.
Will Glennie and player-ofthe-match Alan White were in fine form, both registering a hat-trick of wins and were well supported with brace from Ray Quinn.
Ruckinge D and Ruckinge F faced each other, with the D side looking to cement their title credentials and Ruckinge F seeking to make up ground in the battle to avoid relegation.
Going into the match Ruckinge D had an unblemished 5-0 record, but four games in Ruckinge F were keeping their clubmates in check.
The score was 2-2 with wins for Michael Butcher and Brian Kennett for Ruckinge D, and Clive Wilkinson and Phil Hagger for Ruckinge F. However the victory for Michael Butcher over Stewart Turley proved a turning point.
With the first two legs shared, Ruckinge D suddenly clicked and reeled off 14 legs without reply to go from a tight 2-2 match into a commanding 7-2 lead.
There was a slight blip as Wilkinson and Hagger took the first leg in the doubles off Butcher and Kennett before normal service was resumed. The matched ended 8-2 for Ruckinge D with Butcher and Kennett going unbeaten. Ruckinge C were relegated from Division 2 last season, and are now pushing Ruckinge D for top spot. They took on Challock C who were also relegated from Division 2, winning 7-3. On the night it was Challock C who produced the star player, though, with
Darren McCulloch-Smith on fine form with 3-0 wins over Terry Yeomans, Dan Simmons, and Clive Develin. Unfortunately for the Challock side there was little else to celebrate as all three Ruckinge players scored a brace over Heather Robertson and Stephen Pitt. While Ruckinge C look good for a promotion spot, survival for Challock C is by no means certain as they are only three points clear of the final relegation spot.
The season is going into the half-time break, with attention turning to the annual team handicap event.
Ashford & District RRC’s Christine Costiff and Gill O’Connor, having finished within the top five runners in their age category at the Brighton Marathon earlier this year, were invited to join the prestigious England Age Group Masters team in Sunday’s Yorkshire Marathon in York.
Despite a long-standing injury and an illness threatening to hinder their performance, the pair were determined to compete to the highest standard when representing the England team. This resolve shone through in their times, with Costiff finishing in 3min 49min 58sec, followed by O’Connor in 3:59.05.
Helen Weeden headed to Portsmouth for the Great South Run on Sunday, completing the 10-mile course in a personal best time of 1:31.30.
Several club runners met on Sunday morning to try out the routes of the club’s 10 and 5 mile race, taking place this Sunday. Ideal autumnal weather made for an enjoyable run, confirming the challenge and variety of the courses.
Runners trying out the 10 mile route particularly enjoyed tearing along a section of the Pilgrims Way Times: Scott Lynch (1:16.12), Becks Macey (1:12.28), Darren Fagg (1:19.46), Adrian Beresford (1:20.40), Will Whittington (1:28.24) and Sandi Mortimer (1:34.48).
Among runners testing the 5 mile route were: Claire Williams (43.06), Stu Nunn (43.18), John Fidge (44.57), Ann Fidge (47.28), Rachel Jenkins (50.11), Emma Jenkins (59.29), Lesley Moody (1:02.14) and Julie Foster (1:14.19).
Dodging the expected downpours, Ashford & District RRC’s annual parkrun takeover took place on Saturday.
While the club’s team of eight pacers helped runners smash their goals, marshals could be heard shouting words of encouragement such as “You look too comfortable – run faster!” and “Catch them, catch everyone in front of you!”
It was fantastic to see the resolve in those determined to keep with pacers, and the enjoyment of others just keeping going towards their own goal.
Well ahead of the 21-minute pacer, the first runners finished the 5k in just over 17 minutes.
In total, the event saw 269 runners cross the finish line, including 22 first timers, 34 that smashed personal best times, three celebrating their 50th parkrun, and Jax Tanner (150th) and A&D’s own Dan Green (200th) marking their own parkrun milestones.