Kentish Express Ashford & District
ASHFORD & DIST RRC: RUNNERS OUT IN FORCE
Athletics
A wide variety of challenges were presented to the runners of A&D over the weekend.
Aurelie Morris completed the Dubai Half Marathon in 2hr 05min 53sec in temperatures of 31C and 90% humidity.
In a stark contrast, the club’s runners at the Beachy Head Marathon faced high winds, mud and uncompromising hills.
Mark Attenborough was first home for the club in a time of 4:18.27, followed by Ed Roger in 4:55.39. Tracey Calnan finished in 5:42.47 while club president Steve Hickman, in his 161st marathon, finished in 5:57.04.
Marathon specialist Rik Holden ran the Ghost of Cyclopark marathon in a time of 3:33.01.
A total of 26 A&D runners travelled to Tonbridge, for the second Kent Cross Country League, at Somerhill, on Saturday.
Ashford ladies showed strong performances throughout with some very encouraging debuts to cross-country.
Becky Macey was first home for the club in 24th place and fourth in the league in her category. Next in was Christine Costiff in 58th, maintaining a perfect start to the season with first place in the W55 category.
Essen Larsen in 11th gave A&D 11th on the day and ninth in the three to score league.
Jill Crofton-Martin 84th, Claire Green 92nd, Gill O’Connor 97th, Claire Williams 100th, Massah Cooper 104th, Jaclyn Kay 111th, Allis Goddard 112th and Lucy Johnstone 133rd all contributed to an excellent team performance to give seventh place on the day and eighth in the six to score league.
Michael Davies dominated the V70 competition, winning again despite a persistent calf injury and leading the competition with a 100% record.
The rain and previous races ploughed up the course when the 15 men took to the field.
In his second cross-country race Lawrence Teeling started well in the men’s race but pulled out early due to injury.
Trevor Kay, in 98th, and Dan Green, 99th, led the men home.
Andrew Noble (106th) and Scott Lynch (148th) gave A&D 15th place on the day and 13th in the four to score league.
Paul Moses (158th) was closely followed in by James Booth ( 164th) and Keith Haynes (167th).
Cross- country captain Adrain Moody was 203rd, followed by Mark Harrison 209th, Neil Woodham 221st, Carl Ireland 222nd, Adrian Beresford 224th, Darren Fagg 228th, and Ricky Hickman 259th, these runners providing valuable points in the 10 to score competition giving 10th place on the day and 8th overall.