Holden getting into the swing of it

Table tennis ASHFORD STRIDERS ROUND-UP

Iron Room B and Challock A seem on an unstoppable march to regain promotion to Division 1 in the Ashford Table Tennis League, while at the other end of the table there are gaps appearing in the battle to avoid relegation. Challock A edged past Hamstreet A 6-4 to trail Division 2 leaders Iron Room by 11 points. Player-of-the-match Paul Amos won all three of his singles for Challock, with team-mate Tim Pichowski taking two. Pichowski and

Lee Hirst won the doubles. Hamstreet A climbed out of the relegation slots, holding a one-point lead over Postling B who have a game in hand.

In the pick of the week’s matches, Ruckinge D did the double over Ruckinge C with a 7-3 win. Luke Bingham won three matches for the D side and Dan Dacey two.

The win for Ruckinge D means they are level with Challock B (both after six games) in third spot, but equally are only two points clear of the second relegation slot in sixth. Ruckinge C are now seven points adrift of Hamstreet A, the team above them. Postling B were hammered 9-1 by Challock B – Cliff Ball and Jamie MacDonald both registering hat-tricks over Roy Coles, Russell Swain, and Brain Cook. Only a tight win for Coles over Bob Baker prevented a whitewash. Challock B are now nine points clear of Ruckinge D in fourth, but only three points off Challock A in second. At the other end, the point for Postling B was enough for them to move above Hamstreet A by virtue of matches won. Both sides are on 27 points, just a point behind Ruckinge D who do have that game in hand.

■ If you are looking to get into the sport, why not go along to the league’s Community Table Tennis at Repton Connect Community Centre which is held every Thursday from 7.45pm.

For juniors, coaching sessions take place in the Centrepiece Church in the town every Saturday morning.

Rik Holden kicked off the weekend’s racing on Saturday for Ashford & District RRC recording an impressive 3hr 51min 45sec over a muddy marathon distance at the SVN Book Day Challenge.

This was his sixth marathon of the year. Helen Weedon also took on the event, covering 17.61 miles in a time of 3:34.51.

On Sunday, for the second year in a row, A&D’s finest battled the blustery winds of Lydd as they took on the 20 mile and half marathon distances.

The race suited many of the club’s runners targeting spring marathons with its flat, out-and-back course providing opportunities for steady pacing and a test of training so far. Over the 20 mile distance Paul Ridley was first home for the club beating his personal best by six minutes to finish in 2:16.53. He was followed by the duo of Julius Samson (2:19.13), also setting a PB, and Andrew Noble chasing him down for 2:19.37.

Next home was James Booth in a PB of 2:21.03 while men’s captain Scotty Lynch finished 63rd overall and fourth Vet50 in 2:21.57.

Mark Attenborough used his extensive ultra experience to finish in 2:32.27 and the club’s first lady back was Linda Delport in her longest race so far, stopping the clock at 2:35.44.

Cris Francis finished ahead of John Beale, who was also running 20 miles for the first time, in 2:37.44 and 2:38.16 respectively.

Keith Haynes edged Adrian Beresford for 10th home for the club in 2:49.45 with Beresford only 15 seconds behind and running a PB of 2:50.00.

The final sub-three hour finisher was Essen Larsen in 2:52.18.

Other times: Sandy Mortimer (3:02.33), Mark Carlton (3:07.49). Aaron Homewood (3:08.26), Eddie Rodger (3:18.35), Karine Reid (3:26.32) and Nick Erskine (3:26.42).

In the half marathon, Johnny Wells once again proved his stamina taking on the distance in 1:27.24 to grab 17th place overall.

Christine Costiff finished fourth lady and won her age category in 1:40.54, followed closely by Carl Ireland in 1:41.47.

Other times: Stuart Nunn (1:47.41), Massah Cooper (1:58.25), Ailis Goddard (2:01:53, PB), Claire Williams (2:01.54, PB), Lucy Johnstone (2:19.48).

In the Ashford parkrun, the lone A&D participant was Alison Waters, who completed the 5k around Victoria Park in a 24.14.

Several A&D members braved the slippery mud of King’s Wood, Challock, in the SVN Funky Pants Challenge.

Lesley Moody finished the half marathon distance first for the club in 3:04.15 and was followed by Sarah Taylor in 3:14.11. Next home was Becky Hodgson in 3:28:25, while Rachel Jenkins ended her day having covered 17.5 miles in 4:21.41.

Ashford Striders’ Chris Sardo achieved a personal best in the Brett Lydd 20 miler on Sunday, finishing in 2hr 38min 46sec. Clubmate Rob Wood came home in a time of 3:01.45.

Completing the halfmarathon were Lee Standen 2:04.44, Toyah Bicker 2:39.12, Andy Found 2:10.27 (PB) and Vicky Stevenson 2.00.10 (PB).

Shane Snowwolf, at Cambridge, completed the Saucony Half Marathon in 2:05.11. Martin Whittingham ran the Maidstone Heart of Kent Hospice Half Marathon in 2:32.06 (PB), and Leigh Freeman finished the 10k in 1:04.34

Shelly Rae Blake ran the SVN Funky Pants Challenge

Half Marathon in 3:28.42 and Lisa Jones completed 17.60 (four laps) in 4:21.00.

Lisa Fulcher finished the Larmer Tree 20 mile race in Wiltshire in 5:45.24.

Achieving personal best times in the Ashford parkrun on Saturday were Jason Caldwell,

Julie Greenwood, Claire Poile, Michelle Rowles, Amy Archer and Emma Bowden. Caldwell was the first Strider to finish, in 21.00, followed by Mark Fairbrother 21.54.

Other times: Josh Whiten, 24.05, Jason Sanders 24.17, Paul Dunning 24.54, Shane Snowwolf 25.26, Tamsin Ritchie 26.25, Rachel Forrester 27.47, Julie Greenwood 27.57, Justine Wearn 28.35, Rachel Theobald 29.19, Kevin York 29.19, Chris Kelly 29.20, Max Bazzucchini 29.27, David Holland 29.57, Rebecca Somerford 30.24, Kay Devereaux 30.31, Rachel Oliver 30.33, Claire Poile 30.43, Gwen Protheroe 30.43, Michell Rowles 30.45, Brian Forrester 30.48, Martin Whittingham 32.26, Hazel Forrester 32.39, Lisa Gribbin 33.38, Mark Archer 33.46, Amy Archer 34.13, Clare Maxlow 37.26, Emma Bowden 37.27, Jamie Bartlett 37.28 and Danielle Moss 37.34.

Strider volunteers were Toyah Bicker, Paul Dunning, Cris Francis, Gwen Protheroe, Jason Sanders, Chris Sardo, Rebecca Somerford, Lee Standen, Vicky Stevenson and Alison Waters.

Gunnersbury parkrun: Becca Hurley 32.07 and Adrian Hurley 30.31.

Whitstable parkrun: Jeanette French 30.41.

Eastbourne parkrun: Kath Atkinson 23.54, PB. Great Local Run 5k: Josh Whiten 25.27.

Ashford & District runners at Lydd on Sunday