Athletics

It was a one-two finish for sisters Christine Costiff and Gill O’connor at the end of the A&D RRC Lockdown League. The Ashford club organised the league for runners across Kent and beyond during the lockdown to compete remotely and it proved hugely popular. Runners have been challenged at different distances over the last nine weeks, short and long, and the final race was over one mile.

Ashford & District’s Costiff has been challenged hard of late and had to settle for a third place finish in the final challenge, with Invicta East Kent’s Sarah Gruber winning ahead of Margaret Connolly (South Kent Harriers). Different running clubs were well represented in the final week with Liz Weeks (Ashford Legends & Rejects) fourth overall and with an eighth consecutive age group win to take the ladies 35-44 title. She was ahead of Medway & Maidstone’s Taryne Mcpherson (35-44 overall runner-up), Karen Seymour (Sittingbourne Striders), Marie Watson (South Kent Harriers) - third placed overall - and Jo Daniels (Dover Road Runners). Rhian Shrimplin (A&D RRC) finished in first place for the ladies under-35s, 16 points ahead of nearest rival Bianca Schobel (Equipe BAP). Richard Tomlinson had already claimed the men’s crown and his second place finish over the mile left him 34 points clear of club-mate Alun Rodgers overall.

But it was a third Medway & Maidstone runner who took the final win, with Justin Lane (4:55) taking first place on adjusted time.