Tributes paid to coach Piersall

Athletics

Invicta East Kent AC have paid tribute to their inspirational coach Tony Piersall, who recently died. Long-standing coach Piersall passed away on July 26 and the club have sent their deepest condolences to all of his family.

The club said: “Tony was passionate about athletics and inspirational to those he coached, we at Invicta East Kent will miss him very much. “Tony was an enthusiastic and dedicated Invicta coach having coached many athletes over the years to different levels. Tony regularly travelled to Lee Valley for workshops, training and competitions with his athletes on Saturdays.”

As a runner, Tony himself trained at Canterbury High School and coached multi-events, which he had done since the mid-1990s when the club was based at the university cinder track.

As a runner his membership goes back to the 1980s. He liked long road races and ran the London Marathon in 2012 as well as the New York marathon in 2006 when was chuffed to break five hours. His last ever 10 Mile race was as a 74-year-old on home turf at Canterbury in January 2019, on the same course for his best 10mile in 2012.

■ South Kent Harriers’ Margaret Connolly won the W60 category at the Smugglers 10 Kilometre Road Race in Minnis Bay. Her time of 54.45mins left her sixth fastest lady overall. Sarah Harvey finished in just over an hour and was 28th lady in her age category.

At Betteshanger Park, Sheila Eade, Gary Drake and Illyan Tytel ran laps of four and a half miles in the Saxons, Vikings and Normans Dragon Run and all three achieved their goal. Eade was returning after time off for illness and injury but managed nine miles, accompanied by Tytel, who then ran another lap to record an impressive 14 miles. Drake also completed his target of 14 miles.

■ Ashford & District Road Running Club’s Rik Holden completed his second marathon in as many weeks at Betteshanger Park. He finished in an enviable time of 3hrs 49.41mins. Daniel Head, meanwhile, took on the Smugglers 10k at Minnis Bay, returning an impressive PB of 48.34.