New route for runners

Athletics

Repair work to the towpath meant that last Saturday’s Maidstone parkrun had to head towards Aylesford for a change.

But this did not affect Tom Carpenter in any way as he led everyone back to finish first once again. His time of 17min45sec also achieved the top age-graded score of 73.90%.

Matthew Field was second in 19.08 and Joseph Macgregor on his first visit to the course came third in 19.24.

Following their first and third places at Malling, Beth (JW1114) and Rebecca (JW15-17) Lednor took those same positions at Maidstone last week in 21.31 and 21.57 (PB) respectively. Leona Franklin squeezed between them in second place in 21.33 as 374 runners completed the event. Joshua Pine took first place at Malling, finishing in a PB of 18.40. Cameron Chambers took second place in 19.32 with Steve Reed (19.38) third. Claire Stone was the leading lady in 21.54, Anna Thomsen finished second in 22.34 and junior Angela Ward (JW15-17) took third place in 22.59.

In a field of 250, John

Ward was top age-graded performer and 16th overall in 21.29 to score 74.01%.

Dragons Running Club were well represented in the Givaudan Ashford 10k on Sunday. Neil Sweeney (VM65-69) finished in 53.24, Mick Jefferies (VM70-74) in 53.43 and Deepak Myanger (VM60-64) in 55.15.

Viki Garrett ran in the Tonbridge Half-Marathon to finish in 2hrs36min38sec. Regular parkrunners Dave Moorekite (VM75-79) and Janice Moorekite (VW6064) ran the 10k, with Dave finishing in 49.31 for first MV75+ and Janice finishing in 50.52 and third FV60. Lucy Bonner ran the Berlin marathon for the first time, finishing in 5:29.00.

Tonbridge AC’s Tom Bosworth finished seventh in the 20km walk at the World Athletics Championships in Doha on Friday.

The Sevenoaks-born 29-yearold, who finished sixth at the 2016 Olympics, turned in a classy performance in humid conditions to finish in 1:29.34.

“No Brit has ever finished in the top eight so for me that was the second target, the first being a medal,” said Bosworth.

“I’ve now got top eights at the Olympics, Europeans, Commonwealths and

Worlds.”

The Maidstone HalfMarathon takes place this Sunday, starting at 10am at Cornwallis Academy. Kent head coach Matt Walker has welcomed The Hundred competition as an exciting addition to the cricketing calendar.

Walker will be an assistant coach of the Oval Invincibles – set to represent Kent and Surrey – alongside Vikram Solanki.

While understanding of scepticism among cricket fans, 45-year-old Walker is relishing the new challenge of working with head coach, Australian Tom Moody. He said: “It (his coaching role) has been in the pipeline for a little bit. Those sort of things take a little bit of time to sort out I guess but I’m looking forward to it. “There’s a lot of negativity around it, unfortunately, which is a shame. “I understand some of the reasons why but I’m certainly looking forward to it.

“It’s a different challenge and you’re working with good players, different players, different coaches so from a Twenty-nine youngsters from Maidstone Swimming Club teamed up to win a gala on the Isle of Sheppey on Saturday. They took part in Beachfield’s sixth Learn to Swim Invitational Gala, where they were up against the hosts, Tonbridge, Faversham, Sittingbourne & Milton and Gravesend & Northfleet. Maidstone swam strongly in front of a capacity audience, showing spirit and determination to earn the winners’ shield and individual medals.