Kentish Express Ashford & District
Weather helps bring best out of big field
Athletics
Records tumbled as hundreds of athletes enjoyed some of the best conditions yet for the Chilham Castle Duathlons and 5k and 10k run events last weekend.
A variety of events attracted athletes from as far away as Belgium, with a standard and sprint duathlon, plus 5k and 10k run events along with ‘doggy dashes’ – where athletes run with their dogs – over the same distances.
First home in the standard duathlon – a 10k run, 40k bike and 5k run – was Belgian athlete Stefan Gremmens of RMT in 2:20.01, followed by Stephen Castle of GS Invicta in 2:23.31, with Oliver Morrison completing the podium in 2:26.10.
Bringing home the ladies in the standard was Tracey Wilkinson Begg, of Folkestone Running Club, in 2:37.45, with Hester BarshamRolfe, of Greenwich Tritons second, in 2:44.17 and Debbie Milton, of Tri Spirit Team, third in 2:48.21.
The winner of the sprint duathlon – a 5k run, 27k bike and 2.5k run – was Rory Hopcraft, of Medway Tri, who gave everything he had to finish in : 16.49 and smashed the course record by five minutes.
Nathan Chapman was second in 1:17.18, and Peter Kerry third in 1:21.52.
First lady in the sprint was Gemma Carter-Collin, of Tri Spirit Team, in 1:28.33 – smashing the course record by around seven minutes – with Hayley Breathwick, of Maidstone Harriers Tri Club, second in 1:36.26 and Nathalie Bere-Adams, of Tunbridge Wells Tri Club, third in 1.37.57.
Yiannis Christodoulou, of Canterbury Harriers, won the 5k in 20.21 breaking his own course record, with Simon Parrin, of Medway Wolf Pack, second in 21.19 and Keir Tunca, of Vegan Runners, in 22.41.
Winner of the women’s 5k was Amy Old in 23.11, also breaking the previous record, with Sarah Leeson, of Tri Spirit Team, second in 28.04 and Melanie Christodoulou, of Canterbury Harriers, third in 30.09.
The 10k winner was James Pottle in 45.20, followed by Paul Lyttle in 46.47 and Ben Thear in 47.15.
The ladies’ winner was Chloe Brown in 52.37, with Leslie Milton second in 1:00.28 and Michelle Savill third in 1.15.17.
The Doggy Dash 5k was won by Hayley Empett, of Fit Together Canicross, with Wilson in 21.39, with Michael Wraight, of Canicross Striders, with Indie winning the 10k in 52.41.
Event director, Liz King, of Tri Spirit Team, said: “The weather was amazing and it made the event even more enjoyable.
“I would like to thank all our Tri Spirit Team members, officials and event marshals for their help in making the event such a great success.
“Also our sponsors Brett Group, Erdinger Alkoholfrei, QI-teas, Sundried and blueseventy.”
Other Tri Spirit Team racers taking part in the 5k included Jonathan Leeson (24.50), Amber King (32.50) and Alison Scantlebury ran with Ronson in the 5k Doggy Dash (23.17). Steve Maxted took on the sprint triathlon, finishing in 1:59.22.