Kentish Express Ashford & District
Small’s huge achievement
Louis Small helped England under-20s win gold in Northern Ireland.
Small, 17, a member of Ashford AC, took part in the Home Counties International Cross-Country Challenge in Belfast.
He finished 12th overall as England won team gold.
Twin brother Jack Small led a young Ashford team in the Kent Schools Cross-Country Championships at the Hop Farm in Paddock Wood, taking gold by five seconds in the senior boys’ race.
A strong finish saw James Wilcox take eighth for the boys.
Jess Wilton and Anna Hinson, competing at this level for the first time, finished 35th and 18th respectively in the intermediate and senior races, while Connie Druggan-Cherry and Ronnie Gawler finished 37th and 28th in their junior races.
Ashford & District Road Running Club finished the month with more strong performances.
The club were well-represented at the South of England CrossCountry Championships at Beckenham Place Park on Saturday.
Jack Hodges was first home for Ashford in the under-20 men’s race in 32min10sec, followed by Kieran Hodges, who recorded 33.42 on his return from injury.
Alison Waters led the senior women over 8km in 37.30, followed by Christine Costiff (38.16), Alice Cook (38.55), Ailis Goddard (39.38), Tracy Calnan (39.39), Sophie Edmonds (39.44), Emma Hanna (41.00), Lesley Taylor (41.48), Gill O’Connor (42.59), Massah Cooper (45.04) and birthday girl Lucy Johnstone (51.15).
The 12km senior men’s race saw James Booth first home for Ashford in 1hr03min31sec while there were impressive sprint finishes from Scott Lynch (1:03.49), Paul Moses (1:06.17) and Alex Francis (1:07.20).
They were followed by Andrew Noble (1:07.49), Steve Hodges (1:08.17), Andrew Beresford (1:10.23), Darren Fagg (1:11.11), Adrian Moody (1:11.17), Mark Harrison (1:11.51) and, defying a foot injury, Adrian Moody (1:14.03).
Emma Jenkins’ perseverance is paying off, recording 35.51 at the Ashford parkrun, while Trevor Kay matched his 5k personal best of 16.33 at London’s Serpentine race.
Ashford Striders were out in good numbers at the Ashford parkrun, led by Justin Burden, who finished in 23.06.
Brian Marsh (25.01) was second and Darren Laker third in a personal best of 27.36.
Other Striders times: Rebecca Somerford 28.20, Jayne Hatton 30.48, Peter Broom 31.14, Martin Whittingham 31.43, Brian Forrester 32.38, Sara Dewar 32.39, Siobham Hagan 32.40, Shane Snowwolf 32.40, Kirsty Theobald 32.48, Rachel Theobald 32.55, Kevin York 32.56, Hazel Forrester 34.30, Michelle Rowles 36.05, Danielle Moss 47.38, Clare Maxlow 47.40, Mark Niles (volunteer tail-walker) 51.52.
Justine Wearn (29.23) and Jason Wearn (29.24) ran the Maidstone parkrun, Lee Standen (32.09) completed the Oxford race and Tamsin Ritchie (25.58) took on the Kesgrave event near Ipswich.