Pair are Bratislava bound

Athletics

Two Canterbury Harriers will be on international duty in Slovakia this weekend.

Yiannis Christodoulou and Simon Jones are representing the Great Britain Age Group team at the European Aquathlon Championships in Bratislava.

Christodoulou, who was third in his age group last year, has been struggling with injuries for the the past month but did record a top-three finish at a Ocean Tri aquathlon.

Jones is winning his first GB vest and his aim is to remain competitive in the swimming part to allow him to capitalise on his preferred discipline of running.

The pair will be joined by clubmate David Bowden for the ITU Multisport World Championships in Penticton, British Columbia, Canada, in August.

Bowden will be competing in the world long distance triathlon hoping for a top 10 finish in his age group while Jones and Christodoulou compete in the aquathlon.

Jones warmed up for his European adventure at the weekend by leading home Yiannis Christodoulou and Dave Bowden, who will compete in Canada in August, where they wil be joined by clubmate Simon Jones, top right a record field in Sunday’s University of Kent Canterbury 10k.

The weather for the event was in sharp contrast to last year’s event – nicely warm and still – and the 356 finishers was double the previous mark.

The event starts at UKC and uses the Crab and Winkle Way for the out and back route and runners came from all over the county, with the youngest aged 15 and the oldest 80.

Jones crossed the line in 34.41, to finish comfortably clear of runner-up Ben Wilson ( University of Kent, 35.21) and third placed Daniel Pyne (Dartford Harriers, 36.47).

The ladies race was won by Deal Tri’s Renata Mcdonnell in 39.59, a new personal best and her first ever 10k under 40.

Second was Emily Hutchinson (Arena 80, 40.45), with third place going to Nicola Charlton (Canterbury Harriers, 42.59). James Cane (47.20), Deborah Parris (49.02) and Tom Jessup in (53.26) all ran personal best times for Canterbury Harriers.

Sunday’s race was organised by Sporting Events UK who had hosted the 12th annual Stelling Minnis 10k a week before.

Lloyd Worsley, of Folkestone Running Club, broke the course record there, stopping the clock in an impressive 33.41 while last year’s winner Alex Horsley (Canterbury Harriers) was runner-up even though his time of 37.19 was quicker than 12 months ago.

Third place went to Gavin Mackay from Petts Wood Runners in 37.43.

Deal Tri athlete Mcdonnell (40.50) again triumphed in the ladies’ race followed home by Canterbury Harriers duo Charlton (43.09) and Fiona Tester (45.36). All runners were given a unique windmill medal specially commissioned for the event.

Barry Hopkins, of Sporting Events UK, said: “What a great double weekend of running – two record attendances for two great events.

“We were particularly pleased with Canterbury doubling its numbers. We moved the date on a month from previous years and commissioned a special bespoke medal for it and this worked well.

“Big congratulations to a number of runners who did both of the events, a course record at Stelling Minnis and Ray Johnson from Faversham Running Club proving that age is no barrier, completing 10k at 80 years of age.

“Both events will be back next year, bigger and better than ever and we can’t wait!”