ATHLETICSATHLE Eager runnners quick to snnap up 10k race enntries

WHITSTABLE ASHFORD

Entries for this year’s Shhepherd Neame Whitstable Bay 10k roadd race sold out in just over 24 hours. Race entry opened oonline at 7.30am on New Yeear’s Day and by lunchtime thhe following day all 750 pplaces had been snapped upp. Race direector Glenn Wilson is also event directoor for the Cante rbury parkrun and hhe says word of mmouth played a bbig part in the raace selling out in record time. Tthe 2019 race takes place on Monday, May 6, sstarting from t he Waterfront Club at 10am – an hoour earlier than in previoous years. Mr Wilson explained: “There’s an opportunity to have twot parkruns on New Year’s Day. “We worked in conjuunction with the Whitstable event diirector so that Whitstable went offf at 9am and Canterbury at 10.330am. “We both made it kknown during our briefings that entries for the Whitstable 10k werre now open and that it was avaailable to book online. “I think last year the 750 entries went in four to five days and the previous year in tthree weeks, but when I returnned from the parkrun I did havve a quick look and we were alreeady up to 300. “We received aroound 450 in total that day andd I think the final one went around mmidday on the Tuesday (January 22). “We used to hold back some entries for postal applicationns but it’s all online now. “I think we’re quite prrivileged in that we’ve got a good repuutation, it’s the 20th year Canterrbury Harriers have been the organisers and the event has a good repputation among running clubs in Kennt and beyond, but especially in Kennt. “Several clubs use thhe event for their club championsships.” Mr Wilson says he haas put 25 applicants on a reserrve list but won’t be adding any more. He believes the flat, fast course at Whitstable remainns a big draw for runners, but he aalso thinks the parkrun boom haas also been a factor in the event’ss continued popularity. He added: “I think parkkrun has a big part of that, people are used to doing weekly 5k runs and theyy are looking for bigger challenges.” Based at the University of Kent, the Canterbury parkrun celeebrates its fifth anniversary in March annd has enjoyed a great start to 2019 witth average numbers up from 130 too 180 per week. The run starts at 9am evvery Saturday and is free. Participants just need too register online and remember to bring ttheir printed bar code on the day. For more details go to wwww.parkrun. org.uk/canterbury/

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Mal Graves borrowed a line from American actor Ray Liotta’s most famous role as Ashford lost to runaway Shepherd Neame Kent 1 leaders Ashford on Saturday. Whitstable’s depleted side were beaten but far from disgraced at the Chaucer Ground and quoting Liotta’s character Henry Hill in the film Goodfellas player-coach Graves said: “Everybody has to take a beating some time. “Ashford are a good side. They’re physical, they stick to what they are good at and they are clinical. “If Manchester City played a club near the bottom you’d expect them to win and we were down to the bare bones. “We lost four backs from the last game due to unavailability, I was at 15 (Graves is normally in the pack) and I had an old flanker on the wing. “By half-time we’d lost me (hamstring pull) and Rob Hudson (shoulder injury) so we played the second half with 14 but we persevered and Ashford were still having to go wide to get their tries. “I was proud of the boys, I can’t fault them for effort. We just need to draw a line under it and move on. “We play HSBC at home on February 16 and we’re looking forward to that one.” Ashford’s win made it 14 from 14 for them but they were generous in defeat describing the Blues as a doughty side prepared to scrap for ball in the contact areas. The opening exchanges were very much dominated by the home side who set up camp in Ashford’s 22, but a combination of rugged defence and a lack of flexibility in