As usual, it is difficult for us to field much of a team at Minnis Bay due to the distance away. However, a few hard core members turned out and clambered through the ditches which were exceptionally full this year because of all the rain. Yet another fine performance from our ladies!
Thanks to Helen & Derek for coming just to cheer us on!
Race report - Rob Bright
History was made on Sunday when Swanleyproduced the first two runners home in a memorable race atMinnis Bay. Memorable for the runners, that is. 6 miles of windswept mayhem with lots of mud and standing water, including the 5 ditches near the end where helpful Thanet RR lifeguards were kept busy pulling people out ! Several unfortunates landed in the ditches head first and identification of the mud-spattered shirts was a problem for the recorders at the finish !
Stuart Nicholson has crept onto the radar almost unnoticed over the last three seasons and finally reached celebrity status with his emphatic win over clubmate Mike Baron at the end of this gruelling run. Baron, who had raced the previous day and was expecting an “easy” run was involved in a sprint finish and managed to hold of Nick Wood (30 years his junior) at the line to finish second. This result actually puts him at the top of the individual rankings with a race to go.
Steve Throssell (Larkfield) led the field off the beach and finished in 6th place. Malcolm Martin was Paddock Wood’s leading runner and first o50 finisher in 9th. James Hogg and Bob Fursey had top 10 finishes for Medway and Maidstonewho were, once again, lacking support from their ladies.
Tina Oldershaw registered her 4th win of the season in the ladies’ race ahead of former champion Debbie Percival, who has all but abandoned athletics in favour of cycling in recent years. In a closely fought ladies’ team race, Dartford Road Runners (led in by Marnie Ellison) took the verdict from Istead and Ifield on countback – both teams finishing on 23 points. CanterburyHarriers were placed third, but they still hold an indomitable lead in the ladies’ team championships.
Canterbury’s ladies contributed greatly to the overall team effort as they took their first win of the season, just 6 points clear of Larkfield’s men and women. Paddock Woodfinished third on the day, but are virtually unbeatable in the League with only one race remaining.
Congratulations to everyone who made it round the course on Sunday – all 301 of you – and many thanks to the Thanet Roadrunner for making it possible. There were some comments made at the end that the ditches were a bit dangerous this year. If anyone has some strong views on the course, I would be glad to hear them.