In a record breaking field of 361 runners, an excellent turnout from BVAC for the first meeting of the season especially since a number of our regulars were on a walking weekend.
Newcomer Lynette Walker led home the women with an excellent 13th place with Claire McGavigon in 24th and Bridgit Weekes in 42nd spot - with probably our highest ever finish of 6th overall.
The men were not so fortunate! We did put in some fair performances for the first race but suffered on this occasion with no really low scorers - the younger brigade in other clubs tend to outdo us here. However, we're hoping to sign up Neil Ayrton shortly and he came in 9th running as our guest! With one or two others to come back in as well we're expecting more in future!
Great to see so many BVAC runners overall, whether scoring points or otherwise.
KFL Race Report - Rob Bright
David Castle took the honours in a hard fought opening race at Canterbury on Sunday. The 35 year old Istead and Ifield Harrier took the lead in the first half mile and was never headed throughout the 5 miles of winding tracks in Blean Woods. It was a first league win for the former GEC Avionics runner who is a rare visitor to the cross country scene.
Josh Nice and Graeme Knott were amongst the early challengers who gave chase, but it was finally left to Clayton Barrett (Medway and Maidstone AC) and Sam Coombes (Dartford Harriers) to battle for the minor placings. Barrett emerged the stronger of the two as they emerged from the woods for a final half lap of the field and last year’s League runner up recorded his best ever placing in the Kent Fitness League. He also set Medway and Maidstoneon course for second place in the combined team competition.
In fourth place was Robert Dennis, now with Invicta East Kent having previously turned out for Thanet Roadrunners. This was a great result for the 17 year old who is one of the brightest young prospects in Kent Athletics. His run ledInvicta East Kent to an opening team win on their home territory.
Leading Over 40’s on the day were Mike Baron(Swanley) in 6th and Ray Pearce (Istead) in 8th, while the leading over 50 was another Invicta runner; Paul Ross-Davies who finished 19th.
The ladies’ race was heading by two non scorers – Amy Smith of Dartford Harriers and Helcha Simkova of Medway and Maidstone AC. In the race proper, there was a welcome return to winning ways for Annabelle Stearns, now withInvicta East KentAC who has battled with injury for the past two years. Also returning to form from injury was Michelle Flaxton (Dartford Roadrunners) who was always in contention and finished just 5 seconds behind Stearns.
Nicola Susans (Larkfield AC) was in third place and set the Larks on course for third place in the team contest. Lara Hawkings (5th place) was the leading over 35 lady for Dartford Roadrunners.
On a perfect autumn day, we had a record turnout of 361 descending on the village of Rough Common. The villagers didn’t quite know what had hit them ! This was helped in no small part by the new intake of students at University ofKentwho came along in force. My thanks go to the officials and the organisers – Canterbury Harriers who pulled all the stops out to get everything to run like clockwork on the day and also to the team managers for efficiently getting their team placings back to me. How many races of this size could get by without race numbers or entry forms ?
If this increasing number is a sign of things to come, we do need to do everything we can to avoid problems later in the season. In particular, can I implore entrants to car share as much as possible to cut down on parking demand. Also the wearing of correct club colours is an essential part of logging in the finishers so as to avoid congestion on the finish line.
The second race of the series takes place at Swanley Parkon 12th November at 11am. Further details to follow in due course. In the meantime, don’t forget to check out the web pages devoted to this league – www.canterburyharriers.org and www.swanleyanddistrictac.org