A record turnout from BVAC surely? We managed 21 full members and a number of guests. It kept June Marshall on her toes trying to keep track of everyone, but we thank her once more for the administration. Pity than Pat Collins was injured, but it as good of him to come along and show solidarity!
Some good personal performances left us in 14th place this time and, overall, we're off the bottom of the table too - well done folks!
KFL Race Report - Rob Bright
Records were broken at Swanley Park when over 400 runners lined up for the second race of the Kent Fitness League series. This may be the biggest ever field seen in Kent for a single cross country race outside major championship meetings and the total of 395 finishers beats the previous league record by over 30.
At the head of the field was a familiar face in Kent Athletics, but not to the league. Barry Royden – 8 times Kent Cross Country Champion – made a guest appearance and led the field round from start to finish of the 5.2 mile course. Only former Kent Fitness league champion Allen Lee could match Royden’s pace over the first half of the race, but in the later stages it was left to his Sevenoaks clubmate Darrell Smith to chase down Royden and he crossed the line 15 seconds after the Medway and Maidstone 40 year old to take maximum points in the individual contest. Smith, who has also just reached the veteran ranks, was making only his second league appearance, having finished 3rd at Knole Park last year.
Lee came in third, just ahead of Dartford’s Dave Hall and Larkfield’s Graeme Knott with Race 1 winner James Ridger of Paddock Wood finishing 6th. Leading over 50 runner was Andy Girling (Invicta) in 36th place and the over 60 winner was Chris Marshall (Bromley) in 119th place.
Continuing with the theme of "fast and 40" the ladies race was dominated by Tina Oldershaw (Paddock Wood AC) who confirmed her recent outstanding form on the road by finishing amongst the top 20 men on the day and opening up a margin of nearly 2 minutes on second placed lady Heidi Coleman (Invicta). Michelle Flaxton (Dartford) – 3rd was the first of 3 Dartford Roadrunners in the top 10 which effectively sealed team victory for the club over their local rivals Dartford Harriers.
Paddock Wood’s combined team total brought them home in third place which was enough to keep them at the top of the league table with 5 races still to come.
Well done to Swanley and District AC who organised a great race on the day. The high numbers put great pressure on the parking facilities and created some congestion in the race at a couple of points. However, the finish line team coped admirably with runners crossing the line at a rate of 40 per minute at peak, and everybody was successfully logged in. The minute’s silence was also respectfully observed at the start.