Microplus UK Athletics Indoor Championships, Birmingham (17th/18th Feb.)
Race walkers Luc Legon and Hannah Hopper were the only club members to take up their invites to the UK Athletics Indoor Championships this year, both racing over 3000m. Luc secured bronze, less than a second off silver with a season's best of 13:05.05s, after a race long battle with Isle of Man athlete Tom Partington. The women produced a cracking race with the first five all finishing well inside fifteen minutes. Hannah Hopper was in the mix until the latter stages, finishing fifth in a seasons best and her second fastest time indoors of 14:32.14s.
British Masters Indoor Championships, Lee Valley (17th/18th Feb.)
Five of the club master athletes entered the British Masters Indoor Championships held at Lee Valley over the weekend. Congratulations to Mark Ashby, Chris Loudon and Tim Carter who won gold, silver and bronze respectively. Mark retained his M60 3000m race walk title in a time of 19:08.73s. Chris took silver in the M35 1500m in 4:07.26s and Tim bronze in the M70 long jump with a best jump of 3.77m.
Tim also contested the M70 400m where he finished 4th. The race was a very high class and tight with just four seconds covering the first four. He also ran in the 60m recording a time of 9.28s.
Throwers Natalie Mann and Peter Wishart completed the quintet, but finished outside the medals this year with best throws of 7.69m and 10.24m in the shot respectively.
Newham 60m Sprint Series 2024, Terence McMillian Stadium (Wed. 14th Feb.)
Mary Schouvaloff ran a seasons best of 8.01s for second in her round one race and backed this up with an 8.03s clocking in round two.
Lee Valley Middle Distance Open, Lee Valley Athletic Centre (Wed. 14th Feb.)
Three club members raced for the first time indoors at the Lee Valley Middle Distance Open. Celia Yeatman (U15) recorded a personal best for the 1500m of 5:18.65s whist younger sister Seren (U13) clocked 2:42.09s over 800m. New member Mattia Bernardi recorded a time of 4:19.72s in the 1500.
Dymchurch 10k, from the Beach Café, Dymchurch (Sun. 18th Feb.)
On a windy morning on the south Kent coast Mark Penny (pictured) took the lead shortly after half way to win the Dymchurch 10k in 39:01.
Sutcliffe Indoor 60s, Sutcliffe Park Sports Centre (Sun. 18th Feb.)
Another bumper entry, reports Mick Bond, of 172 sprinters, who enjoyed the two race sprint programme at Sutcliffe last Sunday. Entry from club members was down a bit as athletes got back into training after the national and southern championships and ahead of the Kent Indoor Championships in March, but there were still a number of good runs and PB's for those who made it. Special mention to Richard Lewis who ducked under the 10 second barrier with 9.95s at the age of 66.
Results can be viewed on P of 10.
Hendy Tunbridge Wells Half- Marathon, Tunbridge Wells (Sun. 18th Feb.)
The Tunbridge Wells Half is a testing, picturesque course through the Kent countryside. It is a one-lap course, featuring a few notable hills, including Spring Hill on the approach to Fordcombe. Ben Shearer finished in an excellent fifth place with 1:12:51. Christian Poulton finished in 1:27:14 for 85th and Jon Wilson 416th in 1:45:40.