Sevenoaks AC Handicap Final 19 December 2004

Despite a bitterly cold wind, there was a good turnout for the final stage of the of the Sevenoaks AC runners handicap series 2004. All three of the main protagonists were present for the hilly 7 mile race even though none of them was one hundred per cent fit. Series leader Gordon Cooper arrived wearing an eyepatch, while equal second placers Jon Copping and Pete Ashworth had injuries to knee and hamstring respectively.

As the race got under way it became a tale of two Geoffreys, as Geoffs Kitchener and Vine made the most positive start and then held form impressively in the difficult conditions. Meanwhile both Ashworth and Copping were struggling while series leader Cooper was making good progress. Kitchener was first to show, as he took the lead soon after halfway, although Vine was gradually making up ground. Although he was moving through steadily, Cooper was unable to get on terms with Kitchener and Vine, as both Geoffs continued to run strongly.

Despite Vine’s best efforts Kitchener was not to be caught, and he had 45 seconds to spare at the end. Kitchener’s victory was achieved in an impressive time in the windy conditions of 48:55.

In the meantime, Chris Desmond, the last starter, had overtaken most of the field and nipped past Cooper with less than two miles to go. In the final run-in, Desmond was rapidly closing on Vine, but Vine just held off the younger man by 5 seconds to take second in an excellent 48:10, while Desmond had the fastest time of the day of 43:55 for third place.

Cooper held on well for fourth in 49:08, well clear of the series second placers: Ashworth and Copping finished twelfth and thirteenth. Thus the club’s top middle distance coach becomes Sevenoaks AC Handicap Series 2004 Champion, with Ashworth and Copping level second on points - although Copping will get silver as he beat more other runners in his best four races.

Of course, there is no respite for the handicap runners: the 2005 series begins in January. The first stage race will take place over the alternate 5 mile course on Sunday 9^th January starting at 9:00 am from the Sevenoaks School track. Newcomers are very welcome to come and run.

Detailed results:

Name Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Hcap Pos Time Net

Geoffrey Kitchener 12 49:56 7 36:06 10 50:33 5 49:48 16:10 1 65:05 48:55

Geoff Vine 11 51:02 4 35:30 9 35:49 7 34:58 6 48:47 7 34:53 17:40 2 65:50 48:10

Chris Desmond 2 44:20 3 32:00 2 44:00 22:00 3 65:55 43:55

Gordon Cooper 1 36:02 1 48:23 2 48:01 4 34:38 3 48:09 18:00 4 67:08 49:08

Lyndon Collins 9 48:48 5 35:14 7 48:00 10 49:18 5 34:55 11 35:12 18:00 5 67:23 49:23

Simon Hallpike 6 36:56 7 49:39 6 36:22 4 48:48 13 36:41 14 51:20 13 44:23 8 51:06 7 35:56 7 49:50 13 37:46 17:10 6 67:24 50:14

Howard Dilley 4 38:15 5 53:44 6 38:51 6 53:44 9 38:37 13:00 7 67:49 54:49

David Simpson xx 66:00 9 69:59 8 47:56 00:00 8 68:00 68:00

John Denyer 15 50:56 4 36:00 16:10 9 68:33 52:23

Erik Folkesson 4 35:14 9 49:18 6 34:40 18:00 10 68:54 50:54

Richard Pitcairn‑Kno 3 55:25 2 39:58 8 58:10 10 40:38 10:40 11 69:10 58:30

Pete Ashworth 3 36:48 4 50:49 3 35:15 1 34:21 2 47:14 2 32:59 20:20 12 70:07 49:47

Jon Copping xx 43:15 1 39:24 5 54:40 1 36:30 5 50:49 1 48:34 5 34:19 18:30 13 72:41 54:11

Paul Tabor 8 40:25 14 56:36 12 55:12 15 40:17 18 57:53 11 40:46 11 54:29 15 44:22 12:20 14 73:17 60:57

Allan Lee xx 29:59 24:30

Gerald Ashby 3 44:52 13 65:24 2 61:12 14 47:59 04:50

Jim Fitzmaurice 9 39:18 11 55:05 16 43:00 16 56:09 11 39:38 12 55:21 12 56:39 12 38:56 13:30

Paul Keeler xx 34:09 18:40

David Alcock 2 37:19 4 51:55 7 37:10 7 51:34 3 36:54 4 51:39 6 36:19 15:40

Andrew Dykes 5 47:36 10 50:00 8 66:25 14 49:20 12 51:25 13 71:10 00:00

Peter Dillon 1 43:03 10 43:55 9 44:59 06:20

Mike McCarthy xx 51:32 14:30

June Johnson xx 57:06 08:50

Robert Brophy 6 36:54 11 52:40 4 51:12 14:50

Tony Woolven xx 60:59 05:00

Sylvia Lewis 7 50:00 10 67:40 02:20

James Dilley xx 59:59 06:00

Andrew Johnson 3 49:20 4 34:41 3 47:54 18:10

Simon Lewis 10 56:29 12 40:34 8 54:51 8 40:15 9 57:47 11:30

David Lee xx 44:09 21:50

David Doe xx 45:40 11 46:30 02:50

Christine Lutsch xx 42:12 1 56:15 5 39:57 1 50:20 15:40

Michael Clark 8 32:33 9 43:43 7 43:42 8 32:04 22:50

Robin Canty xx 42:05 8 30:27 6 42:11 10 46:16 24:00

Robert Peers 8 46:17 2 30:57 13 45:07 10 33:41 23:10

Richard Rulach xx 51:14 14:50

Raphael Rodrigues xx 59:59 06:00

Julia Hawksworth xx 39:35 11:10

David Tabor xx 48:06 6 65:16 3 64:27 1 44:22 04:30

Heather Fitzmaurice‑ 5 49:58 1 47:23 5 33:58 12 48:41 9 35:28 11 51:24 19:00

Yvonne White xx 70:55 10 49:43 00:00

Carol Marlin xx 35:50 16:20

Clive Blaxill xx 35:42 16:30

Keith Dowson xx 30:43 23:30

Brian Merrett xx 54:54 11:10

Richard Parrott xx 42:14 2 29:01 2 28:38 26:20

Scott Haggarty xx 36:12 15:50

Kirsty McLean xx 50:00 6 65:49 17 70:50 3 46:35 01:30

Final Standings:

1. Gordon Cooper (M45) 7 pts; 2. Jon Copping 8 [59]; 3. Pete Ashworth (M40) 8 [54]); 4. Chris Desmond (M40) 10; 5. David Alcock (M45) 13; 6. Geoff Vine (M55) 19; 7. Heather Fitzmaurice-Cotton (F) 20; 8. Howard Dilley (M55) 21; 9= Simon Hallpike (M50), Lyndon Collins (M50) 22; 11. Geoff Kitchener (M55) 23 12. Richard Pitcairn-Knowles (M70) 26; 13. Michael Clark (M45) 32; 14. Rob Peers 33; 15= Andrew Dykes (M70), Simon Lewis (M45) 35; 17. Jim Fitzmaurice (M60) 43; 18. Paul Tabor (M40) 42.

(Figures in square brackets = no. of runners in best four races.)