KFL 2022/23 Match 7 - All Hallows

SAC Women

This year’s Kent Fitness League has been hard fought between the leading contenders, Sevenoaks AC, Petts Wood Runners, Canterbury Harriers and Dartford Harriers, writes Jim Knight. The series comprises 7 gruelling cross-country races starting in Knole Park in October, and touring the County with races in Swanley, Eltham, Minnis Bay, Deal, Canterbury and finally Allhallows Holiday Park near Rochester on February 12th.

The women’s team competition has been particularly close, with last year’s champions Sevenoaks AC battling to stay ahead of Canterbury Harriers. Sevenoaks won in Knole park and Swanley. Canterbury won in Minnis Bay and Deal. Both had one second and one third in the other races and went into the final race equal on points. So, it was all set for a winner-takes-all battle in Allhallows.

Sevenoaks fielded a slightly weakened team with star performer Andrea Berquez away and team captain Pauline Dalton recovering from illness. However, Canterbury also had some runners away for half term. On a slightly damp and misty day the 412 runners set off on 6 mile two-lap course. From the start field, they ran down to the beach for a long technical section along the shoreline where they faced gravel, mud, seaweed and ditches. Then back up to the start field to do it all again.

Sevenoaks’ Caroline Fenwick had another great run to come 7th (1st W45) but was behind the fastest Canterbury runner (Emily Collins) in 2nd place. Next came Nicola Glover and Julia Davis in 14th and 15th places, just ahead of Canterbury runners in 16th and 17th. So far so good. But a fast run by Canterbury’s W55 competitor, Nicky Leatherbarrow in 22nd, ahead of Sevenoaks fastest W55, 64 year old Bridgit Weekes in 38th position and Canterbury had just edged ahead.

The women’s race was won by Petts Wood Runners with Canterbury second and Sevenoaks third. So, Canterbury win the 2022/23 series by the slimmest of margins. Petts Wood pose a real threat to Sevenoaks and Canterbury in next year’s season and we can look forward to a really competitive 2023/24 season starting in October. As one team member said, “It’s been so much fun to be part of this team. Well done to all and bring on the 23/24 season”.

The scoring members in Allhallows were Caroline Fenwick, Nicola Glover, Julia Davis and Bridget Weekes. The SAC men fielded a team weakened by half term absences and came 9th on the day, and 5th in the series. The scoring men were:- Shaun Mullen, James Nash, Dan Witt, Leonard Lai King, Simon Bishop, Jeremy Winter, & Anthony Waldron. The combined team retained a highly creditable 3rd place in the series. The full Sevenoaks AC results were:

Ov Pos	Lg Pos	Bib	Runner	Age	Time	Club	Score	Rtg	#
58	54	1104	Shaun Mullen	46	42:14	Sevenoaks AC	V40:1	79.46	12
71	65	829	James Nash	31	43:16	Sevenoaks AC	M1	75.19	15
72	7	796	Caroline Fenwick	45	43:17	Sevenoaks AC	V45	96.05	7
95	86	854	Daniel Witt	48	44:38	Sevenoaks AC	V40:2	67.05	66
102	14	802	Nicola Glover	35	45:09	Sevenoaks AC	V35	91.45	8
104	15	791	Julia Davis	25	45:26	Sevenoaks AC	F1	90.79	12
105	90	811	Leonard Lai King	43	45:28	Sevenoaks AC	M2	65.50	10
125	23	840	Hannah Sangan	28	46:27	Sevenoaks AC	NSBLS	85.53	6
139	24	801	Vanessa Gilmartin	47	47:25	Sevenoaks AC	NSBLS	84.87	28
140	116	785	Simon Bishop	59	47:25	Sevenoaks AC	V50:1	55.43	6
141	25	815	Catherine Linney	53	47:27	Sevenoaks AC	NSBLS	84.21	43
153	31	828	Katrina Murphy	34	48:11	Sevenoaks AC	NSBLS	80.26	4
167	133	853	Jeremy Winter	69	48:47	Sevenoaks AC	V60	48.84	10
175	138	849	Anthony Waldron	55	49:14	Sevenoaks AC	V50:2	46.90	34
176	38	851	Bridgit Weekes	64	49:28	Sevenoaks AC	V55	75.66	21
177	139	818	Alan Male	53	49:30	Sevenoaks AC	M3	46.51	4
179	39	790	Pauline Dalton	58	49:37	Sevenoaks AC	NS	75.00	58
181	142	819	Jonathan Marsh	63	49:56	Sevenoaks AC	NS	45.35	6
191	43	833	Anna O'Donovan	22	50:48	Sevenoaks AC	NS	72.37	4
229	57	843	Sarah Shewell	63	53:00	Sevenoaks AC	NS	63.16	123
252	187	789	Duncan Cochrane	65	54:11	Sevenoaks AC	NS	27.91	42
283	79	839	Ella Pyman	56	56:03	Sevenoaks AC	NS	48.68	18

Team

The full results are here.