The sixth race in the Kent Fitness League 2014/15 series took place in Minnis Bay, Birchington, on Sunday 18 January.
Twenty-four members of Sevenoaks AC braved the freezing temperatures and made the 60-mile journey to a wet and windy car park overlooking the bay.
The race route followed the coastline from Minnis Bay towards Recolver Towers before dropping onto the beach to give the runners the “delight” of clambering over five groynes (or breakwaters) with waist deep water in places before returning along the top of a dyke to the finish field. With temperatures only just above freezing, it was tough experience for all of the 361 runners!
The men’s race was won by 22 year old Peter Hogben of Canterbury Harriers in an impressive 36.55, and the women’s race by Jill Cliff of Deal Tri Club in 43.39.
Sevenoaks AC athletes recorded some outstanding performances.
51 year-old Chris Desmond was the club’s fastest finisher, in 17th position, comfortably winning the M50 category. Chris has been the club’s fastest finisher in three of the previous races in the series.
John Denyer was the fastest M65, James Graham 2nd in M60, and Jim Fitzmaurice continued his winning ways with another win in M70.
SAC ladies continued to perform well, with Pauline Dalton 3rd W50 and Sally Shewell 3rd W55.
In the team competition, Dartford Road Runners just beat Canterbury Harriers, with Dartford Harriers third.
The SAC men’s team comprising Chris Desmond (17th), Joe Parsons (31st), Andy Ashlee (33rd), Dan Witt (55th), John O’Callaghan (58th), Stephen Searby (64th), and James Graham (70th) came a very creditable 4th.
In the women’s race, Paddock wood were clear winners from Maidstone Harriers.
The Sevenoaks AC team of Katie Wills (23rd), Pauline Dalton (26th), and Nicki Thompson (46th) came 9th.
After 6 of the 7 races in the series Sevenoaks AC are lying in 4th place, with Dartford Harriers and Dartford Road Runners equal first and Canterbury Harriers in third.
SAC will need a comprehensive win over the Canterbury team in the final race of the series on Feb 8th to clinch 3rd place in the series. However the race will be on Canterbury’s home ground - Blean Woods just North of Canterbury – so it will be another tough challenge for the Sevenoaks club.
The full SAC results were:
Ov Pos | Lg Pos | Runner | Age | Time | Club | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 17 | Chris Desmond | 51 | 39:58 | Sevenoaks AC | 93.44 |
| 31 | 31 | Joe Parsons | 24 | 41:51 | Sevenoaks AC | 87.70 |
| 33 | 33 | Andy Ashlee | 45 | 42:02 | Sevenoaks AC | 86.89 |
| 57 | 55 | Daniel Witt | 39 | 44:11 | Sevenoaks AC | 77.87 |
| 60 | 58 | John O'Callaghan | 30 | 44:31 | Sevenoaks AC | 76.64 |
| 67 | 64 | Stephen Searby | 51 | 45:04 | Sevenoaks AC | 74.18 |
| 73 | 70 | James Graham | 61 | 45:36 | Sevenoaks AC | 71.72 |
| 76 | 72 | Tex Ryan | 24 | 45:53 | Sevenoaks AC | 70.90 |
| 104 | 97 | Tony Waldron | 47 | 47:30 | Sevenoaks AC | 60.66 |
| 107 | 100 | John Denyer | 66 | 47:43 | Sevenoaks AC | 59.43 |
| 152 | 130 | Duncan Cochrane | 57 | 50:07 | Sevenoaks AC | 47.13 |
| 160 | 23 | Katie Wills | 26 | 51:03 | Sevenoaks AC | 80.87 |
| 162 | 137 | Andy Evans | 44 | 51:06 | Sevenoaks AC | 44.26 |
| 171 | 26 | Pauline Dalton | 50 | 51:30 | Sevenoaks AC | 78.26 |
| 224 | 180 | Martin White | 47 | 55:07 | Sevenoaks AC | 26.64 |
| 227 | 182 | Geoff Kitchener | 65 | 55:10 | Sevenoaks AC | 25.82 |
| 230 | 185 | David Truman | 54 | 55:14 | Sevenoaks AC | 24.59 |
| 234 | 46 | Nicki Thompson | 38 | 55:32 | Sevenoaks AC | 60.87 |
| 237 | 188 | Sam Bennett | 41 | 55:42 | Sevenoaks AC | 23.36 |
| 243 | 49 | Sarah Shewell | 55 | 56:06 | Sevenoaks AC | 58.26 |
| 244 | 194 | Duncan Warwick-Champion | 50 | 56:07 | Sevenoaks AC | 20.90 |
| 272 | 63 | Ella Pyman | 48 | 58:17 | Sevenoaks AC | 46.09 |
| 273 | 209 | James Fitzmaurice | 72 | 58:19 | Sevenoaks AC | 14.75 |
| 280 | 67 | Happy Fisher | 38 | 58:55 | Sevenoaks AC | 42.61 |
The full results are here.