April 2015
Tonbridge AC Summer 2015 parkrun Grand Prix announced
Mark Pitcairn-Knowles has announced plans for the Summer 2015 Tonbridge AC parkrun Grand Prix. Details of qualifying runs and the format are in the file below. Andrew Mercer holds the trophy as winner in the Winter and Dan Bradley won last Summer.
The first qualifying event is this Saturday 2nd May. Mark has also included a couple of other venues ie Tunbridge Wells and Lullngstone in the list of events for this series.
The first qualifying event is this Saturday 2nd May. Mark has also included a couple of other venues ie Tunbridge Wells and Lullngstone in the list of events for this series.
| tac_age_graded_summer_2015_park_run_grand_prix.docx |
This week's 'Big Hitters' - the top personal bests and debuts in the last week
With the marathon going on this week its a bit of an advantage to those improving pbs over the longer distance, so there are two lists here -
Biggest pbs -
Bede Pitcairn-Knowles (u17) 3000m in 9.30.38 (24.9s improvement)
Hannah Czarnowski (u20) 2000m steeplechase in 8.12.73 (23.6s improvement)
Ryan Driscoll 2000m steeplechase in 5.49.24 (19.2s improvement)
Emilia Hope (u17) 800m in 2.36.94 (5.8s improvement)
Sam Crick (u17) 800m in 2.02.53 (5.2s improvement)
Sam Avis (u17) 800m in 2.08.50 (4.8s improvement)
Biggest pbs Marathon
Eva Kolivoskova-Martin 3.37.25 (improvement by 16.45)
Joe Baldwin 4.30.41 (improvement by 10.34)
Ben Cole 2.27.24 (improvement by 10.27)
Top Debuts -
Greg Cole - Marathon in 2.37.47
Sam Crick (u17) - 3000m in 9.06.19
Biggest pbs -
Bede Pitcairn-Knowles (u17) 3000m in 9.30.38 (24.9s improvement)
Hannah Czarnowski (u20) 2000m steeplechase in 8.12.73 (23.6s improvement)
Ryan Driscoll 2000m steeplechase in 5.49.24 (19.2s improvement)
Emilia Hope (u17) 800m in 2.36.94 (5.8s improvement)
Sam Crick (u17) 800m in 2.02.53 (5.2s improvement)
Sam Avis (u17) 800m in 2.08.50 (4.8s improvement)
Biggest pbs Marathon
Eva Kolivoskova-Martin 3.37.25 (improvement by 16.45)
Joe Baldwin 4.30.41 (improvement by 10.34)
Ben Cole 2.27.24 (improvement by 10.27)
Top Debuts -
Greg Cole - Marathon in 2.37.47
Sam Crick (u17) - 3000m in 9.06.19
Southampton Half Marathon, Sunday 27th April
Cameron Knapp placed 12th in his first ever half marathon, at Southampton, running 80.57. Full results are at -
http://dbmax.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=16421&RId=2084&EId=1
http://dbmax.racetecresults.com/results.aspx?CId=16421&RId=2084&EId=1
London Marathon and mini marathons, Sunday 27th April
Results -
Ben Cole 2.27.24 (2nd on TAC all time list to Cain Bradley's 2.24.31 from 1985) - also pb by 10.27
Greg Cole 2.37.47 debut
Dan Watt 2.54.59
Alice Heather-Hayes (2nd claim) 3.03.45 pb
Steve Keywood 3.10.17
Matt Harvey 3.16.57 debut
Eva Kolivoskova-Martin 3.37.25 pb by 16.45
Joe Baldwin with Paul Hale (guide) 4.30.41 - pb for Joe by 10.34 and debut for Paul
Sophy Dunn (see below) - no official time
Ex TAC - Kelsey Howard ran 3.49.23
Mini marathons -
Under 13 boys - 55th James Kingston 17.58
Under 15 boys - 7th James Puxty 15.20
Under 17 men - 6th Alasdair Kinloch 14.32, 13th Chris Cohen 14.49, 23rd Jamie Goodge 15.07 (u17 race video loaded)
Full results at - http://results-2015.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/2015/minimarathon/
Ben Cole 2.27.24 (2nd on TAC all time list to Cain Bradley's 2.24.31 from 1985) - also pb by 10.27
Greg Cole 2.37.47 debut
Dan Watt 2.54.59
Alice Heather-Hayes (2nd claim) 3.03.45 pb
Steve Keywood 3.10.17
Matt Harvey 3.16.57 debut
Eva Kolivoskova-Martin 3.37.25 pb by 16.45
Joe Baldwin with Paul Hale (guide) 4.30.41 - pb for Joe by 10.34 and debut for Paul
Sophy Dunn (see below) - no official time
Ex TAC - Kelsey Howard ran 3.49.23
Mini marathons -
Under 13 boys - 55th James Kingston 17.58
Under 15 boys - 7th James Puxty 15.20
Under 17 men - 6th Alasdair Kinloch 14.32, 13th Chris Cohen 14.49, 23rd Jamie Goodge 15.07 (u17 race video loaded)
Full results at - http://results-2015.virginmoneylondonmarathon.com/2015/minimarathon/
Ben Cole (captured at 24 miles by Nicola Willumsen)
London Marathon, Sunday 27th April - Sophy Dunn
This Sunday is the London Marathon and mini marathons and a few from TAC are competing.
Please take a moment to read the following link, explaining why Sophy Dunn (Ollie's mum) is running. You may like to make a donation -
http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/guys-thomas-hospitals/get-involved/support-guy/our-supporters/sophys-marathon-battle
Please take a moment to read the following link, explaining why Sophy Dunn (Ollie's mum) is running. You may like to make a donation -
http://www.togetherwecan.org.uk/guys-thomas-hospitals/get-involved/support-guy/our-supporters/sophys-marathon-battle
Southern Athletics League, at Bromley, Saturday 25th April
Videos loaded !
The Tonbridge AC team put in a great effort today to win the first match of the Southern Athletics League. Having only been promoted last season to this top division, we came away with a cracking win with 219.5 points, to Blackheath 188, Basingstoke 165.5 and Stevenage 150. The distance runners contributed significantly with wins, personal bests and even one athlete well inside the league record and not even winning.
Some of the wins and highlights -
800m - won by Sean Molloy (1.52.23) and Alice Ralph (2.17.04 pb)
1500m - won by Tom Cox (4.04..30) and Alice Wood (4.53.06 pb after 5 years !)
5000m - won by Corey De'Ath (15.37.66 debut)
2000m women's steeplechase - won by Alice Ralph (7.40.13 debut)
2000m men's steeplechase - Ryan Driscoll ran 5.49.24, which was eight seconds inside the league record, but was pipped on the line !
The weather was good and there were some international athletes on show including Dina Asha-Smith (World Junior 10m champion and European Indoor silver medalist at 60m).
I am unsure which was the most encouraging of all the TAC distance runners' performances - Alice Ralph's win double ? Sean Molloy's 'comeback', including a 49.4 relay spilt ? Alice Wood's pb over 1500m after 5 years ? or Ryan Driscoll being well inside the league steeplechase record ? Or maybe it was the great team effort by Lucy Pitcairn-Knowles and Emma Avis, who scored 2 points each in the 3000 metres, showing great TAC team spirit !
Full results are on the Results 2015 page.
Some of the wins and highlights -
800m - won by Sean Molloy (1.52.23) and Alice Ralph (2.17.04 pb)
1500m - won by Tom Cox (4.04..30) and Alice Wood (4.53.06 pb after 5 years !)
5000m - won by Corey De'Ath (15.37.66 debut)
2000m women's steeplechase - won by Alice Ralph (7.40.13 debut)
2000m men's steeplechase - Ryan Driscoll ran 5.49.24, which was eight seconds inside the league record, but was pipped on the line !
The weather was good and there were some international athletes on show including Dina Asha-Smith (World Junior 10m champion and European Indoor silver medalist at 60m).
I am unsure which was the most encouraging of all the TAC distance runners' performances - Alice Ralph's win double ? Sean Molloy's 'comeback', including a 49.4 relay spilt ? Alice Wood's pb over 1500m after 5 years ? or Ryan Driscoll being well inside the league steeplechase record ? Or maybe it was the great team effort by Lucy Pitcairn-Knowles and Emma Avis, who scored 2 points each in the 3000 metres, showing great TAC team spirit !
Full results are on the Results 2015 page.
Saturday morning 5km parkruns
TAC had a good morning at the local parkruns -
Maidstone - 1st George Duggan 15.40
Tonbridge - 1st Stuart Brown 17.32, 1st female Ellie Cohen 21.30
Tunbridge Wells - 1st James Taylor 17.08 + congratulations to Joe Watts, of TAC, who is the event organiser and has helped the parkrun through to its first anniversary.
Full results are at - http://www.parkrun.org.uk/results/firstfinishers/
Maidstone - 1st George Duggan 15.40
Tonbridge - 1st Stuart Brown 17.32, 1st female Ellie Cohen 21.30
Tunbridge Wells - 1st James Taylor 17.08 + congratulations to Joe Watts, of TAC, who is the event organiser and has helped the parkrun through to its first anniversary.
Full results are at - http://www.parkrun.org.uk/results/firstfinishers/
George Duggan displaying all the hallmarks of a jogger - earphones, T-shirt and looking at his watch before the finish !
Watford Open Meeting, Wednesday 22nd April
Videos loaded !
Watford once again delivered good weather and competition for their evening open meeting. Once the early evening breeze dropped and the faster races commenced, the athletes enjoyed almost perfect conditions, despite being a little cool. With nineteen races over 800m and 120 entries for the 3000m, it was once again a late finish, but worth the trip.
There were eight TAC athletes in action, with Sian Driscoll off first in race nine of the 800m. Sian ran 2.16.86 to take 1.5 seconds from her personal best. Sam Avis then produced the most dynamic performance of his life, as he hit the front of his 800m with about 250 to go and won in a five second pb of 2.08.50.
Corey De'Ath was just 0.04s away from another TAC pb when he ran 1.58.61, whilst Luca Russo improved his best by 1.3s to 1.53.97. Then in the last 800m race George Duggan recorded 1.52.97 (just 0.4s outside his best) and Dom Brown sliced 1.3 seconds from his pb with 1.53.46.
The 3000 metre races finished off the night, with Sam Crick and Bede Pitcairn-Knowles going in race 2. They had set themselves pre race targets of 9.20 and 9.35, respectively, but both ran superbly to beat these. Sam ran 9.06.19 (debut) and Bede 9.30.38 (24s pb). Then in the final race Ryan Driscoll ran 8.28.00 and Luca Russo (30 mins after his 800m) 8.47.97.
The performances were very encouraging for so early in the season and I am sure all of them will move on again, in the coming weeks.
Full results are at - http://www.watfordharriers.org.uk/indexnc.htm
There were eight TAC athletes in action, with Sian Driscoll off first in race nine of the 800m. Sian ran 2.16.86 to take 1.5 seconds from her personal best. Sam Avis then produced the most dynamic performance of his life, as he hit the front of his 800m with about 250 to go and won in a five second pb of 2.08.50.
Corey De'Ath was just 0.04s away from another TAC pb when he ran 1.58.61, whilst Luca Russo improved his best by 1.3s to 1.53.97. Then in the last 800m race George Duggan recorded 1.52.97 (just 0.4s outside his best) and Dom Brown sliced 1.3 seconds from his pb with 1.53.46.
The 3000 metre races finished off the night, with Sam Crick and Bede Pitcairn-Knowles going in race 2. They had set themselves pre race targets of 9.20 and 9.35, respectively, but both ran superbly to beat these. Sam ran 9.06.19 (debut) and Bede 9.30.38 (24s pb). Then in the final race Ryan Driscoll ran 8.28.00 and Luca Russo (30 mins after his 800m) 8.47.97.
The performances were very encouraging for so early in the season and I am sure all of them will move on again, in the coming weeks.
Full results are at - http://www.watfordharriers.org.uk/indexnc.htm
This week's 'Big Hitters' - the top personal bests and debuts in the last week
I thought for this track season I would try and highlight each week's top performances, when I can, starting after this weekend's Kent Young Athletes League and UK Youth Development League.
Biggest pbs -
Stuart Brown (u20) 2000m steeplechase in 6.54.6 (51.9s improvement)
James Crombie (u13) 1500m in 5.16.5 (23.3s improvement)
Phoebe Barker (u17) 1500m in 4.49.4 (20.4s improvement)
Chloe Bird (u20) 3000m in 11.09.5 (19.7s improvement)
Katie Goodge (u13) 1200m in 4.18.0 (15.4s improvement)
Top Debut -
Sam Crick (u17) 1500m steeplechase in 4.43.6 (just 7.6s away from English Schools Entry Standard)
Biggest pbs -
Stuart Brown (u20) 2000m steeplechase in 6.54.6 (51.9s improvement)
James Crombie (u13) 1500m in 5.16.5 (23.3s improvement)
Phoebe Barker (u17) 1500m in 4.49.4 (20.4s improvement)
Chloe Bird (u20) 3000m in 11.09.5 (19.7s improvement)
Katie Goodge (u13) 1200m in 4.18.0 (15.4s improvement)
Top Debut -
Sam Crick (u17) 1500m steeplechase in 4.43.6 (just 7.6s away from English Schools Entry Standard)
Kent Young Athletes League, at Ashford, Sunday 19th April
This league is for the under 13s and 15s, with two divisions. TAC have teams in each division, plus non scorers are allowed.
The overall team score combines all four age groups ie u13 and u15 for boys and girls and in this first match we placed second to Blackheath.
Full results are on the Results 2015 page.
The overall team score combines all four age groups ie u13 and u15 for boys and girls and in this first match we placed second to Blackheath.
Full results are on the Results 2015 page.
Other weekend news - Saturday and Sunday 18th/19th April
On Saturday Alex Howard won a 2000m steeplechase for Oxford University today in a personal best of 6.08.1, at Kingston.
Early Sunday morning the Darent Valley 10k took place, with Dan Watt finish 3rd in 35.58 and Joe Watts 67th in 41.44.
Full results are at - http://www.swifttiming.co.uk/cgi-bin/list_race_result.php?meet_event_id=390001
Early Sunday morning the Darent Valley 10k took place, with Dan Watt finish 3rd in 35.58 and Joe Watts 67th in 41.44.
Full results are at - http://www.swifttiming.co.uk/cgi-bin/list_race_result.php?meet_event_id=390001
UK Youth Development League (under 17 and 20) at Harrow, Saturday 18th April
Race videos now loaded !
Provisional results are on the Results 2015 page.
1 Tonbridge AC 665, 2 Reading AC 622 3 Harrow AC 619 4 Crawley AC 519 5 Cambridge Harriers (Kent) 465
6 Croydon Harriers 415
The day will be remembered for the cool and windy conditions, although the sun did shine throughout the seven hours of action. The wind made fast times in the distance races almost impossible, but TAC athletes still produced many wins, personal bests and debut performances.
It was good to see such a good team spirit that helped towards the team victory, in this first match of the season. This was typified when it came to the steeplechases, where we witnessed a number having their first go at the distance.
The biggest pbs of the day came from Stuart Brown in the 2000m steeplechase and Phoebe Barker in the 1500 metres. Below area few photos of some of the action.
Debuts and personal best athletes -
1 Tonbridge AC 665, 2 Reading AC 622 3 Harrow AC 619 4 Crawley AC 519 5 Cambridge Harriers (Kent) 465
6 Croydon Harriers 415
The day will be remembered for the cool and windy conditions, although the sun did shine throughout the seven hours of action. The wind made fast times in the distance races almost impossible, but TAC athletes still produced many wins, personal bests and debut performances.
It was good to see such a good team spirit that helped towards the team victory, in this first match of the season. This was typified when it came to the steeplechases, where we witnessed a number having their first go at the distance.
The biggest pbs of the day came from Stuart Brown in the 2000m steeplechase and Phoebe Barker in the 1500 metres. Below area few photos of some of the action.
Debuts and personal best athletes -
TAC winners in the A-string distance races -
Saturday morning 5km parkruns, 18th April
There were a few TAC distance runners in action at various parkruns this weekend -
Tonbridge - 2nd Dan Bradley 16.49, 3rd Tim Faes 16.58
Maidstone - 1st female Ellen Crombie 19.57
Swindon - 1st Ben Cole 16.08
Orpington - 3rd female Ellen Pitcairn-Knowles 22.20
Royal Tunbridge Wells - 18th Henry Taylor 21.54
All the Tonbridge results can be found at - http://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=2404
Tonbridge - 2nd Dan Bradley 16.49, 3rd Tim Faes 16.58
Maidstone - 1st female Ellen Crombie 19.57
Swindon - 1st Ben Cole 16.08
Orpington - 3rd female Ellen Pitcairn-Knowles 22.20
Royal Tunbridge Wells - 18th Henry Taylor 21.54
All the Tonbridge results can be found at - http://www.parkrun.com/results/consolidatedclub/?clubNum=2404
Wednesday news, 15th April
Michael Ellis ran a debut 400m hurdles in 66.81 to finish 4th in the Sheffield University varsity match and then followed up with a 1500m in 4.18.88, which is just three seconds away from his pb.
Sunday news, 12th April
At Wimbledon Park track, Miles Weatherseed ran 4.28.94 to finish 3rd in the Dave Clarke, Under 20 men's mile, having gone through halfway in 2.26. Joe O'Hara from Bexley won in 4.27.73, with Will Fuller, from Blackheath 2nd in 4.28.25. Race video now loaded.
At the Medway and Maidstone Open Meeting Sean Molloy won the 400 metres in 50.11. Also Christian Lee ran 2.05.94 (just outside his pb) and Tom Dean ran 2.07.50 for 800m.
Michael Ellis, using it more as a training run, recorded 82.40 at the Sheffield Half Marathon.
Dan Sims has run 2.47.54 at the Paris Marathon.
Duncan Ralph ran a personal best of 3.52.12 at the Brighton Marathon.
John Harley broke his own club over 60 men's 10k road race record with a 39.58 clocking at the Ronnie Bowker Foundation event, in Birmingham. John finished 14th overall and won his age category.
At the Godhurst 10k Nina Ridge ran 45.24 and Rachel Fagg 52.45. Results are at http://niceworkevents.blogspot.co.uk
Photos below of Miles Weatherseed competing in the Dave Clarke mile at Wimbledon on Sunday -
At the Medway and Maidstone Open Meeting Sean Molloy won the 400 metres in 50.11. Also Christian Lee ran 2.05.94 (just outside his pb) and Tom Dean ran 2.07.50 for 800m.
Michael Ellis, using it more as a training run, recorded 82.40 at the Sheffield Half Marathon.
Dan Sims has run 2.47.54 at the Paris Marathon.
Duncan Ralph ran a personal best of 3.52.12 at the Brighton Marathon.
John Harley broke his own club over 60 men's 10k road race record with a 39.58 clocking at the Ronnie Bowker Foundation event, in Birmingham. John finished 14th overall and won his age category.
At the Godhurst 10k Nina Ridge ran 45.24 and Rachel Fagg 52.45. Results are at http://niceworkevents.blogspot.co.uk
Photos below of Miles Weatherseed competing in the Dave Clarke mile at Wimbledon on Sunday -
National Road Relay Championships, at Sutton Park, Sutton Coldfield, Saturday 11th April
Race videos now loaded !
Tonbridge AC was formed in 1947 and so is 68 years old, but it was today that TAC's men's squad produced the best team performance that the club has ever witnessed. The team finished 5th of the 67 qualifying teams that started the race and so improved on the 28th, 19th, 14th and 13th of the last four years (the only occasions that TAC have qualified and finished a team).
The race consisted of alternating 'Long' legs of 8.96km and 'Short' of 5.14km, although both were about a minute longer than the traditional course used since 1970 (the event commenced in 1967).
Ben Cole set the team up fantastically well with a 27.31 clocking in 8th place, before George Duggan moved us up to 6th with 16.05. Ben's time was the 13th fastest of the whole race. Henry Pearce then took over, but was not at his best and slipped six places with 29.26, before Dom Brown ran a superb 15.39 to put the team back into 7th, with what was the 11th fastest short leg overall.
Corey De'Ath ran 29.03 for the fifth lap and lost two places, with what was still a very solid performance, before Tom Cox took us to halfway. Tom ran a blinder with 15.45 to move the team to 7th, recording the race's 15th fastest lap.
Max Nichollls ran 28.52 as we slipped back to 9th once again, a position that Dan bradley (16.22) and Ryan Driscoll (28.42) maintained. Alex Howard (16.32) dropped to 10th, but importantly had three teams within 26 seconds of him at the finish.
So that was ten legs of the twelve completed and I was wondering whether a position in the top ten was as far as we could go. All the other teams around us seemed to have good depth and we just couldn't move forward, which I suppose is what should be expected, when mixing it with the top ten in the UK.
However, on leg 11 things started to change as GB junior international Chris Olley ran the third fastest lap of the stage with 27.54 and moved us up three positions to 7th. Crucially we were now also on the tails of Highgate and Kent AC, with Luca Russo anchoring our squad.
When I saw Luca after 1500 metres he had drawn level with the other two teams and ran an astute tactical leg to come home 5th, behind Morpeth, Notts AC, Leeds City and Central (Scotland). Just seven seconds behind us were Kent AC, with Highgate 7th. Luca had run 15.58 to bring us home as the top 'Southern' team, fourth best in England and fifth in the UK.
Apart from those that raced we had a terrific amount of support from friends and families, which I believe made a real difference.
It might takes us three or four more years to break into the top three, but hopefully we can do this, as half the team today competed as under 20s last Winter.
Full results are on the Results 2015 page (Tonbridge men's team only as no women's team)
The race consisted of alternating 'Long' legs of 8.96km and 'Short' of 5.14km, although both were about a minute longer than the traditional course used since 1970 (the event commenced in 1967).
Ben Cole set the team up fantastically well with a 27.31 clocking in 8th place, before George Duggan moved us up to 6th with 16.05. Ben's time was the 13th fastest of the whole race. Henry Pearce then took over, but was not at his best and slipped six places with 29.26, before Dom Brown ran a superb 15.39 to put the team back into 7th, with what was the 11th fastest short leg overall.
Corey De'Ath ran 29.03 for the fifth lap and lost two places, with what was still a very solid performance, before Tom Cox took us to halfway. Tom ran a blinder with 15.45 to move the team to 7th, recording the race's 15th fastest lap.
Max Nichollls ran 28.52 as we slipped back to 9th once again, a position that Dan bradley (16.22) and Ryan Driscoll (28.42) maintained. Alex Howard (16.32) dropped to 10th, but importantly had three teams within 26 seconds of him at the finish.
So that was ten legs of the twelve completed and I was wondering whether a position in the top ten was as far as we could go. All the other teams around us seemed to have good depth and we just couldn't move forward, which I suppose is what should be expected, when mixing it with the top ten in the UK.
However, on leg 11 things started to change as GB junior international Chris Olley ran the third fastest lap of the stage with 27.54 and moved us up three positions to 7th. Crucially we were now also on the tails of Highgate and Kent AC, with Luca Russo anchoring our squad.
When I saw Luca after 1500 metres he had drawn level with the other two teams and ran an astute tactical leg to come home 5th, behind Morpeth, Notts AC, Leeds City and Central (Scotland). Just seven seconds behind us were Kent AC, with Highgate 7th. Luca had run 15.58 to bring us home as the top 'Southern' team, fourth best in England and fifth in the UK.
Apart from those that raced we had a terrific amount of support from friends and families, which I believe made a real difference.
It might takes us three or four more years to break into the top three, but hopefully we can do this, as half the team today competed as under 20s last Winter.
Full results are on the Results 2015 page (Tonbridge men's team only as no women's team)
Tonbridge AC Mens Team 5th at National Road Relays
USA weekend news Friday 10th and Saturday 11th April
Robbie Farnham-Rose continued his top form in the USA by winning in the Border Clash meet, at Starkville Mississippi, over 1500 metres. Robbie lowered his personal best to 3.44.72 and reports that he felt good, running a final lap in 57 seconds. Race video now loaded !
Kieran Reilly ran 4.03.25 for 1500m in Louisville, but i have yet to hear from Kieran.
Kieran Reilly ran 4.03.25 for 1500m in Louisville, but i have yet to hear from Kieran.
Saturday 5km parkruns, 11th April
At Tonbridge 1st Stuart Brown in approximately 17.00 (not registered so showing as Unknown in the official results). 1st lady and 2nd overall Nicola Wilkinson in 18.59.
Full results from Tonbridge and other parkruns are at - http://www.parkrun.org.uk/results/firstfinishers/
Full results from Tonbridge and other parkruns are at - http://www.parkrun.org.uk/results/firstfinishers/
Tonbridge AC in Athletics Weekly
There is an article about Tonbridge AC in this weeks Athletics Weekly, available in all good newsagents. A pdf that they have sent us is in the file below. See www.athleticsweekly.com for details of subscriptions.
| athletics_weekly_article_08042015.pdf |
Tonbridge AC Norman Fowler Memorial Open Meeting, Monday 6th April
Race videos now loaded !
Possibly the best weather of the year so far greeted athletes and supporters at Tonbridge for the traditional early season meeting. There was plenty of action, including eleven 600m races and eighteen 150m heats. Results are on the Results 2015 page. Below are a few photos from the distance races.
Saturday 5km parkruns, 4th April
There were quite a few TAC runners at various parkruns this Saturday -
Tonbridge - 1st Ben Cole 16.06, 1st Female Nicole Wilkinson 19.20
Royal Tunbridge Wells - 5th Matthew Taylor 21.00
Maidstone - no TAC this week
Bushy Park - 4th Sam Crick 16.56
Banstead Woods - 1st female Abianne Coates 21.18
At Tonbridge there were 24 TAC members for the final event that contributed to the TAC parkrun Winter Grand Prix. Mark Pitcairn-Knowles has supplied the league table in the file below. There was a three way tie between James Kingston, Ollie Dunn and Andrew Mercer. After some consideration Andrew Mercer has been declared the winner having recorded the highest age grade percentage of the three, in terms of standout performance. 1st Andrew Mercer 80.37%, 2nd Ollie Dunn 78.40%, 3rd James Kingston 76.92%. Andrew will receive the trophy from Mark Pitcairn-Knowles shortly.
Tonbridge - 1st Ben Cole 16.06, 1st Female Nicole Wilkinson 19.20
Royal Tunbridge Wells - 5th Matthew Taylor 21.00
Maidstone - no TAC this week
Bushy Park - 4th Sam Crick 16.56
Banstead Woods - 1st female Abianne Coates 21.18
At Tonbridge there were 24 TAC members for the final event that contributed to the TAC parkrun Winter Grand Prix. Mark Pitcairn-Knowles has supplied the league table in the file below. There was a three way tie between James Kingston, Ollie Dunn and Andrew Mercer. After some consideration Andrew Mercer has been declared the winner having recorded the highest age grade percentage of the three, in terms of standout performance. 1st Andrew Mercer 80.37%, 2nd Ollie Dunn 78.40%, 3rd James Kingston 76.92%. Andrew will receive the trophy from Mark Pitcairn-Knowles shortly.
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Stanford Invitational, California, USA, Friday 3rd April
Kieran Reilly ran 5000 metres in 14.46.72, for Indiana University, at Stanford, California. His only previous attempt at the distance was in 2009, as an under 17, when he ran 16.55.2.
South of England Road Relay Championships, at Milton Keynes, Sunday 29th March
Men's 12 stage and Women's 6 stage
Milton Keynes once again hosted the South of England Road Relay Championships, where the men's race comprises of teams of twelve and the women's teams of six. The men alternate legs of 7644m and 5053m, whilst the women race over the shorter distance.
In many ways these championships and the National on 11th April are the biggest test of a club's depth in distance running, which means that, despite the men's race lasting for more than four hours, the outcome is often in doubt until the end.
TAC went into both races, without our strongest squads, with the men particularly hit hard by absences. It was therefore a terrific effort by those present, to ensure that both squads came away having finished higher than any Tonbridge team has done before. The men were 4th and the women 11th. What's more is the fact that both teams are relatively young, with half the men's squad having competed as under 20 this Winter and five of the six women, likewise.
Belief is certainly starting to run through the veins of both our runners and supporters that the men in particular are now getting very close to being able to compete with the best in the UK over a 12 leg race.
Full results on the Results 2015 page. Photos below - Men's A-team.
In many ways these championships and the National on 11th April are the biggest test of a club's depth in distance running, which means that, despite the men's race lasting for more than four hours, the outcome is often in doubt until the end.
TAC went into both races, without our strongest squads, with the men particularly hit hard by absences. It was therefore a terrific effort by those present, to ensure that both squads came away having finished higher than any Tonbridge team has done before. The men were 4th and the women 11th. What's more is the fact that both teams are relatively young, with half the men's squad having competed as under 20 this Winter and five of the six women, likewise.
Belief is certainly starting to run through the veins of both our runners and supporters that the men in particular are now getting very close to being able to compete with the best in the UK over a 12 leg race.
Full results on the Results 2015 page. Photos below - Men's A-team.
Photos below -Women's team and Men's B team (apologies as no photo of Mark Pitcairn-Knowles).
Sunday road races, 29th March
Paddock Wood Half Marathon
Matt Harvey ran 1.25.11 and Duncan Ralph 1.41.25. For Matt that was a personal best by 4.39 and for Duncan a pb by 9 seconds.
Spitfire 20 miles, Cranleigh, Surrey
Eva Kolivoskova-Martin made her debut over the 20 miles distance, running 2.45.31
Matt Harvey ran 1.25.11 and Duncan Ralph 1.41.25. For Matt that was a personal best by 4.39 and for Duncan a pb by 9 seconds.
Spitfire 20 miles, Cranleigh, Surrey
Eva Kolivoskova-Martin made her debut over the 20 miles distance, running 2.45.31
USA News, Saturday 28th March
Whilst most of you were asleep there were a couple of Tonbridge athletes competing in the USA, both opening their outdoor seasons with a 1500 metres.
Robbie Farnham-Rose ran 3.46.58 to comfortably win the event at the Crimson Tide Invitational meet, at Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Robbie won by almost three seconds with a very fast final half a lap. Full results are at -http://results.flotrack.org/2015/03-27-Alabama/Mobile/Track.php?EN=25&RN=1&D=2
Race video now loaded !
Meanwhile, in a closer finish, Kieran Reilly recorded 3.49.10 to finish 4th in the BIG Ten/Pac 12 meeting at Arizona State University. In a tight contest Kieran was just half a second away from the winner. Full results are at - http://finishedresults.trackscoreboard.com/?DB_OEM_ID=30300#/results/meet/72/event/3/Final
Robbie Farnham-Rose ran 3.46.58 to comfortably win the event at the Crimson Tide Invitational meet, at Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Robbie won by almost three seconds with a very fast final half a lap. Full results are at -http://results.flotrack.org/2015/03-27-Alabama/Mobile/Track.php?EN=25&RN=1&D=2
Race video now loaded !
Meanwhile, in a closer finish, Kieran Reilly recorded 3.49.10 to finish 4th in the BIG Ten/Pac 12 meeting at Arizona State University. In a tight contest Kieran was just half a second away from the winner. Full results are at - http://finishedresults.trackscoreboard.com/?DB_OEM_ID=30300#/results/meet/72/event/3/Final
Schools Inter Counties Cross Country at The Schools at Somerhill, Tonbridge, Saturday 28th March
Videos loaded !
Many thanks to all the TAC helpers who helped with putting on the schools inter counties today.
Full results are on the Results 2015 page.
There was a moment during one of the races which really made an impression on a few of us. TAC's Maria Bragin was struggling up the long hill, with a knee that hurt and was quite upset. She insisted that she wanted to finish and there was another county's athlete in a similar predicament just ahead. Maria caught her up and then they helped each other to the finish line, which was probably about a kilometre away at the time. It reminded me of Derek Redmond being helped around the track, by his dad, at the Barcelona Olympics 400m, in 1992. Well done Maria for a terrific sporting gesture !
Full results are on the Results 2015 page.
There was a moment during one of the races which really made an impression on a few of us. TAC's Maria Bragin was struggling up the long hill, with a knee that hurt and was quite upset. She insisted that she wanted to finish and there was another county's athlete in a similar predicament just ahead. Maria caught her up and then they helped each other to the finish line, which was probably about a kilometre away at the time. It reminded me of Derek Redmond being helped around the track, by his dad, at the Barcelona Olympics 400m, in 1992. Well done Maria for a terrific sporting gesture !
Maria Bragin (blue) helping another athlete to the finish !