Lots going on this week, it’s hard to know where to start!
There was a bit of international travel going on this weekend. Jason Ransley headed over to the Netherlands to take part in the Eindhoven Marathon where he ran a new PB of 3:21:42. Tony Scott meanwhile crossed the Atlantic and took part in the Staten Island Half Marathon where he finished in 1:55:56. Down in Spain, Liz Tew took part in the Carrera de la Mujer in Motril, Granada. Liz finished the 5k race in 29:11 coming 129th overall, but 3rd V55, earning herself a trophy.
Saturday saw the start of the new cross country season, a firm favourite among many club members and a great team event. It was great to see some new faces getting involved. Round 1 of the Kent League took place at Swanley Park which was undulating rather than hilly but with all the recent rain, spikes were a must. Callum Howes and Joe Bruce were first to run in the U15 boys race. Both performed brilliantly, finishing well inside the top half, Callum finished the 4k course in 23rd in a time of 14:44 while Joe finished in 29th in 15:03.
Next up were the ladies who had a 5k route to contend with. Emily Chambers was first back for the club in 49th place overall and also 9th U20. Next back was Zoe Neale in 70th position followed by Catherine O’Connor (91st), Gail Turbutt (104th), Ivana Collier (133rd) and Julie Gibbs (148th).
The Senior men were next up with their 10k race on a course that was now nicely churned up in places by all the previous races. First back for the club was Nick Steele in 53rd position ahead of Tristan Bruce (121st), Liam Cumber (141st), Dave Weekes (160th), Stuart Erskine (192nd), Paul Bartlett (226th), Neil Trett (241st) and Grahame Eke (287th).
In the team competition, the men are 15th in the 4 to score league while the women in 12th in the 3 to score league and 11th in the 6 to score league.
On Sunday, Diane Parsons took part in the Oxford half marathon where she had a fantastic (jelly baby fueled) run and knocked 10 minutes off her PB to finish in 1:54:24.
Also on Sunday and slightly closer to home was the Temple Ewell 10k. Ian Merrick was first FRC runner back in 24th place in a time of 47:55. Clive Allon was next in 33rd place in 49:18 ahead of Tom Iwgsyszyn in 43rd and Rob Huish in 44th who had the identical time of 50:01. Second claim member Ben McGhee also took part finishing in a fantastic 2nd place.
Saturday morning is of course parkrun time and it was rather wet on the leas, but there were still a number of FRCer’s in action. First for the club and 3rd overall was Jonathan Arana-Morton in a time of 20:05. He was followed by Ian Merrick (21:01), Deborah Jeffery (21:29) Richard Fowles (22:08), Nikki Goodwin (22:20), Louis Blacktop-Wales (22:51) – PB, Clive Allon (23:23), Vicky Scott (24:02), Carolyn Lewis (25:55), Andrew Richardson (26:02), Catriona Watts (26:57), Linda Robson (27:05), Richard Dyer (28:08), Jacob Burvill (29:18), Kayleigh Cumber (33:59), John O’Hara (34:19) and Elizabeth Smith (38:37).
Elsewhere, Dave Walbrook took part in the Victoria Dock parkrun in a time of 23:58, Caroline Curtis ran the Kingdom parkrun in a time of 24:13 while over in Deal, Dan Voller and Dave Tyler ran together finishing in 18:23 and 18:24 respectively.