Highlights
- Tyler & Matcham take firsts in Lockdown League
- Masters Relay strong showing
- Running around the clock
BMAF 5K Virtual Relay
The British Masters Athletic Federation (BMAF), a federation of UK athletics clubs for athletes 35 and older, ran their 5K relay championship as a virtual race from 14 to 20 June. The club entered teams in the M35-44 category (six to score) and M45-54 (four to score). Folkestone Running Club finished in 24th place out of more than 80 clubs in this national competition. The standout performance for the club was new old boy Tom Millard, who recently transferred from South Kent Harriers, with his time of 15:12 and overall 13th fastest finish in a field that included elite marathon runner Paul Martelletti. There was also a fantastic result for Derek Matcham breaking the 17 minute barrier.
All finishers (positions, times and age categories, with scorers in bold)
13: Thomas Millard (15:12, M35), 206: Derek Matcham (16:48, M40), 384: David Gillett (17:29, M40), 422: Ian McGilloway (17:35, M45), 599: Nick Steele (18:04, M35), 712: Phil Hoyland (18:21, M35), 1117: Rob Collier (19:25, M45), 1331: Tim Warren (20:02, M45), 1581: Darren Crew (20:44, M50)
Lockdown League
After nine weeks the multi-distance Lockdown League with events ranging from 1 mile to a 1 hour time trial, finally concluded. There were two individual category wins for David Tyler (under 40s and fastest overall across all distances, and also a third place in the age-graded league) and Derek Matcham (40-49). The men’s team ran Medway and Maidstone AC to a close second.
Nikki Goodwin came 3rd in the women’s 35-44 category and Folkestone’s mixed team came second overall.
Results:
Running around the clock
From 8am Saturday morning and until at 7am Sunday morning Marie Brazier, Gary Brazier, Mark Weight, Tara Baker and FRC newcomer Kate Clipstone ran one mile every hour for the whole 24 hours. Marie “found it mentally tough as well as physically … as the night went on and I got tired it was harder to get out of the door” Tara and Mark mixed things up by having five different routes that they used throughout the event. Fuelling was difficult with too: Marie ate little and often, with Mark getting by on pizza. Mark and Tara both extended it to just over marathon distance in 3.50 and 3.53 respectively, with Mark throwing in a 7:13 mile in the middle.
Tara’s verdict was “Good experience, great challenge”