For the last few months members of Folkestone Running and Athletic club and other running clubs in the south-east have been competing against each other in the Kent Cross Country League. This year Jacob Gillett (12yrs) and Poppy Duncan (13yrs) took part in the league for the U13 boys and girls for the first time. For both this was a new experience to compete competitively at cross country events in a league format.
They started at Footscray on the 12th Oct, Jacob finished 24th out of 83 and Poppy finished 28th out of 47. A good start for them both and an eye opener to see how quick the front runners were!
Next was Somerhill School in Tonbridge on the 26th Oct. A wet and cold day and a confusing course to navigate, with a steep hill to climb. Despite it being a challenging run they both gave it all they had. Jacob finished 20th out of 64 and Poppy finished 31st out of 39.
Danson park in Bexleyheath was next on the 9th November. Jacob finished 32nd out of 74 and Poppy finished 33rd out of 45.
Finally the two of them travelled to Swanley Park this Saturday. This being the last of the meets for this competition. It was another tough race due to the conditions and storm Bert hammering against them but yet again they pushed on and Jacob finished 35th out of 72 and Poppy finished 22nd out of 44. A good final race for them both and improvements definitely noticed throughout. They have both learnt some race craft in so many areas, how to pace themselves and when to push and sprint. When asked how they felt the experience had been for them Jacob said “I really enjoyed my first taste of cross country. I’ve enjoyed all the courses with different scenery and challenges along the way”.
Poppy said “I feel I have improved my running throughout and have been inspired to build my endurance. I have really enjoyed the experience of my first cross country league and I’m looking forward to competing in future competitions”. It’s safe to say that both athletes have enjoyed their time in the mud and rain and will definitely push on with their running at future competitions and events. The official standings after three events shows Jacob at 12th out of 100 and Poppy at 18th out of 59 with their standings due to improve slightly after yesterday’s result is recorded. This is a fantastic effort from them both for their first time in the league.
In the Senior/Vet Women cross country race this Saturday at Swanley, 8 runners from Folkestone Running and Athletic Club competed. Nicola Goodwin was the first back for the club in 36:41, followed by Catherine O’Connor 40:12, Karla Larnder 40:55, Kate Evans 42:30, Victoria McGilloway 46:02, Gail Turbutt 46:24, Trudi Curd 53:16 and Maria Fox Felicetti 53:26.
If facing the harsh elements on Saturday morning to compete in the Folkestone Running and Athletic Club parkrun challenge final wasn’t enough, then braving the elements to race the tough Senior/Vet Woman’s cross country race in the afternoon, why not also run a 10k race on Sunday too. Maria Fox Felicetti did all three and ran the Beddington Park 10k on Sunday in a time of 1:03:00
On Sunday, Dan McCarthy ran the Battersea Park Running Festival Marathon in a time of 3:50:17, a PB of 40 minutes. Also running the Marathon was Layla D’Monte in a time of 04:29:30. Luke Hicks ran the Half-marathon in 1:53:17
If you don’t fancy running in the wet, cold and windy British weather, why not travel to sunnier climes. Jane Wren, Alan Randall, And Caroline Curtis did just that and took part in the Cyprus 4 Day challenge in Paphos. There were 4 races over the long weekend:
6k Time Trial
11k Akamas Mountains Hilly Run
Half Marathon in the Akamas Mountains
Paphos Town 10k
Caroline won her age category in the 6k, 11k and 10k She came 2nd in her age category in the half marathon and she came second in her age category overall for all 4 races.
This weeks parkruns
King’s Lynn parkrun
Darren Crew 21:26, Jody Stoakes 23:35
Bognor Regis parkrun
Kate Lancefield 32:18
Cyclopark parkrun
Jacob Henwood 19:48, Julia Henwood 31:42
Folkestone parkrun
On a very wet and windy day, there was still a good showing from Folkestone Running and Athletics Club runners for this week’s Folkestone parkrun. After a year of competition, the Parkrun Club A and B challenge finally reached a conclusion with Maria Fox Felicetti racing Rebecca Powney and Pamela Moore racing Brian Davis. All runners have run exceptionally well and we await the final results at the awards ceremony on 7th December. On the day, Folkestone Running Club members Deborah Jeffery, Manda Gurung and Bec Powney put in fantastic runs to finish in 20:17, 20:35 and 21:08 and finish first, second and third females. Also running were:
Guy Slingsby 19:18, Ian Merrick 20:14, Thomas Aspinall 21:10, Stephen Deeming 21:38, Ian Vousden 22:12, Jonathan Arana-Morton 22:25, James Springett 22:27, Phil Haines 23:05, Martin Salmon 24:17, Hazel Millard 24:24, Torben Jessen 24:33, Paul Bartlett 24:33, Miles Gawthorp 24:37, Louisa Eede 25:26, Anthony Scott 25:27, Pamela Allon 25:28, Philip Heathfield 25:29, Jon Eaton 25:42, John O’hara 26:19, Amy Owen 27:19, Marie Brazier 27:32, Jason Herridge 28:31, Maria Felicetti 28:32, Anh-Van Whitby 28:33, Christopher Woolgar 28:38, Brian Davis 28:39, Simon Burvill 28:40, Debbie Fowles 28:48, Richard Fowles 28:49, Deirdre Coombs 28:51, Jason Crockford 28:52, Clive Allon 29:08, Trudi Curd 29:40, Julie Gibbs 33:09, Malcolm Gibbs 33:10, Lauren Hart 34:45, Helen Merrick 36:31, Henry Axon 49:43