Medway and Maidstone AC put out a very strong men’s team for the 2nd race in the Kent Cross Country League at Tonbridge. The team result was a copy of the first race, with the club taking second in the 4-to-score and 12-to-score team competitions, both won by Tonbridge AC. This was a very creditable result as there were 22 finishing teams and the club had 12 finishers in the top 60 from a large turnout of over 283 runners. The club’s 24 finishing senior runners was a record for this league.
The very hilly and muddy 10 Km course was won by Ryan Driscoll (Tonbridge AC) 33.27, followed by Charlie Brisley (Invicta) 33.41 and Joshua Schofield (Blackheath & Bromley) 33.44.
The Medway & Maidstone AC’s team was led by Tewelde Menges in 4th (33.57) and Rob Meyer 5th (34.01) reversing their relative positions from the first race. Marley Godden 18th (35.44) had another good run, closely followed by Tom Collins in 19th (36.14) closing the 4-to-score team. The 12-to-score team was filled by Mark Wilkins in 23rd (36.52), Simon Habtom, in his first race for a long time, in 31st (37.46), Jack Crossley 32nd (37.46), Barry Royden 40th and 1st M50 (38.16), Justin Lane (having ran the Amsterdam Marathon the previous week) 43rd (38.33), Neill Wright 44th (38.36), Harry Collins 54th (39.14) and Stephen Turpie in 60th (39.52).
Excellent back-up was provided by Ben Hughes (his first race in the Senior team) 68th (40.20), Daniel Longhurst 69th (40.20), Lee McMeekin (79th (41.16), Adam Featherstone 97th (41.46), Alun Rodgers 108th (42.15), Sean Rodwell 125th (43.06), Gareth Williams 129th (43.20), Owen Featherstone 135th (43.35), Darren Wright 161st (44.49), Bob Fursey 179th (46.10), Martin Taylor 183rd (46.21) and Steven Stratford in 184th (46.25).
The U20s Men were led in by Alex Donnelly finishing in 9th (18:53) and supported by Jude Gordon 12th (19:32), Quinn Austin 14th (19:53) & Reegan Archer 17th (22:28). The team finishing in 2nd place.
The U17’s Men Team were represented by the pairing of Ethan Gear & Luke Stringer, finishing in 10th (17:56) and 11th (17:59) places, respectively.
The U15 boys team finished 4th overall, Hayden Gear had another superb race to finish 6th (14:01); Kaz Gogol was 24th (15:09) and Ollie Brownridge was 35th (16:14); they were supported by Callum Featherstone, 40th (16:52); Elliot Chamberlain, 44th (17:12); Dan McGoldrick, 46th (17:34); Myles Wright, 52th (18:36) and Robert Wright, 56th (19:02)
The U13 boys finished 5th on the day and for the second consecutive race, Jay Trimmer was first home in 11th place (11:20); the team was completed by Ethan Rollings, 14th (11:23) and Henry Gibson 17th (11:43), they were supported by Matthew Sherry, 27th (12:06); Joel Pickup, 43rd (12:56); Liam Kyson-Waller, 56th (15:21) and Liam McGoldrick 59th (17:06).
In the senior ladies race Emily Hale had a storming run to finish 6th (20.05). With some team members missing M&M still had a good number of runners with Jenny Fowler (W40) 35th (22:26) and Claire Wilkins (W35) (24:43) to complete the 3 to score with the team finishing in 6th. Newcomer Amanda Matthews (W45) had a good start, 78th (24:57), followed closely by teammates, Bernadette Harrop (W45) 82nd (25.02), and another newcomer, Juliet Ryan (W45) 85th (25:07), to close the 6 to score team with the team finishing in 5th. Catherine Rodwell 122nd (28:18) and Kat Ford 145th (34:01).
The U15Gs saw Anna Palmer in her first race of the season finishing well in 7th place (16:52). She was followed by strong runs from both Abigail Royden, 15th (17:26) and Annabelle Young (20th (17:42) with the 3 to score finishing in 5th. They were followed in by teammates Emma Ryan 25th (18:09), Lily Crossley 27th (18:18), Sarah Mitchell 34th (19:20), Amy Jukes 48th (21:23) and Ciara Harrop 49th (21:25).
The U13G saw another strong race from Iris Crossley finishing in 15th (12:14). This was followed by Amber Matthews in 27th (13:01) and Elizabeth Fry 30th (13.11) to close the 3 to score with the team finishing in 7th. They were backed up by teammates Heidi Hughes 46th (14:02) and Beth Palmer 53rd (14:54). Medway
With only one runner contesting the U17 ladies, it was good to see Charlotte Young back with a strong run to finish 8th (21:04).
The next Kent League race will take place on Saturday 9th November at Danson Park, Bexley with no Senior Men at this race.
