Sportshall dates for the upcoming season 2023/24
All these meetings at the Stour Center Ashford.
18th February 2024 Regional Final, Burgess Hill
6th April 2024 UK final, Stoke
The Kent Fitness League have announced their provisional dates for the coming season as listed below.
Match 1 – 2023-11-12 11:00 Swanley Park, Swanley
Match 2 – 2023-11-19 11:00 Oxleas Wood, Eltham
Match 3 – 2023-11-26 09:00 Knole Park, Sevenoaks
Match 4 – 2024-01-07 11:00 Minnis Bay, Birchington
Match 5 – 2024-01-14 11:00 Betteshanger Park, Deal
Match 6 – 2024-02-04 11:00 Allhallows, Haven Holiday Park
Match 7 – 2024-02-25 11:00 Blean Woods, Rough Common, Canterbury
The rules for this league remain the same, with elite runners barred (sub-34 10k men, sub-38 10k ladies). However if you don’t fall into this category, then you can register by completing the following steps:
Ref: “KFL [SURNAME]”
Bank: CAF Bank
Account name: Medway and Maidstone AC
Sort Code: 40-52-40
Account no: 00018036
The deadline for all entries to the league is 30th September, so please let Sean know as soon as possible so that he can get our team entry in. Also, it would be great to get more people running for us in this league, particularly given the friendly nature of the league. If you have any running friends, family or club mates that you think may be interested, please send them my way. We have a cheaper membership option for people who only want to compete in the KFL. The KFL is a great introduction to cross country for those that have never tried it before, or even good races for anyone looking to get back in shape for the Kent League or other XC races.
Some other information about the league, in case you’re unfamiliar
Any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Sean Rodwell.
The English Under 15 & Under 17 Athletics Championships were held over the weekend 26/27th August at the Alexander Stadium, Birmingham. Medway & Maidstone Ac had a good representation and some outstanding results.
Cheyne West continued his amazing season with a superb win in the 400m hurdles to add to his English school gold. Cheyne has been very dominant at this distance all season and leads the UK rankings. He also took bronze in the 100mH sprint hurdles. He had a PB in the heat of 13.26, a time he repeated in the final. Cheyne also showed his improving flat speed with a fast 400m PB of 50.49 s at Medway Park on Saturday 2nd September.
The club also had two sprint finalists in the National Championships, both Under 17 Women. Oluuwadamitan Showemimo recorded a PB of 12.2 in her heat to make the final where she finished 5th. She also had a PB in the 200m winning her heat and an 8th place in the final. Rebeccah Akinsanya was 2nd in her heat and 5th in the final with a superb time of 24.86, just outside her PB.
Amber Matthews was 2nd in her Under 17 women’s 800m heat to make the final where she finished in 7th place. Amber has another year in this age group.
Rose Crossley competed in the Under 15s 1500m but after a busy season was unable to make the final.
Well done to all athletes competing at a very high standard.
Southern Counties Veterans League
Medway and Maidstone men and women’s teams secured promotion at the final league match at Dartford on Friday 31st July at a competitive Southern Counties Veterans league match. They will now be competing in Division 1 next season. Both teams finished as winners of division 2.
The women’s team won on the night thanks to wins from Berni Harrop in both the 100m and 800m, Cat Rowell in the long jump, Karen Cudmore in the 100m, 800m and long jump and Vanessa Hannam in the discus. The 4x 200m relay team also crossed the finish line in first place in the last race of the year to complete an unbeaten season for the relay team (Taryne McPherson, Berni Harrop, Hayley Palmer and Karen Cudmore).
Other stand out performances included Hayley Palmer getting a PB in both the 100m and high jump and Cat Rodwell edged into third place in the discus.
The men’s team finished second on the night but had already done enough to get promotion with Dan St Martin completing the season unbeaten in every race by winning the 800m B String and Andrejs Safars winning the A string. John Foster proved his versatility once again by getting fourth in the long jump and second in the 100m. Darren Wright finished third in the 100m and second in the long jump, both PBs.
Other solid performances from Alun Rodgers third in the 800m, Wynn Howe second in the discus, Mark Rothery second in the v35 discus, Rob Sibley second in the 100m and third in the long jump and Stuart Earl returning from injury to get fifth in a very competitive v50 discus.
The men’s 4x 200m relay team came second just half a second behind Ashford AC in the final race of the season with Dean Parkinson, Darren Wright, Mark Rothery and Andrejs Safars completing the last race of a very successful season.
League information here
Thank you to Team Managers, Darren Wright and Hayley Palmer
KYAL
In the final KYAL match our younger athletes managed to secure promotion to Division one. A fantastic result for athletes but we need to ensure we go into the 2024 track and field season fielding full teams.
Well done to all our athletes and officials that have supported the season.
Information here and final results below:
| Division 2 | ||||||||
| Boys | Girls | |||||||
| U13 | U15 | U13 | U15 | Off | O/A | M/Pts | ||
| S Factor Academy | 423 | 611 | 642 | 639.5 | 85 | 2400.5 | 32 | 1 |
| Medway & Maidstone AC | 569 | 496 | 389 | 537 | 125 | 2116 | 27 | 2 |
| Ashford AC | 640 | 451 | 495 | 365 | 75 | 2026 | 25 | 3 |
| Kent AC | 299 | 274 | 197 | 389 | 80 | 1239 | 19 | 4 |
| Paddock Wood AC | 93 | 172 | 319 | 117 | 110 | 811 | 13 | 5 |
| Swale Combined AC | 0 | 352 | 159 | 254 | 80 | 845 | 12 | 6 |
| Folkestone RC | 220 | 118 | 130 | 171.5 | 55 | 694.5 | 9 | 7 |
| Thanet AC | 194 | 47 | 33 | 167 | 75 | 516 | 7 | 8 |
Upper League YDL
After 4 matches in the upper league YDL (U17s and U20s) our athletes finished in a commendable 2nd place behind Cambridge Harriers who were promoted to the Premier Division. Hopefully next season we can push to field full teams at all the matches. Thank you to our Team Manager, Jeannette Turner. Details here
SAL
After 4 matches in the SAL the team finished in 10th place. After a shaky start to the season and not helped by the travel for two of our matches. We finished the season well with a home win at the last match. Thank you to our Team Managers, John and Sarah. Full details can be found here
North Downs Run – Sunday 25th June
Sunday 25th June 2023 saw the 39th North Downs Run take place starting at Cyclopark in Gravesend. The race is a 30km trail race with over 500 metres elevation. The weather was forecast to be very hot and the forecast was accurate – it was 25 degrees before the start at 10.30am and got up to over 30 degrees by the time people were finishing. There was some tree cover on parts of the route but more of it was in open sun so it made for very challenging conditions for all participants. Representing Medway & Maidstone AC were Sean Rodwell, Karen Cudmore, Vanessa Vander and Emily Hale (meaning we had a ladies team!). First home for M&M was Emily Hale making her debut at this race in 2:38:34 which made her 2nd in her age category and 9th female finisher. Sean, like many of the athletes taking part, struggled in the heat and considered retiring but pushed through to complete the race in 3:13:59, running the home straight with team mate Vanessa who crossed the line in 3:14:03 and Karen followed shortly after in 3:15:26. The ladies team were 3rd overall which is a solid result considering the conditions. A big well done to everyone who took part in this challenging course.
Staplehurst 10k – Sunday 11th June
On Sunday 11th June, two athletes from Medway & Maidstone took part in the Staplehurst 10k which is run on the road around the village lanes of the local area. Due to the hot temperatures of the day, the race was brought forward by 30 minutes but despite the heat, both our athletes did exceptionally well with Alun Rodgers finishing as 1st M55, 4th male and 5th overall in 39:49. Chloe Hammond finished in 42:37 which got her 1st F35, 4th female and 15th overall. Congratulations to them both!
Medway and Maidstone veterans dominated track and field Friday at Tonbridge winning both the mens and womens in the Southern Counties league with every athlete finishing third or above in their event.
As in the last meeting, both men and women won the 4x 100m relay, with quartets of Bernadette Harrop, Antel Muller, Chloe Hammond and Rachel Hicks and the men Darren Wright, Mark Rothery, John Foster and Andrejs Safars.
Medway and Maidstone women won for the third time out of three meetings with Rachel Hicks and Karen Cudmore both winning two events and wins for Chloe Hammond, Antel Muller and Venessa Hannom. Some notable performances from Bernadette Harrop and Cat Rodwell finishing second and third respectively. .
For the men there were wins for Mark Rothery (100m), again, John Foster (100m), Bob Fursey (800m), Sean Rodwell – in both the 800m and javelin, Andrejs Safars (800m) and Wynn Howe (javelin). Also points scored for second and third places for Darren Wright, Rob Sibley and Alun Rodgers.
Medway and Maidstone veterans continued their great form in Match two of the Southern Counties league on Friday 26th May at Dartford with plenty of first and second place finishes.
Medway and Maidstone women remain undefeated as they continued their great start to the campaign with a win for Rachel Hicks in the 200m in the A string race, and a second place for Hayley Palmer in the B race. Karen Cudmore also placed first in the over 50 category.
There were also strong performances from Taryne McPherson and Antel Muller who were both winners in the 1500m A and B string race, with a strong effort from Antel in her first race back after injury.
There were also some notable performances in the field events with Rachel Hicks and Vanessa Hannam both placing first in shot in their respective age categories, Vanessa also won her age category for the hammer with an impressive throw of 28.09m. Catherine Rodwell was third in both the hammer and long jump, with a first place for Karen Cudmore in the long jump in the over 50 category.
For the men Mark Rothery and Andrejs Safars were both winners in the 200m A and B string and John Foster, despite nursing an injury, was just edged in to second place.
Tom Collins and Dan St Martin both won their A and B string races and Alun Rodgers was second in the over 50 category.
Mark Ryan, Darren Wright and Rob Sibley all put in great performances in the field events, Mark throwing just below a personal best in the shot put.
The highlight of the night however was both men and women winning their 4x100m relay with quartets made up of Taryne McPherson, Cat Rodwell, Hayley Palmer and Rachel Hicks and the men quartet of Darren Wright, Mark Rothery, John Foster and Andrejs Safars.
Medway and Maidstone AC competed in their first Div1 Ladies and Men Southern Athletic League fixture on Saturday 20th May in Bracknell. In a strong 6 team match, although lacking in numbers, produced a strong performance finishing in fourth place overall.
In the sprint events, Abigail Walters run a strong 100m A for 4th (12.79) and Zara Edeleanu 3rd B (13.37). Two great performances in the 200m saw Lucy Hope take 1st A (25.49) and teammate Oluwadamitan Showemimo 1st B (25.57). Lucy also contested the 400m coming through strong for 3rd A (58.36) and Erin Hughes also 3rd (B) (63.64). Nia Thomas had a strong run in the 100mH A (19.18) for 3rd.
The middle distance athletes saw Abigail Hawkes double up over 800m and 1500m; 4th in the 800m A (2.28.14) and 5th in the 1500m A (5.19.14). Bernadette Harrop 800 4th B (3.03.80) but sadly having to withdraw from the 1500m due to injury. Zara Edeleanu stepped in for 6th B 1500 (6.54.06). Catherine Rodwell was 5th in the 3000m (14.51.43).
In the field events Zara Edeleanu 5th A in the Long Jump (4.32) and Nia Thomas 6th B (3.75). Jessica Blake had a busy day covering Hammer A 3rd (33.89m), Discus (20.43m) and Shot 4th (8.05m). Zara Edeleanu was 4th B in the Discus (17.28m) and 5th A in the Javelin (15.58m). Catherine Rodwell was 3rd B in the Javelin (14.38m) and 3rd B in the Hammer (21.42m).
The team finished 5th in the 4x100m relay and 4th in the 4x400m.
The men saw George Blake begin the day with a win in the 400m hurdles A (55.65). In the sprints, Andre Wright 2nd in the 100m A (11.28) and 3rd in the 200m A (22.28). In the 400m, Callum Featherstone 6th A (52.32). Cameron Featherstone 3rd B (53.17) and then 2nd in the 800m B (1.59.19). Teammate, Jamie Walsh 4th in both 800m A (1.58.77) and later contesting the 1500m A (4.11.15). Jordan Howes 2nd 1500m B (4.15.71) then competing for the first time in the 3000m Steeplechase B (10.49.81) whilst teammate, Tom Collins was 3rd A (10.43.37). Tom then 4th in the 3000m A (9.38.47) whilst track newcomer, Sean Barwick, 3rd B (9.41.32).
The Field events saw Harry Blake with a new pb in the Hammer A (44.90m) and B Shot (10.02m). Charlie Shingleton, winning Triple Jump A (12.16m), 3rd in Long Jump A (6.06m) and 3rd in High Jump B (1.70m). A busy day for Decathlete, Lewis Church winning the Pole Vault A (4.81m) and the Discus A (40.12m). Second in both the Shot A (13.81m) and Javelin A (48.71m) and third in the High Jump A (1.70m) before finishing with a leg of the 4x 400m where the team finished 3rd. The 4x100m team finishing 5th.
A number of Medway and Maidstone Athletic Club athletes took part in the Track & Field Championships over the weekend. There were some outstanding performances and a bulk of medal winners across the two days. Full results can be found here
In the Senior Men’s competition Nathan Isaac won bronze in the senior men’s 100m (10.90). Jamie Walsh winning gold in the 1500m (4.07.94) and silver in the 800m (1.59.24) In the 5000m, Teweldebrhan Menges was almost a minute in front (14.38:07) of the second place athlete. Tom Collins won silver in the 2000m Steeplechase (6.46.48).
In the U20 Men, Jasper Emmanuel won silver in the 100m (11.13). In the 400m Dylan Purton won gold (48.69) and repeated the success in the 200m (21.67). Haydon Gear winning silver in the 1500m (4.06.02). In the 800m, brothers, Cameron (1.59.50) and Callum (2.00.18) Featherstone won silver and bronze respectively.
In the U17 men’s age group Cheyne West won bronze in the 100m Hurdles (14.66), silver in the 200m (22.48) and silver in the 400mH (54.70) and a second place ranking in the country for the long hurdles. Max Thorne won gold in the Hammer (48.36m). Daniel Culver won bronze in the High Jump (1.55m) and Discus (34.54m). Jake Foster also winning bronze in the Triple Jump (9.52m) and 400mH (69.15m). It was gold, silver and bronze in the 800m; Franklin Shepherd (1.57.60), Riley Maisey (1.58.69) and Henry Gibson (2.02.61).
In the U15 boys, Lucas Cameron won silver over 300m (38.86). Freddie Gibson in the 1500m winning silver (4.25.93) and then bronze in the 800m (2.07).
In the Senior Women, Lucy Hope won silver in the 200m (25.25) and bronze for Abigail Walters (25.85). Lucy then winning gold in the 400m (58.10) and Erin Hughes bronze (60.79). In the 1500m, Taryne McPherson won silver (5.25.36). In the 5000m Emily Hale won gold (20.44.30) and Vanessa Vander winning silver (22.46.85). Vanessa Hannam winning silver in the Discus (35.35m).
In the U20 Women, Abigail Royden won bronze in the 1500m (4.44.46) and Lily Crossley won silver in the 1500m Steeplechase (5.51.11).
In the U17 Women, Amber Matthews doing the double, winning gold in both the 800m (2.15.10) and 1500m (4.48.59) and Iris Crossley winning bronze in the 800m (2.22.63) and bronze in the 1500m (4.50.01). in the 100m Oluwadamitan Showemimo won gold (12.37) and Azaria Makinde bronze (12.62)
In the U15 girls, Rose Crossley won silver in the 1500m (4.48.77). Grace Durrant with silver in the 200m (26.04). Mia Blaber winning bronze in both the Long Jump (4.50m) and Javelin (23.12m). Tilly Ryan won silver in both the Shot (7.97m) and Discus (17.08)
It’s that time again! Yet again we will be hosting some Elite Mile races as part of the Medway Mile event at Medway Park. We’ve been promised better weather than last year, so get your entries in!
