Author: Richard

It was a busy weekend for athletes from Paddock Wood AC with the U13 and U15s on Saturday at Dartford and the more senior athletes at Ashford on Sunday. Saturday was the 2^nd match in the Kent Young Athletes league at Dartford where the club had a few more competing than last time. U13 Alfred Everitt ran in the 200m 29.0s, threw the javelin 23.17m and ran the 800m 2.31.7. William Hirst joined Alfred in the 200m B race 30.9s., he jumped 3.57m in the long jump and ran a non-scoring 100m 15.0s. Herbert Phillips in his first ever competition, only turning 11 years old two days earlier, jumped 2.71m in the long jump and did the 75m hurdles 18.4s. In the U13 girls Twin Elizabeth Phillips competed in the 1K walk winning the B race 7m 31.3s and jumped 1.81m in the long jump. Tilly Ryan, who’s 11^th birthday was two days later, ran the 70m hurdles 15.4s a PB and joined Elizabeth in the walk coming 2^nd A string 7m.18.8s. Tilly jumped 3.38 m in her long jump a PB, Megan Rein jumped a PB in the high jump 1.10m and ran the 75m 11.7s. In the U15 age group Harriet Court in her first ever javelin competition threw 27.27m, she jumped 4.23m in the long jump to come 3^rd  and ran 29.0s for her 200m. Molly Rein ran a PB in her 100m 14.5s and joined the other girls in the 4x100m relay. Emma Townend and Tabitha Weeks covered the 2K walk to win both the A&B races, Tabitha 13m 56s and Emma 14m02.8s. Emma also did the shot 4.10m and Tabitha the long jump 3.50m.

On Sunday it was the first in the Southern athletics league matches of the season at the Julie Rose stadium, Ashford as the first match had been cancelled. W40 Elizabeth Bignell concentrated on the throwing events throwing a seasons best in the hammer 24.21m, she putt the shot 5.95m, threw the javelin 22.88m and the discus 16.07m, also a seasons best. She also competed in the pole vault, which was on at the same time as the hammer, so had to dash between the two, she jumped 1.50m this her first competition for this event in two years. W60 Teresa Hinton joined Elizabeth in the shot 6.45m, the discus 13.94m the javelin 13.94m, she jumped 2.92 in the long jump, U17 Izzy Rayner jumped in the A event 3.40m. Izzy ran the 200m 33.2s, and the 100m 15.7s. Twin sister Jess also did the 200m 32.2, a PB and the 800m 3m.03.3s. Newcomer Catlin Laws ran the 800m 2m37.7s.

In the men’s team Mark Ryan competed in the hammer competition for the first time and won the event 22.29m, M60 Mark Woods won the B string 18.50m. The two competed together again in the shot, Ryan 7.69m and Woods 7.47m.  Mark Woods also did the javelin 21.56m and the discus 22.49m. M65 David Perman covered the B discus 9.18m and the B javelin. David also did the non-scoring shot 4.25m and the hammer 12.09m. David and Mark are both throwing the senior weights in these events. U17 Harvey Fordham jumped a PB in the long jump 5.79m and a equalled his SB in the high jump 1.75m. Alex Gray ran the 100m 11.6s and jumped 12.82 in the triple jump below his best due to injury. Another first timer on the track was U20 Jarrod Ball who ran 12.7s in his 100m. Charles George who usually runs the longer distances ran an 800m for the first time 2m14.2s.

On Sunday also the road runners were at the Mid Kent 5 miler at Staplehurst. Results include 88 year old Paddy Heffernan and 74 year old Terry Grimwood in his first ever race.

9th Steve Chivers             29.40        1st Vet 40

14th Michael Gibbs          30.46

23rd Dan Grimwood        31.57

42nd Terry Felvus             34.12

66th Dan McKenzie          35.58

68th John Tolhurst           36.03     1st Vet 65

74th Kim Stanley              36.32

81st Rowena Maitland    37.17

121st Melissa Ferns          41.02

127th Mark Rich                41.40

139th Carol Emery            42.10        1st Vet 60

191st Lorraine Shepheard 45.46

216th Ian Bailey                 47.57

271st Terry Grimwood     52.13

282nd Eleanor Parks         53.04

367th Paddy Heffernan    69.38

368th Mike Emery             69.38

Last weekend saw the 2nd match in the UYDL take place at Sutcliff Park. In a combined team with Ashford Thanet and Invicta – ATIP, only 2 Paddock Wood athletes took part. This was due to mainly injury, DOE weekend and Covid isolating. Despite this U17 Alex Gray managed to break two more club records the first in the triple jump, jumping 13.35m to win the competition, the second in the 200m coming 2nd B string 23.51s.a 13 year old CR. Harvey Fordham in his first high jump competition for 18 months jumped 1.75m to win the competition.

Elsewhere John Tolhurst ran in the Hawkhurst 10K. The course was an undulating and picturesque route around the fields, trails and roads surrounding Hawkhurst. His time of 51m 22s won him the 1st male vet 65 category Sara Rowan joined him in the race finishing in 61m 01s 1st female vet 60.

After having to cancel last year due to Covid PWAC are again holding their Startrack week of athletics from the 2nd – 6th August details on the PWAC website.

It was the Kent Schools Champs last weekend at the Julie Rose Stadium Ashford. Two club records were broken. U20 Maia Hyland competed in the javelin. A few weeks ago she suffered a stress fracture to her foot and she didn’t think she would be competing. But she was determine to compete. Throwing off just 3 strides she threw a PB of 31.05m coming 2^nd just 20cm of the winning throw.  U17 Alex Gray ran in the 100m clocking a PB time of 11.48s also a club record which has stood since 2004. U15 Harriet Court broke another club record in her 300m, running 46.80s also a PB. U15 Aaron Brown ran the 800m in a PB time of 2m 34.51s.

On Sunday in the extreme heat Darren Hendley ran the Weald Challenge 50K ultra trail in 5h: 50m. The race started and finished in Chiddingly encompasses the surrounding beauty of the Sussex countryside en route which included part of the Ashdown Forest. Also at the weekend Jon Tolhurst competed in the Bedgebury 10K race finishing in 24^th place 47m 6s 2^nd vet 65.