Category: News

On Friday evening while enjoying the PWAC dinner and presentation evening I received an important email from  the Virgin Money London Marathon Events team (VMLM) and I am more than happy to pass on the following points to you all that hopefully will be of interest. (further details are in the attached document)

1. VMLM thanked PWAC for doing such a fabulous job at the 2019 London Marathon.

2. VMLM confirmed PWAC will be receiving in early December 5 guaranteed places for the 2020 40^th London Marathon for doing such a great job in 2019. Please remember those wishing to apply for a Club Guaranteed place, don’t forget I will need your rejection slip and the points you have accrued by the end of November.

3. I was asked once again to be the Mile 22 Water Station Team Leader with a team from PWAC. You will be happy (I hope) to know I have accepted this offer as well as accepting the offer on behalf of PWAC.

4. Consoles for entering the guaranteed places will be open shortly as will the login process for Water Station volunteers. If you volunteered last year it should be quite a straight forward process this coming year.

5. London Marathon Events Ltd (LMEL) has also sent through a list of all the events they are involved with and that you might like to enter, along with their dates. Please see list below.

LMEL have also asked if we at PWAC could put together a team of volunteers to help at the Prudential Ride London Event (PRL). Keep your eyes open for more information shortly on volunteering at both the VMLM and PRL.

Please keep a look out in the SWT on the Website or by Email for more information.

Regards

Richard Elliott

Knole Park Sevenoaks & Swanley Park Swanley report

Sunday 3^rd November saw the start of this season’s Kent Fitness XC League (KFL) in the amazing setting of Knole Park Sevenoaks. Under unusually beautiful blue skies the race was held over a new extended course with the start being delayed due to parking problems and the longer walk to the start line.

34 Paddock Wood AC (PWAC) athletes stood on the start line a fantastic turn out. A few new faces, 5 debutant’s to the KFL along with many familiar ones, we couldn’t ask for any more. It was also good to see the Club Chairman Richard Harris there supporting the team, much appreciated by one and all.

Unfortunately after just a few tough miles Ben Hepden one of our debutant runners felt his hamstring pulling, a reminder of his recent great effort at the Berlin Marathon, Ben tried after a short rest to carry on but unfortunately it was not to be and he had to admit defeat on the day. Leading home PWAC was the ever improving young Harry Young finishing in 7^th place which was upgraded to 6^th as the lead runner was deemed to be a guest runner. 2^nd home for the club was Adam Tibbals in 21^st place 3 other PWAC men made the top 30, James Ridger 24^th Charles George 25^th and Lukas Bates 28^th.  Michael Gibbs, Ian Sutherland, Daniel Grimwood, Nick Denbow and David Sampson made up the rest of the teams scoring male runners. The clubs debutant male runners Jamie Forman, Stephen Large and Mark Rich all appeared to enjoy the race as well as being part of the team, even if it was a little tough.

Leading the women home for PWAC was Laura Douse who finished 4^th lady followed by someone who is definitely getting back to her best, Mandy Barker 12^th lady home. Kate Cole 27^th and Lyndsey Ritchie 36^th made up the scoring ladies team. Ophelia Thenault and Kelly Large, both league debutants found the race tough but most enjoyable.

This league is a true team event and our good turnout showed in the overall results.

Both the men’s and ladies teams finished 3^rd, which pushed the combined team into an excellent 2^nd place just 9 points behind the winning and host team Sevenoaks AC.

Sunday 10^th November (Remembrance Sunday) saw another beautiful day and another amazing turnout (34 runners again) for the second match of the season in Swanley Park Swanley.

This race saw a junior race prior to the main race (no junior league this season) with Evan Wild and Louis Cole running in the U/17 race. Evan won the 3 mile race with Louis finishing 3^rd, very well done guys. Another 34 on the start line including 2 more debutants to the league along with the Chairman once again supporting.  The race started after the customary 2 minutes silence and was run over 1 short and 2 long laps of the park.

First home again was Harry Young who found the course much more to his liking as he finished in 4^th place. Nathan Chapman was next home in 12^th place with Adam Tibbals 21^st James Ridger 27^th. Wayne Balmer, Michael Gibbs, Ian Sutherland, Daniel Grimwood, Nick Denbow (who had a storming run) and David Sampson made up the rest of the scoring male team. I am pleased to say after some attention and rest during the week Ben Hepden finished the race OK along with our other debutant Jordan Northfield. A mention must be made to Stephen Large who had a great run at the Bexhill Poppy 10k the day before.

In the women’s race Laura Douse was once again first home for the team this time followed by last season’s league female winner Becky Morrish 13^th, Mandy Barker 19^th and Kate Cole 45^th.

Special mention has to be made to Mandy, Natasha Wild and Julie Harker who had all run the Kent XC League the afternoon before for PWAC. Mandy also ran the Tonbridge Park Run in the morning. Kelly Large who had run the Bexhill Poppy 10k the day before as well as Kate Cole and Lyndsey Ritchie who had both run an extremely tough 6k commando race the day before.

Once again the great performances along with the great turn out meant another set of fantastic results. The men finished in 3^rd place the ladies 4^th but in the combined team event PWAC finished amazingly 2^nd again to Medway and Maidstone AC.

After the first to matches its gives us great pleasure to announce TEAM PWAC are 3^rd men’s team and 2^nd female team overall with the combined team top of the pile in 1^st place on count back from Sevenoaks AC. As team managers we could not ask for more, thank you one and all.

A full set of the results and league tables along with all the race details can be found on the KFL website https://kfl.canterburyharriers.org/xc.

Next race is at Oxleas Wood, Eltham, 1^st December were the new club tents will make its league debut. Keep up the training and here’s to keeping this fantastic success going, see you there.

Richard & Jeanette Elliott

Sat 26^th October took the next venue to Somehill School in Tonbridge.   The weather wasn’t great with a blustery breeze across the fields  Unfortunately our tent could not cope under the conditions and had to be abolished once one of the supports snapped under the strain.

For the first time in the league we were able to have full scoring teams in both adult men and women events.  First up before the drizzle started to take hold were the women.  After battling the undulating 5k course and avoiding the wooden steaks on the slippery corners the first through the finish line was Mandy Barker (32^nd, 22:19).  Natasha Wild was 2^nd female home in (125^th, 29:04) and Julie Harker (127^th, 29:20) concluded the team of 3 coming in 17^th.  Jane Pilbeam (135^th, 30:40), Diana Tilston (136^th, 31:25) and Kelly Large (144^th, 34:00) completing the team of 6 coming 13^th and Ellie Denyer (146^th, 34:08) concluding the more importantly growing team of 7 for the women.  After 2 events the women are 17^th with 3 to score and 14^th with 6 to score.

The men were soon to start just as the rain started to shower us on the start line with the 2 minute warning whistle.  With 3 laps to complete the 10k course our thoughts moved to how muddy certain areas would become once we completed trapesing through the first two laps.  With the ongoing commitment from last years runners in conjunction with some new members this year we were able to increase the team involvement.  First home on the very soft underfoot course for the men was Harry Young (29^th, 37:28), 2^nd for the club was Charles George (64^th, 40:10), followed by Adam Tibbals (84^th, 41:26) closely proceeded by Wayne Balmer (88^th, 41:31), Lukas Bates (100^th, 41:58) and Michael Gibbs (102^nd, 42.01) concluding the team of 6 to score coming 9^th.  Steve Wright (131^st, 43:27), Nick Denbow (151^st, 44:20), Michael Conrad-Pickles (202^nd, 47:57), Phil Northfield (225^th, 50:21), John Tilston (237^th, 51:06) and Sam Harker (239^th, 51:30) complete the team of 12 for the 2^nd year running, finishing 7^th.  John Tolhurst (245^th, 52:45) concluded our men’s team of 13.

After 2 events the women are in 17^th position (3 to score) and 14^th position (6 to score).  The men are 9^th position (both 6 and 12 to score).

A big thank you goes out to all participants for taking part and supporting the league and likewise to all the spectators for standing in miserable conditions cheering on the team to the bitter end.

Our next event is 9^th November at Danson Park, Dartford which is a NO SENIOR MEN event.

Look forward to seeing you there.

Happy Running.

John Tilston

The weekend of 14/15 September saw athletes from Paddock Wood AC competing in the Masters, U13 and Combined events Champs at Erith. It was such a contrast in the weather from the previous year when one day was cancelled due to flooding on the track. It was a good day for two families with the Duffin family and Stone family coming away with 10 medals between them. Joe Stone who had previously won the County U13 pentathlon claimed two gold, Silver and a Bronze medal. Joe won the 75m hurdles with a PB time 12.19s a PB and Club record. Joe claimed a Silver in the 200m 26.63s, a bronze came in the 100m 12.90s. Joe then won Gold in the long jump 4.90m, he also threw the javelin but could only manage 29.36m having injured his thumb in rugby, making it difficult to throw. Brother Alex won a Bronze medal in the U15 boys Pentathlon claiming PBs in all the events. He jumped 4.95 in the long jump, 1.45m in the high jump, it was 10.18m in the shot, 80m hurdles14.40s and the 800m 2m34.20 s, a great result.

In the Masters Championship W40 Elizabeth Duffin became Kent Champion in the 80m hurdles and event she has not done for several years 18.04s a new club record, a Silver medal in the javelin 22.52m and a Bronze medal in the hammer 23.69m, all 4 events were club records for this age group,  she also did the shot and discus. Her 79 year old Dad Michael Duffin also claimed Silver in his javelin 19.17m, and a Bronze in the hammer with a seasons best throw of 22.45m. M55 Mark Woods won a Silver medal in his 200m 27.00s and ran 13.85 for the 100m. M65 David Perman threw a SB in his hammer 17.88m, threw 14.17m in the discus and another SB in his shot 5.24m. W55 Teresa Hinton became the 80m Kent Hurdles champion for her race 17.38s a new club record and she also won a silver medal in the shot (3kg) 7.04m a PB and club record. Teresa also threw the discus 14.17m. M55 Trevor Crysell ran the 100m 14.51s and the 400m 67.00s.  A total of 13 medals won.

Alex Gray travelled to Lewes for the Horizontal Jumpsfest. Alex won the pool B long jump 5.35m a PB and came 2^nd overall in the triple jump, behind an U20 athlete, with 12.26 another CR.