Category: News

Training Schedules 2019

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The January to April senior and January to March junior training schedules are now available in the members section of the website.

Spitfire Scramble – London’s Only 24-hour Trail Race

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The Spitfire Scramble is a 24-hour multi-terrain relay race. The Paddock Wood AC adult coaches and road running group think it would be a good idea to see if any of the adult club members would like to take part in the 2019 race and see if we could possibly enter a team or two. The race takes part over the weekend of 13th-14th July. Teams are of between two to eight runners, teams of 8 must include 2 female runners.

Full details about the event and who to contact if you’re interested in taking part are included in the document below.

Spitfire Scramble

Membership Renewal for 2019

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Memebership renewals for 2019 are due in January and are now submitted using an on-line application form.

If you wish to compete for the Club in any event you will need to complete the England Athletics section of the membership form and pay the appropriate additional fee.

Once submitted your application is automatically emailed to Penny Roberts, Membership Secretary. Payment of the annual subscription must be made by bank transfer following the submission of your application.

Kent Fitness League (KFL) 2018/19 – The season so far

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The first race of the new season was held in the beautiful surroundings of Knole Park Sevenoaks on November 4th. Unfortunately due to the late change of the race date our team managers Richard and Jeanette Elliott where unfortunately in sunnier and somewhat warmer climate.  John Tilston did a sterling job standing in as Team Manager and he also managed to run. He was ably assisted by a number of other club members, thank you one and all. 528 runners finished the 2 lap course of just over 5miles of which 36 were from PWAC, 12 of those club runners were KFL debutants an excellent achievement. 7 junior club members raced in the junior races that preceded the main race with Jess Rayner and Lauren Harker winning their age groups. In the main race PWAC had 4 men in the top 20 with Nathan finishing in an excellent 5th place and Becky Morrish winning the female race. The men’s team finished in 3rd place as did the ladies and in the combined event PWAC finished in a magnificent 2nd place. Thanks to Sue Chivers for taking the cakes along.

What an excellent start to the season and some of the credit for this must go the PWAC committee who agreed to pay all the runners entry fees for the coming season as well the growing team spirit amongst the clubs senior athletes.

Race number 2 took place on Sunday 11th of November in Swanley Park, a very poignant day. 2 minutes silence was held and very well respected by all the runners before the main race. 5 junior club members ran in the junior races held before the main race and once again Jess Rayner won her race.  33 adult club runners out of a field of 534 runners raced around the 3 lap 5 mile course with Nathan finishing 7th this time out and Becky slipping to 2nd place in the female race.  The clubs ladies had a marvellous day with all 4 scoring ladies, 1 a debutant all home within the top 25 ladies and duly won the female team event. The men finished in 6th place which meant the combined team finished in 4th place.  Overall this result means PWAC are now 4th in the combined event, 2nd in the female event (the only team events that have championship status) with the men 6th. Another excellent turn out and fantastic set of results. This race also saw the return of café Jeanette; much looked forward to by one and all after all the preceding efforts.

The 3rd race in the 7 match series took place at the infamous hilly Oxleas Woods Eltham on a very chilly and windy 25th November. Unfortunately the club tent did not make an appearance but that’s another story for Mr Tilston to tell on another day. There was no junior race this time out but there was a minute’s applause before the race in memory of one of Plumstead Runners founder members Ray Marshall, who many of our club members will remember and who died recently of a heart attack at the age of 70.  The club had 32 runners out in a field of 457. The men had 5 runners in the top 30 and the ladies had 3 of the top 15 female’s home, with Becky back to winning ways.  Unfortunately there were a few slips and knocks with the most serious being John Tilston who fell over on the first lap and had to limp back with a strained ankle the size of a small balloon, get well soon John. It was an excellent day all round as far as the results went with both the men and the women’s team’s finishing in second place and 2nd in the combined team event.  Never had Jeanette’s café been more looked forward too. Overall after the first 3 races PWAC are now sitting a fantastic 2nd in the combined team and female team events, with the men also 2nd. Petts Wood Runners are the team to beat.

The last of 2018s KFL races took place in the far east of the county at a very windy and bitterly cold Betteshanger Country Park Deal on the 9th December. The club tent came very gratefully into play and a big thank you to all those that helped put it up and down in those very trying conditions. Reduced numbers all round this time out with only 4 junior members racing and only 20 senior runners (1 a debutant) in the main race of 339 runners. Cold and at times wet and a long way from home numbers were down due to another race closer to home and so close to Christmas this was not suprising. A big thank you all those that came along. Nathan finished 3rd and appeared much better suited to the harder surface under foot, not sure about the sun glasses though. We had 3 men in the top 20 and Becky winning the female race again after a storming second lap, Becky defiantly runs better a little wound up! Café Jeanette was once again most welcome comfort after the race and especially by Mr Barker senior. The men finished 3rd with the ladies 6th, the combined team also finishing 6th.

PWAC finish the year as 2nd men’s team 2nd female team and most importantly 3rd combined team behind Sevenoaks and the team of the season so far Petts Wood. Position’s above our expectations and some fantastic efforts for all our club runners, you all help get team PWAC to these heights wherever you finish in the races.  48 different runners have turned out for the club so far this season with 7 men and 3 ladies completing the 4 races so far. 9 junior athletes have competed so far this season with 2 boys along with 2 girls completing the first 3 races, only 2 junior races to go now. In the standings Jess Rayner is leading the u/14 girls with Isla Wild 3rd, with Lauren Hacker and Evan Wild both 3rd in their respective u/17 age groups.

2019 should see an exciting finish to the KFL season with 3 races still to go, the first being at Nurstead Court Meopham on 6th January, sorry no junior races.  Let’s hope we can keep pushing Petts Wood at Meopham, the infamous Minis Bay and right down to the last race of the season at Rough Common Canterbury on the 3rd February.

Thank you everybody, we have certainly made some good new friends and got better acquainted with some old ones, you have all worked so hard and made the season so very memorable, here’s to more success in the New Year.

Best wishes for a Very Happy Christmas and all best for whatever you get up to in 2019.

Richard and Jeanette Elliott
PWAC KFL Team Managers

KXCL Footscray Meadow – Report – 24th November 2018

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Sat 24th November saw the opportunity for the Men to take on their double header cross country weekend, starting with the leagues penultimate event at Footscray Meadows.  With the previous evenings presentation still fresh in some of our heads it was going to be a fussy kind of event for some but the 5 runners who turned up with even more supporters were not shy from the challenge.
With a group huddle, trying to keep warm, near the rear of the pack prior to the start we eased steadily into the slightly longer than 10k course with an ambition to work our way through the field and finish strong.  Mike Gibbs and Steve Wright were keen to work their way through the field as was Sam Harker.  Mark Wild and John Tilston were committed but maybe with less urgency to start with.  Steve was soon to catch up and overtake Mike but Mike had a plan and a second wind allowing him to take back the team lead finishing 123rd (44:08).  Steve was not far behind and true to form finishing 130th (44:25).  Sam’s efforts to maintain a healthy lead at the beginning were held for the majority but Mark Wild had other ideas and managed to find an outstanding drive on the last half a mile and overtake Sam on the last 200m finishing 157th (47:05).  Sam was a very brief distance behind and completing the team of 4 to score finishing 159th (47:11).  Despite John suffering with a shoelace malfunction half way round and regaining his position with others he was unable to hold on to them as well and completed the teams involvement in 166th (47:48).
The clubs team finished 18th on the day and holds on to 14th overall with one final venue outstanding.
As mentioned we had a strong support crew from previous junior runners to female welly running partners willing to attend and cheer the runners along, oh and stop them chatting.  Thank you to all of you for making the effort and your support – it was greatly appreciated.
The next and final event will be held on Sat 9th Feb 2019 (venue to be confirmed nearer the time) so please do your best to keep this date free to field a strong team of males and females (no junior race).
Happy running folks!

Important Changes to the London Marathon Water Station Criteria

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Important information is enclosed within this article and the supporting document

Please take the time to read this article and the document below carefully and to think what impact that the new policy requirements may have on you / your family / and friends

Following the 2018 Virgin Money London Marathon, London Marathon Events have undertaken a comprehensive review of the full drink station and volunteering process.

This review has involved numerous staff members from London Marathon Events, up to and including the Race Director. Feedback provided by water stations as well as knowledge from within the LM team and expertise from marathons around the world has been used to agree on a series of changes to the way in which water will be provided to the runners on the course for 2019.

To summarise, at the 2019 event, some stations historically used on the route will no longer be used. Significant changes have also been made to the way in which the water stations are staffed and changes have also been made to the process for pre-event registration and communication between water station volunteers and London Marathon Events.

London Marathon Events are confident that implementing these changes will result in significant improvements. Namely, we will see a huge reduction in the volume of plastic waste generated by the event whilst still ensuring the Virgin Money London Marathon remains the best marathon in the world and delivers a world class experience to all runners.

It is hoped that the changes will ensure that the Virgin Money London Marathon remains at the pinnacle of the running world and it is believed that making these changes will play a significant role in allowing this to happen.

Please be aware that the PWAC committee have discussed these changes at length and their impact on the club.

Although the changes to junior participation in particular will affect a number of our water station volunteers and their families.  it has been agreed by the PWAC committee that as a club we should still be involved once again at the water station in probably what is the best mass participation marathon in the world.

I have agreed to be the water station Team Leader once again with Jeanette as my appointed named assistant.

Should  you , your family or friends wish to become a water station volunteer please let me know ASAP by email.  I will then send  you out  the sign up link as soon as I receive it from LM.

Please make sure you have read the attachment it will explain everything and that you fully understand its consequences to you and your family

Should you require any further information or have any questions please feel free to ask.

Regards

Richard Elliott

London Marathon Water Station Team Leader

Mob: 07970817664

Email: richard.elliott@hotmail.co.uk

Virgin Money London Marathon 2019

KXCL Danson Park – Junior Report – 10th November 2018

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Danson Park, a fast and relatively flat course and with Zephryus the God of weather looking favourably on us, made this a good day for Cross Country.

Jess Rayner representing Paddock Wood in the U13 Girls 3k race placed 32nd with a time of 12:36. Joe Stone, Liam O’Niel and Thomas Harker ran in the U13 Boys 3k race gained another team point for Paddock Wood. Joe Placed 55th in 11:54, closely followed by Liam 59th in 12:01 and Thomas finishing 77th in 14:37.

Lauren Harker ran in the U15 Girls 4k race coming 34th in 16:17 and as there was no Senior Men Harry Young took part in the U20 Men 5k coming 16th in 17:05.

Overall positions after 3 matches.

Leslie Stone.