Photo above – Verity Hopkins who won the women’s race at Romney Marsh
Tonbridge athletes produce fast performances on the roads
Tonbridge Athletic Club members were out in force at the weekend, at a number of races, mainly on the roads, as events took place within the current guidelines. With Kent being placed in the Tier 3 category for the restrictions, it meant that those living in the county cannot travel outside for competition.
The most popular venue was the Romney Marsh 10k road race on Sunday morning, where twenty members took part. Verity Hopkins had a superb run to win the women’s race with her best ever time of 37.16, whilst Katie Goodge made her debut at the distance, finishing 2nd in 37.44. Becky Morrish completed the clean sweep of the podium places with 37.49, whilst Harriet Woolley finished 4th in a personal best of 38.09. Claire Day was the first from the over 40 age group to finish in 6th with 39.14, also being a pb.
In the men’s race Dan Bradley had an excellent race to finish 4th in 31.58, with Luke Reeves in 10th running 35.08 to take almost two minutes from his best. Tom Woolley was next home in 13th with 36.41 and placed 2nd in the over 40 men’s category.
Also racing over 10 km on the roads, two members based at Loughborough University made their debuts at the distance, at Mallory Park. Jamie Goodge ran 30.58 to place 10th and Simon Coppard 13th in 31.18.
A few Tonbridge athletes had to defer their entries for the Ardingly 5km road races on Sunday, since they took place over the border, in Sussex. However, two were able to compete in this high class event. Miles Weatherseed ran 14.41 to finish 8th in the fastest ‘wave’ of the day, whilst Kieran Reilly won the second ‘wave’ in 14.50.
On Saturday, Lottie Richardson took on The Maverick Adidas Terrex Original Trail Race, at Brighton, racing the medium length route of 15 kilometres over the tough South Downs. Athletes set off at intervals, with their times recorded accordingly. Incredibly, Richardson won the women’s event by a single second in 76.52.