In terms of track and field fixtures, the last week or so was perhaps the busiest of the Summer for Tonbridge Athletic Club. In the space of a few days, championships, league and open meetings all took place, with plenty of action across the age groups and events. A small army of volunteers and officials is needed to make this happen, typified by Michael Ellis (photo), who in the space of a few days helped organise the entries and results for a home meeting, won the Kent steeplechase championship and then managed the Tonbridge team in the National Athletics League fixture, at Bournemouth.
Tonbridge hosted the latest of their monthly evening open meetings last Tuesday, where the programme included the Kent steeplechase championships. Ellis won the senior men’s race over 2000 metres, whilst Harriet Woolley did likewise over 1500 metres for the women’s title. Matthew Dubery won the under 20 men’s event and Charlie Ellison the under 17 men’s race.
On the same evening in the open events, there were some other highlights from Tonbridge athletes. Harry Kendall was the fastest over 200 metres, setting a personal best of 22.09, with Emily Bowart being the fastest female in 26.92. Kendall also threw the Shot Put 13.05m, where Georgie Baker’s 10.06m was the furthest from the women. Baker also Long Jumped 5.04 metres. Kieran Eland ran a swift 49.52 over 400 metres, whilst in the 800 metres Ben Murphy was quickest in 1.52.80, with Lily Stewart at 2.22.95 being the fastest woman and Ellie Baxter having her first ever race at 2.23.64.
Michael Ellis was back in action in the National League, on Saturday, at Bournemouth, where he was the men’s team manager, but also one of the Tonbridge A-string winners, as he convincingly took the 3000 metres steeplechase victory. The other winners, from the club, included Rebekah O’Brien (400m hurdles 65.31), Asha Root (400m 57.21), Kieran Reilly (800m 1.54.89), Pandora Banbury (800m 2.28.13), Jordan Chambers (1500m 4.03.40), Lewis Church (Shot Put 13.09m) and the women’s 4 x 400m relay squad. Although he finished second in his race, Josh Shaghaghi ran 10.81 for 100 metres, taking advantage of the windy conditions to go under 11 seconds for the first time.
Over the two days of the weekend, the England under 15 and 17 championships took place, at Sports City, Manchester, where Joe Stone followed up his recent win at the English Schools Championships, with two more gold medal winning performances. He recorded 6.38 metres to win the under 15 Boys Long Jump, before winning the Triple Jump with 12.46 metres. He is currently ranked second in the UK for the former event and top at the latter. Lucy Tallon finished 6th in the under 17 women’s 200 metres in 25.76, having recorded 25.67 in her heat, which was a personal best. Felix McArdle Hodge placed 5th in the under 17 Javelin with a new pb of 54.91m, adding 7 centimetres to the distance he had thrown at Tonbridge a few days earlier.
Another athlete who was hoping to challenge for a medal at these National age group championships, was Tom Walker, but unfortunately his under 15 Boys Pole Vault competition was suspended due to the heavy rain making conditions too dangerous for jumping. However, he returned home and on Sunday set a new pb, when winning at the Kent Young Athletes League with 3.25 metres. This was an improvement of 15 centimetres and moves him to 4th in the UK under 15 rankings. The two other Tonbridge winners, at this home fixture, were Elicia Lacey (75m hurdles 12.2) and Matilda Secker, setting a personal best of 1.50m, in the under 15 High Jump.
Tonbridge also had athletes competing across the week at Eltham, Wimbledon and Gillingham, with perhaps the most significant performance coming from Ewan Wood, who ran 49.00 for 400 metres at the latter, on Saturday. Wood had only just set a personal best a few days beforehand of 50.00, which underlines this breakthrough performance. It also puts him top of the current Tonbridge men’s 400 metres rankings this year.
Tom Woolley set a Tonbridge AC over 40 men’s 1000 metres record of 2.57.70, at Dartford on Friday evening, where he was one of a number of members taking part in the Veterans Open Meeting.