Photo – Tom Walker (second in National under 15s Pole Vault)
Corey De’Ath, of Tonbridge Athletic Club, made his debut at the half marathon distance on Sunday when he finished 21st in the international-class event at Antrim, in Northern Ireland. In the process he set a new Tonbridge AC men’s record at the distance, recording 65 minutes and 9 seconds to improve Henry Pearce’s previous mark by 41 seconds.
De’Ath joined Tonbridge in 2008, starting in the under 13 age group and has contributed to many championship winning teams through to seniors. However, this was one of his best-ever races and testament to his consistent training and consistency over the years.
On Saturday, a weakened Tonbridge squad travelled to Bournemouth for the final fixture of the Summer in the National Athletics League. The highlight was yet another women’s club Hammer Throw record set by Kirsty Ebbage, who on this occasion launched the 4kg implement 45.55 metres, adding 1.48m to her previous best. At the same fixture there were wins for Ben Murphy (800m 1.53.95), James Kingston (1500m 4.00.17 and 5000m 15.21.72), Michael Ellis (3000m steeplechase 10.09.65) and Jess Murphy (800m 2.31.38), whilst both Josh Shaghaghi and Lucy Tallon took second place finishes in their 100m and 200m sprints.
Tom Walker (photo) returned to Manchester to compete in the under 15 boys’ National Pole Vault Championship, after it had been postponed from a few weeks earlier due to poor conditions. He was rewarded with the silver medal, clearing 3.11 metres. Also, in Manchester at the weekend, another under 15 age group athlete, Joe Stone, once again demonstrated his terrific multi-events potential as he won the eight event under 15 boys’ National Octathlon competition. His performances included 11.95 for 100m, 53.80 for 400m, 2.52.03 for 1000m, 40.37m for the Javelin and a 12.00 for 80m hurdles, which all bodes well for the future as one of his strongest disciplines, the Long Jump, was not involved.
On Bank Holiday Monday, more than 300 athletes, plus supporters, attended the Tonbridge open meeting, as the sport took another step in its return to normality, after the pandemic. Included in the meeting was the Kent under 13 age group Pentathlon Championships, where Tonbridge AC’s Harry Wrigley won a bronze medal.
Amongst other performances that caught the eye, Anton Bachorski was the fastest 100m athlete on show, recording 10.98, ahead of Harry Kendall’s pb of 11.12. Kendall was the fastest over 200m with 22.50, whilst Noah Friend with 51.44 and Rebekah O’Brien with 59.85 the fastest 400m athletes. Michael Ellis won the fastest 3000m race in 8.50.78, where Nicole Taylor was the quickest female at 9.19.21. There were also good personal bests recorded by under 17s Huxley Crush (800m 2.04.87) and Josh Prendergast (1500m 4.04.53). In the same age group, Georgia Baker and Amelie Rabbidge both recorded 12.40 in the 80m hurdles, a fraction outside their best times.
In the field events, maybe the standout performance came in the Javelin from Felix McArdle Hodge, who threw a pb of 54.96 metres and ranks him 9th in the UK, for his age. Under 17, Caitlin Ebbage was the best female in the Shot Put with 11.06m.