Lucy Reid, from Tonbridge Athletic Club, won the women’s race at the Cambridge Half Marathon on Sunday and in the process improved her own club record by 94 seconds, as she recorded a superb time of 71 minutes and 15 seconds. This gave her a winning margin of just over a minute from Georgina Schwiening from Cambridge, with GB track international Holly Archer finishing third. Reid has been performing well again on the roads, in recent weeks, having fought back from long term injury and has the Manchester Marathon, in April, as part of her plans.
Also running well inside her previous best, was Verity Hopkins who took 4th place in 74.45. Imogen Amos with 79.27 and Lucy Thompson in 79.29, also ran personal bests, to finish 11th and 12th, plus Nichola Evans enjoyed a pb performance with her 84.11 clocking.
Tonbridge AC had plenty of representation at the British Indoor Masters Championships, at Lee Valley, over the weekend. There were three medal winning performances and five club age group records recorded.
On Sunday, Diane Wright was 3rd in the over 50 women’s 60 metres, recording 9.00 to set a Tonbridge age group record. The previous day Wright had recorded 30.27 when finishing 4th over 200 metres, again breaking her own club record.
Grazia Manzotti, had a close battle with her main rival in the over 50s 3000 metres walk, but had to settle for a new personal best and club age group record of 16.15.42, when finishing 2nd.
Mark McAllister took advantage of recently entering the over 50 men’s age group, setting club records for the 60 metres of 7.89 and 200 metres of 26.52, as he finished 4th and 7th, respectively, in those events. He also won the bronze medal in the Long Jump with 4.79m and placed 7th in the Shot Put with 9.76 metres.
Nina Ridge came close to securing another medal for the club when finishing 4th in the over 45 women’s 400 metres in 67.03.
In conjunction with the indoor events, there were some long throws competitions taking place outdoors. Tony Cannon finished 3rd in the over 55 men’s Javelin, throwing 23.81 metres and 4th in the Discus with 24.36m.
On Saturday, a parkrun milestone was reached by Tony Fullbook, who completed his 250th parkrun, a feat rarely achieved by even the most avid parkrunners.
This coming weekend Tonbridge AC hosts the British Masters Cross Country Championships, at The Schools at Somerhill, whilst they will also have runners competing in the UK Inter Counties Championships and Paddock Wood Half Marathon.