Photo – Kirsty Ebbage
Tonbridge Athletic Club members produced a host of national class performances over the past week, starting with Kirsty Ebbage, at Birmingham, last Wednesday. Ebbage, who attends the University of Birmingham, threw the Hammer 47.82 metres, adding 2.27 metres to her previous best and club record.
At the same meeting Charlie Crick lowered his 800 metres personal best to 1.50.88 in a British Milers Club race, whilst a few days later, at Watford, there were others from the club competing in the distance races, at the BMC International Grand Prix. Ben Murphy ran his fastest 800 metres of the season so far in 1.48.66, finishing 3rd in his race and will be one of a few from the club competing in next week’s British Championships, at Manchester.
James West returned from the USA and just missed out on winning the men’s 1500 metres A-race, at Watford, finishing 2nd in 3.40.29, just 0.07 seconds behind fellow GB international Piers Copeland. West is currently ranked 12th in the UK, but hoping to go quicker as the season develops. Kieran Reilly ran 3.46.00 in the B race and Sean Molloy 3.48.98 in the D race. Over 5000 metres, Ben Cole ran a personal best of 14.25.33, which is a Tonbridge over 35 age group record, whilst Verity Hopkins ran a huge pb in the women’s race with 16.24.37, with Phoebe Barker recording 16.35.90, a fraction outside her best time. Over, the same distance, at Portland, USA, Chris Olley ran 13.48.86, as he returns to his best form.
Tonbridge finished second of four teams at the Southern League match, at Chelmsford, on Sunday, although with participation in the National League this season, it is treated as a second-tier competition. Lucinda White won the Pole Vault with 3.20m and High Jump with 1.50m, whilst the other wins came from Tom Richards (400m hurdles, 62.31) and Harry Paton (3000m steeplechase, 10.35.50).
Lewis Church travelled to France at the weekend to compete in a regional Decathlon championship, in an attempt to improve his best score and assist his claim for Commonwealth Games selection. After a solid first day, he started day two with his fastest ever 110 metres hurdles of 14.64, although with a wind reading just over that allowed for records. His final score of 7583 points fell short of his target.
Plenty of Tonbridge AC young athletes competed at the Kent Schools Championships, at Gillingham, on Saturday, with wins coming from Matthew Dubbery (Senior 2000m steeplechase 6.29.75), Joe Stone (Inter 200m 22.68), Oliver Brooke (Inter 400m 51.56 and Long Jump 6.20m), Neve Bachelor (Inter 300m hurdles 47.71), Samuel Newton (Junior High Jump 1.68m), Elicia Lacey (Junior 75m hurdles 11.77). Additionally, Matilda Secker won the Inter Girls’ High Jump with 1.70 metres, which was a new personal best and championship best performance. Anne-Sophie Bremans finished 2nd in the Inter Girls’ 300 metres in 39.80, setting a new Tonbridge AC record.
Grazia Manzotti was the only Tonbridge athlete who travelled to Derby for the British Masters Championships and won the over 50 age group 3000 metres walk on Saturday in 16.15.54, before managing the Tonbridge team at the Southern League, on Sunday.