Photo – The TAC under 20 men’s team of Tom Claridge, Harrison Fraser, Mark Bridger and Tom Beghein
Tonbridge Athletic Club came away from the South of England Cross Country Championships, on Saturday, with one set of team medals and an individual medal. For the fourth year in a row the championships were held at Beckenham Place Park.
James Kingston was hoping to win his third successive senior men’s title, but was denied by Abdinassier Elmi, running for Bournemouth. Elmi appeared on the UK elite distance running scene in the Autumn, having sought refuge from Somalia, but is showing that he is a top-class runner. Kingston tried hard in the early stages, of the nine-mile-long race, to match the ferocious pace of Elmi, but had to settle for an isolated run, being well clear of third place Flurry Grierson, from Highgate.
Alex Howard had maybe his best cross-country result to finish 7th, whilst Ben Cole placed 31st, returning from a calf strain that he suffered in the county championships three weeks earlier. The three other Tonbridge scorers were Lewis Mills (39th), Sean Molloy (49th) and George Marshall (57th) as the team placed 5th from 42.
The under 20 men’s team had to battle hard during their race over eight kilometres, as they had been reduced to four starters, after illnesses. All four then had to run well to secure team medals, which they did by placing 3rd. Tom Claridge (18th), Harrison Fraser (20th), Mark Bridger (29th) and Tom Beghein (32nd) were the scoring team.
The under 17 men just missed a podium placing, when they finished 4th through Toby Bawtree (19th), Will Bachelor (32nd), Ewan Prendergast (38th) and Sam Smialowski (59th). Three further top ten team placings were achieved by the under 15 boys in 8th and the under 13 boys, plus under 15 girls, both finishing 10th. Aimee Watts had one of the most notable individual performances when she finished 8th in the under 13 girls’ race.
On Sunday, Cole Gibbens won the Canterbury 10 miles road race with a personal best time of 51.10, as he finished almost a minute clear of Marshall Smith, from Ashford. Dan Bradley was 5th in 55.21 and Nathan Chapman 13th in 57.09, from 1254 finishers.
Nina Ridge travelled to Sheffield for the British Masters Athletics Federation’s Indoor Pentathlon Championships where she finished 2nd in the over 50 women’s event. Sarah Westrap-Boon was 8th in the same competition.
Tonbridge AC had about fifteen young athletes in the under 15 and 17 age groups competing at Lee Valley, across the weekend, in the London indoor Games. Most of these teenagers had joined the club in the last year and were experiencing their first indoor competitions.