Photo – Harry Kendall (238) and Steve Simmons (47) competing on Easter Monday
Tonbridge Athletic Club hosted their annual Easter Monday Open Meeting, at Tonbridge School, with more than 400 athletes competing, including 150 from the host club. Warm, sunny and windless conditions greeted the athletes of all ages, ranging from the under 10s to veterans over 70 years old. Officials and the administration team had to also cope with the new young athlete age groups that came in this year, with under 12, 14s, 16s and 18s being a new development in the sport.
Over 150 metres, Harry Kendall showed that he is in top form with a 16.06 clocking, before returning later in the day to run 300 metres in 33.80 and set a Tonbridge men’s club record. Mark McAllister, like Kendall, had been hampered by injury last year, but in the over 50 age group ran 18.21 for 150 metres and 39.57 for 300 metres, both club age group records. Evie Dixon (u20) was the fastest Tonbridge female over 150 metres with a personal best of 18.96, whilst Diane Wright ran an over 55 women’s record of 21.58.
In the 600 metres races, Lewis Jessup (u20) ran an impressive 1.20.94 to finish 3rd in the fastest race and Anna Palmer was the fastest Tonbridge female with a pb of 1.38.90. Tom Richards set a Tonbridge over 35 men’s record of 1.27.56. Purdey Hutchings (u16) was maybe the most impressive Tonbridge runner over 1500 metres, where she was close to her best with 4.46.05.
Alan Buckle set a Tonbridge over 65 men’s 3000 metres record of 11.55.27, returning less than an hour later to claim the 1500m record, in the same age group, with 5.38.78. Emily Ghose finished 2nd in the 3000 metres walk in 15.42.08.
Amongst the field events, there were several impressive performances from Tonbridge AC members. Olivia Pilbeam (u18) threw the Hammer 35.46 metres and looks set for a good Summer season. Samuel Donald (u18) improved his Triple Jump by almost a metre from last year with 12.50 metres. Another under 18, William Law, threw the Javelin 54.90 metres, having competed very little last year. Samantha Stubbs was the best female Shot Putter on show with 11.53 metres and Angie Crush set a new Tonbridge AC over 50 women’s Pole Vault record of 2.20 metres.
Three Tonbridge Decathletes threw the Discus over 40 metres, with Lewis Church being the best at 44.16 metres.
The High Jump was possibly the best all round field event for Tonbridge athletes, with Steve Simmons close to his best when clearing 1.90 metres. Victor Watling (u16) cleared a personal best of 1.75m, whilst two under 14 girls showed significant improvement on last year’s bests. Sophie Lawrence jumped 1.56m and Lauren Cromartie 1.53m.
In California, on Friday, Rae Le Fay set a personal best and Tonbridge under 20 women’s record in the 3000 metres steeplechase with 10.31.95.