Photo – The TAC men’s team that won the South of England Road Relay Championships
The Tonbridge Athletic Club men’s team produced a superb win in the South of England Road Relay Championships, at Rushmoor Arena, Aldershot on Saturday, whilst the under 16 boys team took home bronze medals from their race.
Despite winning National titles, the South of England six stage road relay title had eluded Tonbridge over the years, although they had amassed five second places since 2016. This year they toed the line alongside 84 teams to contest six legs of the undulating six kilometres course. Jamie Macdonald ran 18.04 on the opening leg, coming home in 4th, before handing over to Max Selby, who was having his first race for a few weeks. Selby ran 18.14 and was close to the leader in 2nd at the finish of his leg.
Lewis Mills ran 18.38 leaving Tonbridge in 3rd at the halfway stage, although they had their strongest runner, James Kingston, going next. Kingston produced one of his best performances, recording 17.07, which equalled the course record, which had been set in 1989. It was a time that several Olympic, European and Commonwealth medal winners had not managed over the years, including Mo Farah when he ran the course in 2006. Kingston gave Tonbridge the lead and then Will Beeston was at his very best on leg 5, recording 18.15, consolidating the lead. Ted Higgins anchored the team with a relatively controlled run for him in 17.54.
The under 16 boys won their bronze medals earlier in the afternoon on the three kilometres course. Guy Bowers came home 13th on the first leg in 9.32, before Seb Mottram swept through the field in 9.26 to put the team 3rd. It was then left to Jack Levett on the anchor leg, who had one of his best performances to date, securing the medals with a time of 9.39.
In the remaining races, the senior women were 32nd, under 18 men 12th, under 18 women 18th, under 16 girls 15th and under 14 boys 15th.
On Sunday, Lucy Reid raced her first marathon for nearly two years, after a serious knee injury. She travelled to Berlin, one of the World Major Marathons and finished 23rd in the women’s race in 2.29.59. Up until six miles to go, Reid was on for a much quicker time and might have challenged her personal best of 2.26.35. However, the marathon distance can hit hard in the final few miles and Reid went from feeling good to finding herself in a battle to finish. The performance still ranks as a tremendous return from injury and her time is the 7th fastest by a British woman this year.
Also on Sunday, the Tonbridge veterans’ squads competed in the final of the Southern Counties Veterans League, where the men finished 1st of the eight clubs and the women finished 2nd to Hercules Wimbledon. Tonbridge were the top team in the overall scoring.
Above Lucy Reid
Above – Tonbridge AC Veterans squad at the league final
The results from the South of England Road Relay Championships are impressive, especially James Kingston equalling a course record that had stood since 1989. Lucy Reid’s return to marathon racing after a serious knee injury is also remarkable, while the strong performances from the veterans and under-16 teams make this a great weekend for Tonbridge Athletic Club.