Tonbridge AC hosts British Masters Cross Country Championships

Tonbridge Athletic Club, with the support from The Schools at Somerhill, hosted the British Masters Athletics Federation Cross Country Championships, on Saturday, which featured many veteran runners from across the country. The youngest competitors were in the over 35 age category, with five year competition brackets, through to one runner being in the over 80 age group.

There were two races on the day, across the testing, hilly, parkland courses, the first being over six kilometres and featuring all the women, plus men over 65 years old. Former GB international, Elle Baker (photo), was having her first competitive outing for Tonbridge for almost three years, but soon took the lead, alongside Andrea Clement of Blackheath and Sarah Winstone of Southampton.

As the race progressed, Clement took the lead to win by 30 seconds from Baker, in 24.49. In the same race Sasha Humphries had an inspired run to finish 15^th and together with Baker and Nichola Evans (17^th) won the silver medals in the over 35 team competition.

The Tonbridge women also won silver medals in the over 45 age group, where Tina Oldershaw had one of her best races of the season to finish 3^rd in the age category and 20^th overall. Maria Heslop was 28^th and Penny Pilbeam 56^th, who completed the scoring team.

Tonbridge won the men’s over 35 age group, team title, as Ben Cole finished 3^rd overall in the 8 kilometres race, supported by Dan Bradley (5^th) and Neil McClements (26^th).

Also on Saturday, at the UK Inter Counties Championships, about twenty Tonbridge runners competed for the county. Kieran Reilly was the highest placed in the senior men’s race with 19^th, with James Kingston 27^th and Jamie Goodge 36^th. Imogen Amos was 80^th in women’s race, Matthew Dubery 33^rd in the under 20s, whilst Jamie Macdonald in 29^th, helped the Kent under 17s to silver medals. Ollie Head continued his excellent cross-country season, finishing 24^th in the under 15 boys’ race, where he helped Kent to bronze medals, whilst still having another year in the age group.

Bradley leads local runners at Paddock Wood Half Marathon

Following a tough cross-country race, on Saturday, at the British Masters Championships, Dan Bradley returned to action the following day to finish 7^th at the Paddock Wood Half Marathon in 69.32, just a few seconds away from his personal best. Michael Ellis set a pb in 9^th with 69.46 and these two, alongside Luke Reeves (74.36) took the team runners-up prize behind Kent AC.

The Tonbridge women secured a team victory, all with personal best times. Helen Gaunt was 3^rd home in 77.46, setting new Tonbridge AC, over 35 and 40 age group records, whilst Sophie Preston improved her best by more than eight minutes with 81.35. The team was completed by Elizabeth Owen, who ran 94.06, in her debut for the club.

Tonbridge had three competitors at the National under 17 men’s indoor Heptathon championships, held at Sheffield, over the weekend. Reef Page finished 7^th with 4189 points, Joe Stone 8^th on 4165 and Dante McNicholl 14^th on 3736.

This coming weekend Kent hosts the English Schools Cross Country Championships, on Saturday, at the Paddock Wood Hop Farm, with the first race starting at 12.30pm.