Photo – The TAC veterans squad at Dartford
Tonbridge Athletic Club teams have league campaigns that could go down to the very end of the season, following results last week.
On Friday, Tonbridge competed in the third match of the Southern Counties Veterans League, at Dartford. The home club won the men’s Division One match to put themselves just one point behind Tonbridge, at the halfway stage of the season. However, the Tonbridge women’s team once again produced a decisive victory to cement being well clear at the top of their six-team league.
Nina Ridge is enjoying a successful season in her new age group category and on this occasion won the Long Jump (4.23 metres), Hammer Throw (33.57m) and Shot Put (9.55m), in the over 50 competitions. In the same age group, Maria Heslop won the 800 metres in 2.40.3, which was a club over-55 record. Sally Vine won the over 60 category Hammer Throw with 27.43 metres.
On the men’s side, there were A-string wins in the over 35s for Ben Richardson in the 100m with 11.7 and Luke Williams in the Long Jump, with 5.12m. These two combined with Steve Daly and Steve Tester to win the 4x100m relay in 48.0. Chris Leach won the over 50s Shot Put with 9.86m and Ben Reynolds set a club over 60 age record when winning the 800m in 2.27.5.
On Sunday, the Tonbridge under 13s and 15s finished fourth in their UK Youth Development League match at Havering. This leaves them equal fourth in the division, alongside Winchester and just one point behind Reading, with one match to go. Four of the six clubs will maintain their Premier Division status.
Tonbridge had five A-string wins, with Seren Field winning the under 13 girls’ Shot Put with 8.62m and Javelin with 22.70m. In the same age group, Aimee Watts once again won the 1200 metres in 3.55.10. At under 15 level, Toby Gwinnell won the High Jump with a clearance of 1.70 metres. There was also a win in the 4×300 metres relay by Lucas Bowen, Harry Wrigley, Louis Ib and Sebby Reynolds, who reduced the recent club record to 2.37.65.
Earlier in the week, there were two over 45 club records set over 5km on the roads of Battersea Park, in London. Helen Gaunt ran a superb time of 16.46 to set a women’s record, whilst Craig Halsey ran 16.11 to set a men’s mark.
Maybe the best weather conditions of the week came on Wednesday, and a number of Tonbridge athletes took advantage. At Loughborough, Will Beeston improved his 1500 metres best to 3.52.22, whilst over 3000m at Wimbledon, Ted Higgins ran 8.19.31 and Ben Pearce 8.25.88.