Kent AC achieved their second best ever result by finishing 15th at the ERRA National Six Stage Road Relay Championships, but it was Paul Pollock who took the limelight with the fastest ever leg by a Kent AC athlete.

On a fine day in Sutton Coldfield the team was lead off by Simon Taylor who ran a fine first leg, reaching the first change over in 40th position in a admirable time of 18:33 to hand over to Paul Pollock.
This was exactly the platform the team was looking for to move through the field in the following legs, and Paul, who had missed the Southern qualifying race due to exam commitments, tore through the field like his life depended on it running a time of 17:08 and taking a massive 32 positions to hand over to Jermaine Mays in 8th. This time put Paul 7th fastest of all runners on the day and left many observers asking where Kent AC had dug up this talent.

On the third leg Jermaine fought hard all the way completing his leg in 17:43, losing a single position and handing over to Gary Thornton in 9th. Gary had unfortunately fallen while travelling to the race on Friday evening and bruised several ribs. Nevertheless he showed his true colours by gritting his teeth and toughing it out to record a time 18:35 and hand over to Michael Claff in 11th. Michael ran the fifth leg with his usual determination handing over to Andrew Dunwoody after a time of 19:09 and in 15th position. Andrew then completed the day's work, bringing the team home in 15th after 18:58 for the leg and a total time of 1:50:06.

So all in all another good result at national level for Kent AC, which could have been even better if Gary Thornton had not fallen the day before the race. Hopefully over the next few years the team can make another step forward and break into the top 10. Watch out for the team results from the 12 Stage Relays in the Spring.

Andrew D

Full results are available here:
http://www.race-results.co.uk/results/2008/nat608.htm