Ladywell 10,000 September 2019
A great days athletics on Sunday, a report will be posted soon. In the meantime here are some photos of the event.
LADYWELL 10,000m EVENT, SEPTEMBER 1ST 2019
This year saw the third staging of Kent AC’s series of 10,000m track races at Ladywell . Yet again the event was judged to be a great success – probably the best one yet. The event ran smoothly, the weather was kind and there were seven excellent competitive races. In addition, there was an impressive array of cakes available baked by Kent AC members and some very decent beer – a fair amount consumed by Kent AC members. In the final race there was a stand -out performance from Ross Skelton of Hastings AC (more of that later)
The first race was probably a race in which may of the participants had never run 10,000m on the track. Thanks to careful pacing the winner of the race was comfortably inside the target time. First home was London City Athletics Club’s, Charles Stephens. He recorded 41:40.62. There was plenty of Kent AC interest the race, including two strong female performances from Susie Fairbrass 44:27.82 and Andrea Barber 45:00.63. Not too far behind the winner was Kent AC’s Chris Schofield 42:38.85 and he was followed in by Gary Sullivan 42:57.21 – good going for a V60.
The next race, expertly paced by Phil Sanders, saw the winner well inside 40 minutes. Matt David came home in 38:50.60. Kent AC provided the third and fourth placers. Will Fricker was third in 39.22.70 while behind him was Chris Quaid, clearly delighted to have broken 40 minutes, 39:30.35. The third race saw Stuart Beaney take on the pacing duties. After a refreshing break from running, Beaney proved the consummate professional with his pacing (he’ll be on Diamond League duty next) and brought the leading runners comfortably inside their target time. As the race developed two runners got away and then competed fiercely over the last couple of laps to secure victory. Although listed on the initial results as the winner, Catrin Tyler, a female athlete with, London Heathside, actually came a close up second. The race winner was Justin Eggins of Chichester Runners in 36 :25.54. In this race Kent AC had no less than nine runners going under 40 minutes – including two of our women, Georgina Riley and Sarah Hanley. Georgina recorded a PB 39.05.86. Also, of note was a very strong performance from Roger Beardsworth 38:23.06 – admirable running for someone edging toward 60.
There was special interest in the fourth race as multiple world and UK masters record holder, Clare Elms, had her sights on the world W55 record. Unfortunately, on the day it wasn’t to be. Clare actually recorded a very creditable 37:39.60. She was being paced by our own Ian Ellwood. For the early part of the race it seemed the pacing was a bit off what was required. However, Ian definitely stepped it up and it did look for a while that the record might still be on. Towards the end Clare stopped for a brief period although the momentary stop probably wasn’t responsible for her missing the record. Given the track season is coming to an end, a further attempt looks as though it may have to wait until next year. However, I’m sure if she enters one again the record will be under threat. Although Ian was pacing Clare, in the same race James Bowler had undertaken pacing duties for the main target time. For the first half of the race it seemed that only young Isaac Maxwell, was willing or able to go with him. However eventual winner Tom Sloan clearly knew what he was doing. He really pushed on in the second half of the race and got back on pace coming away with a winning time of 35:15.81 – a PB by some margin. Isaac, an Under 20, maybe did pay for going with the pace but he toughed it out and came in under 37 minutes. There were a number of other encouraging performances from Kent AC runners, but special mention must go to our second claimer Jonathan Ratcliffe. Running in his first claim, Herne Hill colours, V50 Joffah, ran 35:48.73. Also running in the race was Katy Rowland. Considering she’s had a disrupted season she did well to record 38:47.88.
In the fifth race (listed as race 3) there was a good deal of Kent AC rivalry on display. Proving a man of many talents, Race Director, Dave Morgan took on the pacing duties. Again, he was spot on with the pacing. It saw Chris Bird from Chichester Runners record a PB – well inside 33 minutes. His winning time was 32:48.00. First of the Kent runners was Samuel Evans, another recording a PB- 33:43.46. In what was dubbed the battle of the beards, Sam got the better of Cambridge Harriers James McDonald. For much of the race the pair had been running together, only for Sam to break away going into the final laps of the race. Sam finished in fourth spot. Not far behind was a procession of Kent runners. Jonathan Beatty bagged bragging rights over his training partners, coming home seventh in a new PB of 34:09.29. Although he’d perhaps gone off a bit too ambitiously, Joseph Yee, an Under 20, was rewarded with a PB 34:43:42.
The penultimate race saw Chris Busaileh take on the pace making duties. He again ensured that the pace requirements were met. The winner was Robert Collins of Thames Valley Harriers. He was just short of breaking 32 minutes, finishing in 32:01.25. First Kent AC man home in this race was Jonathan Tipper, 32:46.51. Then just a few ticks off 33 minutes, and looking as though his form is really improving, was Neil Phillips. Just behind Neil was Cedric Hauben. Cedric is a relative newcomer to our ranks. He’s from Belgium and over here working for a while. He’s training with Ken’s group and looks as though he could very useful if he is able to turn out for us in the forthcoming cross-country season.
As mentioned earlier, the final race of the day saw an excellent run from Ross Skelton. Although for a limited number of laps, Chris Busaileh, who’d paced the previous race, still managed to set the last one up for the desired pace. What was so impressive about Skleton’s run was that although he had company for the first half of the race, for a substantial number of laps he was running on his own. He was rewarded with a big PB, well under 30 minutes. His winning time was 29:53.80. John Eves of Bedford and Andrew Fyfe of Belgrave who’d been with Skelton in the early part of the race were second and third.
Aside from Skelton’s fine run, an added highlight of the top seeded race had to be our own Chris Greenwood’s magnificent run. In August Chris wasn’t far away from the longstanding UK V45 5000 record, and here he was close to Ian Hudspith’s V45 10,000 record – just 12 seconds down with his (30:50.88). Chris was in a strong group that worked together for a good number of laps. At one stage the group contained three Kent runners, along with Chris, there was Russell Bentley and Jordan Weaver. Unfortunately, Russell had to drop out, but Jordan recorded an impressive PB, going under 31 minutes for the first time with 30:58.62. As the laps ticked by it looked for a while as though Jordan might be the first Kent man home. In the group he headed Chris for much of the race. However, Chris is formidably strong in the closing stages of races and in it was in the final couple of laps that he gained a gap on Jordan. Chris was even involved in an exciting last lap burn up which went almost to the line. He did just lose out on the sprint but his opposition was an Under 20 runner – Seyfu Jamaal of London Heathside. So maybe no shame in losing out in a sprint to someone 25 years your junior!
Two places and 15 seconds behind Jordan was Max Nicholls our regular second claimer who’s made a big contribution to our cause in the Surrey League. Then not far behind Max we had Jim Allchin – yet another athlete who recorded a PB 31:27.95. So we had an excellent race concluding proceedings – plenty of Kent AC interest and a runner breaking thirty minutes to win the race.
Plaudits must go to Dave Morgan our race director for the time and effort he put in to making the event such a great success. However, he was ably assisted by plenty of other club members with the many and varied tasks that are so vital for an event like this to go to plan. Only thing is, 20019 was such a great event the bar has been set very high for next year.
Rounding things up, as well our own team who helped organise the event, we need to acknowledge and thank the Catford Bridge Tavern for their invaluable support. Their sponsorship was vital in helping to promote the event and assisting the organising team deliver the meeting in such a professional manner. In addition, the pub is of course very handily placed for the post- race debrief – of which many of us took advantage.
Youtube video of the event:
Ted Aston’s Flickr photos of the races:https://www.flickr.com/photos/136704233@N02/48669997373/in/set-72157710678549307/
Link to lap splits spreadsheet:
Alf Regan
2nd October 2019 @ 11:28 am
An excellent event. Long may it continue. Enjoyed reading the informative report and viewing the photos