Surrey League Beckenham 11th January 2020
WE KEEP TITLE HOPES ON TRACK WITH THIRD SURREY LEAGUE WIN Surrey League Division 1, Race 3, Beckenham Place Park, Jan 11 The third fixture of the season saw Kent AC senior men put in another excellent team performance – securing a third consecutive victory. Talk beforehand was of consolidating the advantage we had going into the race and on the day our team certainly did that. On a testing course, mapped out by noted Kent AC runners of yesteryear, a fine race developed at the front of the field. Initially Belgrave’s international Nick Goolab went into an early lead and he had some distance between himself and a chasing pack. However, it wasn’t long before a little group had got back on terms with him. In the group that was to be together for a substantial part of the race was new Kent County champion, Owen Hind and of course multiple Kent County champion, John Gilbert. Also, amongst the group was eventual second placer, Johnny Van Deventer, an American with a very impressive running history. Clapham Chasers have acquired his services and he’s certainly going to strengthen their team. Once John Gilbert had joined the group, he put in some typical John type surges. However, eventually it was John who had to give way leaving Owen in the company of two very fine athletes. Although for quite a while Goolab was seemingly content to bide his time, with a little more than half a mile to go he produced a smooth burst of acceleration that the other two couldn’t stay with. His injection of pace quickly put some distance between him and the two who had made it such an interesting contest for much of the race. Round the turn into the finishing straight Owen and Van Deventer were together but it was the American who was able to prevail in the run to the line. After Owen in third we had John Gilbert (4th) and with his customary high finish Jim Allchin, fifth. Again, Jim had shown his tactical awareness by starting conservatively and moving through. Continuing his good run of form, Ben Harding (8th) had a top ten finish. Not far behind Ben was Ross Braden (13th) – another second claimer who has been making a very valuable contribution to our cause. There was a top twenty finish (15th) for Cedric Hauben. As mentioned in previous posts, Cedric’s from Belgium and over here working for a year. In the short time he’s been with us he’s had a very positive impact. Then we had three scorers in the mid- twenties but with Herne Hill’s Mike Cummings in between. In (24th) was second claimer Joe Vis having a very good run. Close up behind (26th) and (27th) were Chris Greenwood and Niall Stewart. Closing the ten to score was the man who is doing such an admirable job as cross country captain, Dan Pettitt (34th). As with the first two fixtures, the race at Beckenham resulted in another comfortable win for the runners who made up our B team. It was pleasing that two relative newcomers to the club featured amongst our B team scorers – Sam Marshal (62nd) and George Russell (65th). There was a bit of variation in positions from the previous week’s Kent County race amongst the B team scorers – on this occasion Dave Morgan was ahead of Anthony Johnson. Just missing out scoring in the A team, Neil Phillips was first scorer in the B and Sean Fitzpatrick closed the team in, coming (74th). Perhaps not surprising when you look at who made up the team, the B team again ran out very convincing winners of their competition. Also, of note at this fixture was the turn -out of runners we had for the race. Alright it was classed as a home fixture, but even so to have not far off fifty runners on the start line is quite something. At the end of the post there should be a complete list of all the Kent runners who ran in the fixture. As well as our scorers they all deserve praise for their contribution to the team effort. Finally, it was great to see Ron Hale, Kent AC’s longest serving member spectating and seeing his club in such good shape. Somewhat different from when your correspondent joined. If not a taxi, you could have fitted the team in a small mini bus in those long off days. Sprightly Ron, ninety plus years of age, was seen chatting to AW’s reporter. No doubt he was giving him the benefit of many years of running wisdom. The closing fixture will take place at Lloyd Park on February 8th. No doubt the Hockey club bar manager is gleefully anticipating an afternoon of record profits.
42 58 230 finishers
Teams: 10 to score 1st
1stKENT AC 159
2nd Hercules Wimbledon AC 247
3rd Herne Hill H 406
4th Belgrave H 431
5th South London H 474
6th Thames Hare & H 515
7th Clapham Chasers 561
8th Guildford & G 662
9th Dulwich Runners 700
B Team: 1st Kent AC 65