Mitch Perfect
Mitch Perfect
Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 12/11/23–
KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN
12 November 2023
We had a Kent AC star who didn’t make it to Mitcham on Saturday, but the excuse was more than worthwhile and actually really admirable! Zuzana Nemeckova ran a 60km ultra in 7hours 33minutes – what a legend!
Now we look forward to the club’s AGM on Tuesday to which all are welcome and indeed needed! If food can’t tempt you, then hopefully supporting the club can! See you then!
MODERN FAMILY WITH MITCH AND HAM
In one respect, yesterday felt like a return to one of our regular surrey league venues where the legs naturally know the course after running the hills multiple times over the years. In others, it felt like the buzz of a season that can have genuine meaning just getting started.
The hard facts are the ladies went from fifth to fourth thanks to a score improvement of over 60 points. With the men jumping fifth to second, pushing match one winners Belgrave into third.
Yet it was the memberships’ effort to commit to the race that I really picked up on. Be it the whatsapp groups buzzing with advice on how to navigate Croydon’s transport system, the last-minute sign-ups from people saying to themselves ‘yeah, actually I want to be involved today’ (although, please tell us more than 20 minutes before gun time. We do also want to focus on our own race. As ever use the spreadsheet) or the large group warming up and cooling down together. With the help of Gen’s outstanding Instagram recap, I’ve picked out a few of my favorite memories from yesterday.
For the ladies I loved:
1) Pete’s smile telling me the increased excellence of the ladies team
2) Gen Blanch announcing her exciting news privately to fellow cross-country captains and then publicly to the rest of the club by racing fantastically with her pregnancy bump and trademark beaming smile. The continuing numerical, mental and physical strength to race and train whilst pregnant is a Kent AC reputation thanks in part to Ellie Brown’s Tuesday night guidance.
3) Amy Clements inspiring mum’s everywhere (and literally anyone else paying attention) with her recent return to racing continuing to impress by leading the team home.
4) Gill Rowland making SL racing a family affair by scoring 7th in age category on debut.
5) The close spread of 20 places for the entire B team of Paris, Ella, Lin and Claire before Zoe Gaffen completing a overall team of 20 in 235th.
And then men:
1) Having our largest ever contingent of men’s athletes on the start line, and to photograph us all @jerry_sun needing to back into another club’s own photo to fit us all in a wide angle lens
2) The incredible three-way sprint finish won by Rob Sesemann between Belgrave and Hercules to snatch three valuable points
3) The number of friends who looked a tad peaved at the finish not to make the scoring 10. Competition between us will only make us work that bit harder.
4) Seeing pro-Mizuno athlete Ross Braden push back his 25 mile Battersea session to make sure he turned out for at least one league match this winter.
5) Having a club that ensures league debutants like Rupert Bedford can mix it with the pros
There is now two months before the next fixture in January 2024. Which in-between any other planned races like the South of the Thames Junior and Senior Fixtures, is a good chunk of training time. I ask this of you over the next two months – how will your training and encouragement of your training partners and friends help us win that January fixture? And how will that training help us medal at the Southern cross country later in the same month? Those are our targets. Yesterday showed that the growth from one month to the next puts it within our reach.
2 SLEEPS TO GO! KENT AC AGM ON TUESDAY
Tuesday 14 November 2023 8.30PM
Please put aside an hour to come to the club’s 2023 AGM. You are needed because we want to hear from you as to how the club is doing and what it could do better. And because we need your approval for next year’s committee and last year’s accounts.
The agenda will be mailed to the whole membership shortly.
The bait is free post-track edibles and a short agenda.
If you can’t join in person, then please do join us virtually from 20:30 –
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89032610977?pwd=ade5xPASTkjUMJDgpehv8rCrTWryHD.1
Meeting ID: 890 3261 0977
Passcode: 567822
Upstairs Blythe Hill Tavern 319 Stanstead Rd SE6.
Vic Buck and Len Reilly
Co-presidents
BECK(ENHAM) AND CALL
South of the Thames Junior XC
Saturday 25 November from 12.30
Ken and Len need two groups of volunteers to help on the day.
We need ten people to marshal. The race is at 2pm. There will be a briefing at 12.30 at race HQ in the south west corner of the park. It’ll all be done by 2.45.
We also need two people to meet Len at the track at 11.15 to help put our (huge) tent into a car and then put it up in the park. It’s being used to keep the officials cosy and dry. The same or another two to help take it down and put it back in the car and deposit at the track.
If you can help, please let Len know.
IT’S BEGINNING TO LOOK A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS
The countdown is on to Kent AC’s Christmas celebrations! Don’t miss out on an evening of drinks, festive feasting, music & dancing until late on Saturday 9th December.
We would love to see you there in your seasonal finery, to celebrate another wonderful year at Kent AC. This will also be the night of the Junior Christmas party and awards.
Tickets available via the website soon!
RACE DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
A summary of dates for your diary:
November
14 – Club AGM – Blythe Hill Tavern
25 – South of the Thames Junior XC – BPP
December
2 – Kent County Vets XC – Dartford (Age group xc champs)
9 – SEAA Masters CC Champs – Horspath, Oxford
9 – Kent AC Christmas Party – TBD
16 – South of the Thames Senior – Lloyd Park (Senior XC champs)
2024
January
6 – Kent County XC – Brands Hatch
13 – Surrey League XC – Wimbledon Common
27 – Southern XC champs – BPP
February
10 – Surrey League XC – TBD
24 – National XC Champs – Weston Park, Shropshire
March
16 – British Masters XC Champs – Corwen, N Wales
April
TBD – Southern Road Relays – TBD
TBD – National Road Relays – Sutton Coldfield
12 LANES OF CHRISTMAS
For those of you wanting to enjoy some reps at Ladywell Arena over the festive period, please make note of the below dates for Kent AC hire.
Thursday 21st December – As usual
Sunday 24th December – No booking
Tuesday 26th December – No booking
Thursday 28th December – As usual
Sunday 31st December – No booking
2024
Tuesday 2nd January – As usual
ADMIN ON TRACK
Would you like to take a leading role in the club? Are you organised and have an eye for detail? Or do you just want to earn a pint for some volunteering? If you answered yes to any of these questions, we have just the ticket for you.
We are looking for a new Track Admin Officer. This is a committee post, which involves technical admin of the track pass app and negotiating hours and rates for the track with GLL and the council.
If you would like to find out more about this, then please contact Amelia.
MEET YOU AT THE GATE
Gate volunteers form the unsung heroes of the club, making sure that our Tuesday and Thursday night sessions can run smoothly and safely.
It’s a great way to meet new people and have a chat with friends too, as well as give back a little bit of time to the club. You can sign up here!
LET’S MAKE IT OFFICIAL
Athletics needs more officials, and volunteering in this way is a wonderful way to give back to the club.
This is a great opportunity to help get club events’ results on Power of 10. And it’s fun.
Our SAL performances not only need athletes, but also qualified officials – so you can directly contribute to our success! Every qualification counts!
It’s a straightforward process that the club will pay for, with more detail on available courses here.
Please contact Len Reilly for more info.
It would be great to see a few more people put their names down to help out!
EASYFUNDRAISING
Over 7,000 brands pay easyfundraising a commission when you start your shop through their platform, so you can raise FREE donations for us no matter what you’re buying. These donations really help us out, so please sign up if you haven’t yet. It’s easy and FREE! You can get started at https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/kentac
You can also install a helpful Chrome extension, which prompts you to donate whenever doing any online shopping – really handy
WIN A TRACK PASS
To be added to the rota simply email Jacqueline or Laurie
We only need each track attendee to volunteer a couple of times a year to spread the responsibility fairly.
T&Cs for the track pass draw:
All volunteers for the current month will be added into the hat for a draw each month.
The winner will win a free pass for the next calendar month.
Names will be automatically drawn from https://namepicker.net/ (or similar alternative)
The winner can either chose to:
use their free pass within a calendar year
allow their free pass to roll down to another volunteer
annual pass holders can nominate another club member if they cannot make use of the pass themselves
No refunds/discounts will be provided in place of the free monthly pass.
Volunteers will only be eligible to win a pass once every three months.
TRACK, TRACK, TRACK
Buy your track pass here.
The usual track times are:
Tuesday 17:30 – 20:30
Thursday 18:00 – 20:30
Sunday 09:00 – 11:30
Please note that individuals are permitted to do their own sessions during club opening times, but coached group sessions continue to take priority.
Track Pass – Juniors
Please purchase your £5 junior monthly track pass in advance here. When purchasing the track pass can parents/guardians please enter the athlete’s name when completing the transaction
Please see a helpful FAQs guide here
Ladywell Arena now has new opening hours dedicated to the public. While during these times the Kent AC track pass is not valid, members can pay for an individual session.
Session times are:
Monday: 07:00 -15:00
Tuesday – Thursday: 1300 -1700
Friday: 07:00 – 15:00
Saturday – Sunday: 09:00-15:00
Price:
Adult resident: £2.70
Adult non resident: £3.00
Junior (U16): £1.30
The Kent AC track pass continues to be required for training on Tues/Thurs evenings and Sunday mornings.
Track staff have encouraged people to double check the opening hours before their training session, as they may occasionally be closed for school sport days and football friendlies. Hours can be checked here. This will likely suit members who can’t make training sessions but would like to train in the morning/lunchtime/evening.
Pay as you go fees can either be paid via cash to the desk or using the Better app (note: staff are working to add the sessions to the app).
KEEP US UPDATED
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