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9 March 2020

Club Presentation Feb 2020

The annual Club Presentation was held on Sat 1st 2020.

Jack Green picked up the Lifetime achievement award: ” Two-time Olympian, having competed in the 400m hurdles at the 2012 Games in London and in Rio four years later, also forming part of the 4x400m team to fin-ish fourth in London. He claimed world relay bronze in the London 2017 World Championships, also claiming bronze as part of the GB quartet at the European Championships in Amsterdam in 2016. His hurdles PB of 48.60, set in 2012, puts him seventh on the UK all-time list.”

The attached booklet lists all the awards and rankings for 2019, well done to all.

KentAC_presentation_2020_v2-2 Download

10 February 2020

Club Champs Dates for 2020

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Looking outside, it’s hard to start thinking about summer, but the first club champs aren’t too far away with the Big Half and the London Marathon. Please see attached for the other dates, please put them in your diary.

As per last year, we’ll send out reminders nearer the time.

Date	Distance	Venue	Entry Link
01/03/2020	Half Marathon	The Big Half	Now closed
26/04/2020	Marathon	London Marathon	Now closed
11/06/2020	3000m	Ladywell Arena	TBC
21/06/2020	10k	Ranelagh Harrier’s 10k	https://ranelagh-10k.co.uk/
13/07/2020	5k	Battersea Park – Sri Chimnoy	https://uk.srichinmoyraces.org/races/london#series-event-full-20
16/07/2020	800m	Ladywell Arena	TBC
13/08/2020	1500m	Ladywell Arena	TBC
06/09/2020	10000m	Ladywell Arena – Ladywell 10000	TBC
17/09/2020	5000m	Ladywell Arena	TBC

9 February 2020

William Wallace

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William (Carl) Wallace 1870-1945

The club has recently been sent two group photos of our members, one dated 1913 and one 1920-1 and with names of those in the image. They are of interest on a number of fronts, but the most important by far is that they are the only know images our founder secretary, William Wallace, who held that post from our foundation in 1898 until 1937 – yes 39 years.

This has prompted a little light research on Wallace. He was a very much a product of his place and time: a first-generation Londoner, in the first generation with widespread literacy and numeracy working in clerical occupations, socially mobile, but working in a traditional riverside occupation. He was the son of immigrants to London, his father, also William, was from Norfolk and his mother from Ireland. He was born in 1870 and his family lived at 11 Reginald Rd, Deptford thereafter for at least the next decade. (This was one of the streets featured in the Deptford edition of the BBC2 series The secret history of our streets.) His parents were bootmakers. He was almost certainly educated at Frankham Street (now Tidemill) School.

The education bit is important as the year of his birth saw the passing of the 1870 education act that set up universal elementary education. This resulted in hugely improved levels of literacy and numeracy and paved the way for a whole new category of workers: clerks. This is exactly how Wallace described himself on the 1901 census. Clerks were the upwardly mobile of their day – educationally and socially a cut above manual workers. (They were also keenly satirized, notably in George and Weedon Grosmith’s 1892 book Diary of a nobody.)

Wallace found work not in a London office, but in a local industry in a firm making ships steel cables. He must have had an entrepreneurial streak as by the early 1930s he had gone into business working from an office in the City (18 Beer Lane) as what he listed lightly mysteriously as a forwarding agent. From the number of other companies in the same address, it must have been a small outfit.

In the photos and in newspaper reports and even electoral registers he sometimes used the name Carl or sometimes Karl alongside or instead of William, but his seems to be an affectation and never appears in more official sources such as the census sources.

He married, and he and his wife Clara, then living in Greenwich, had a daughter Gladys Mara in 1898. In 1901 he was living at 188 West Ferry Rd on the Isle of Dogs, but by 1911 he was back south of the river at 45 Algernon Rd, Ladywell where he remained until 1937. He was widowed in 1917 and his daughter married in 1922. She and her husband lived with Wallace in Algernon Road through the 1930s until he moved in 1937.

He was the driving force in Kent AC’s first four decades. He was founder secretary – and the secretary’s role was the powerful one, and had been involved in one of our predecessor clubs West Kent Harriers. But his role, even from his early 20s was as an organizer, not competitor, and his motivation for this interest must remain unknown. An involvement with athletics was consistent with his time and place. Athletics provided a diversion for young men with the time and excess energy that clerical work allowed; and this was a population that lived in the new outer Victorian suburbs of which Lewisham was one. But Lewisham was never a prestigious location and Kent AC could never become one of the so-called senior clubs, (a term with direct lineage to the two long-established South of the Thames cross country championships) such as Thames Hare & Hounds or Blackheath, with their exclusive middle class professional membership.

Wallace was a big man and not the obvious build for a participant in the hare and hounds activities the club took part in. In the photos above, in 1913 he was 43 and in 1920-1, diminished figure aged 51. He stood down a secretary in 1938 when Fred Tregunno took over (he held the post until 1956). He became treasurer for a year and disappeared from the record. He died aged 76 in early 1945.

Received wisdom in the club (from George Brooks and Fred Tregunno) is that the absence of any pre-war records is because Wallace’s house on Algernon Rd received a direct hit in world war II and they were destroyed. But as far as I can see Wallace wasn’t living there then and while a VI or VII did land diagonally across the road (there are flats there now) no. 45 was only lightly damaged and indeed still stands. So, a mystery.

Sources:
Secondary
Larry Garnham History of Kent AC

Primary
Kentish Mercury newspaper
Kelly’s directories
electoral registers
census returns
Indexes to GRO registers

Len Reilly
February 2020

27 January 2020

Southern XC weekend roundup

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Well done to all of the Boys and girls who braved the Southern Counties on Saturday. I’ve not had the opportunity to scan through all of the results, but the word on the street is George Russell is continuing to improve, and was the pick of the B group performers comfortably making the top 150- illustrating the kind of result that constant training, and regular Tuesday nights can produce.

There were some impressive veterans running in the Farnbrough Half where myself, Will Pitt, Jonathan Beatty, and Joffah travelled up hoping to gain qualification for an England masters vest.
Joffah managed to win the v50 prize in a 2nd fastest time of 78:03, J Beatty came agonisingly close to breaking 75 minutes with a 75:01- but has the consolation of finishing 4th v40 and achieving the selection criteria, Will Pitt was 4th fastest v45 in a time of 76:13 which will likely see him gain selection, and Len faces an anxious wait after a spirited performance seeing him finish 5th English finisher in a very competitive v55 age group, clocking a low 83 minutes.

A reminder about the annual awards evening next Saturday 1st February at Old Colfeians Rugby Club, Eltham Road, SE12 8UE. Please arrive at 7pm for a 7:30pm start. Please all make an effort to attend. I find this evening works as a catalyst for improved performances as it is so inspiring coming together, and celebrating the magic of Kent AC. The evening is open to first and second claim members.

Stuart.

Meanwhile, further north of Parliament Hill, eleven-time Scottish triple jump Champion Chuxx Onyia added another bronze medal in a highly competitive competition on Sunday (26/Jan/2020). Great achievement and consistency, jumping 15.58 for Bronze at the Scottish Senior Indoor Championships.

Southern XC 2020 Results:

https://results.sporthive.com/events/6626442416927653632

https://www.thepowerof10.info/results/results.aspx?meetingid=316177&event=14KXC&venue=Parliament+Hill&date=25-Jan-20

Southern XC 2020 Photos courtesy of Adrian L

SouthernXC 2020 AdrianL

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Photos: https://www.flickr.com/photos/150480190@N04/albums/72157712840465676

23 April 2017

London Marathon 2017

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Fantastic runs from Kent AC at the 2017 London Marathon, with 50+ finishers, 29 sub-3. Lots of PBs. All followed by an important trip to the runners recovery clinic, aka The Chandos.

In the men’s team race, it looks like we’re third. Very close behind Belgrave and Serpentine. AFD’s top 3 was fastest, but in theory will not count as their elites were not in club vests. We’ll have to wait for confirmation on the official results.

We think our women’s team went even better, looking like first overall team place with 3 to score. Also, awaiting confirmation.

Our younger athletes were also in action. The Minimarathon has been outstanding this year. Ollie Bright won the u15 boys Borough Challenge and 6th in the British Road Champs. All the boys outperformed their pre-race expectations and the 2nd in the u15 boys team event is the highest placing for Lewisham in years!

Pos	Name	Cat	Half	Time
16	» Bentley, Russell (GBR)	18-39	01:09:50	02:22:37
29	» Greenwood, Christopher (GBR)	40-44	01:12:42	02:26:41
32	» Bowler, James (GBR)	18-39	01:13:11	02:27:30
38	» Tipper, Jonathan (GBR)	18-39	01:13:14	02:28:47
83	» Phillips, Neil (GBR)	18-39	01:14:24	02:31:46
170	» Compton, Che (GBR)	40-44	01:19:33	02:36:17
274	» Stauber, Daniel (GER)	18-39	01:19:49	02:38:54
286	» Clements, Amy (GBR)	18-39	01:18:31	02:39:11
350	» Anderson, Gareth (GBR)	18-39	01:19:46	02:41:05
374	» Laing, Robert (GBR)	40-44	01:18:06	02:41:30
386	» Lawrence, Tim (GBR)	18-39	01:18:22	02:41:48
398	» Beaney, Stuart James (GBR)	40-44	01:18:05	02:42:07
452	» Bidgood, Richard (GBR)	40-44	01:19:53	02:43:08
486	» Evans, Samuel (GBR)	18-39	01:19:43	02:43:57
542	» Paterson, Adam (GBR)	18-39	01:23:02	02:44:51
570	» Alexander, Tim (GBR)	18-39	01:19:37	02:45:26
576	» Boyd, Andrew (GBR)	18-39	01:14:43	02:45:38
783	» O’Connell, Sam (GBR)	18-39	01:22:57	02:49:15
923	» Donaldson, James (GBR)	18-39	01:23:27	02:51:13
1064	» Moroney, Matthew (GBR)	18-39	01:23:09	02:53:12
1499	» Thain, Thomas (GBR)	18-39	01:28:53	02:57:29
1545	» Love, Iain (GBR)	40-44	01:27:53	02:57:49
1775	» Reilly, Leonard (GBR)	55-59	01:30:09	02:59:11
1780	» Gevers, Julian (GBR)	45-49	01:30:12	02:59:13
1861	» Cox, John (GBR)	45-49	01:26:39	02:59:35
1866	» Lighting, Peter (GBR)	18-39	01:30:17	02:59:37
1867	» Avery, Lawrence (GBR)	18-39	01:30:17	02:59:38
1890	» Crichton, Rowan (GBR)	18-39	01:28:40	02:59:49
1893	» Hanley, Sarah (GBR)	18-39	01:28:44	02:59:49
2066	» Day, Barnaby (GBR)	18-39	01:23:41	03:01:18
2764	» Coulter, Darryl (GBR)	45-49	01:28:41	03:08:02
2806	» Smith, Jennifer (GBR)	40-44	01:31:54	03:08:21
2813	» Murphy, Teresa (GBR)	40-44	01:29:54	03:08:24
3533	» Goulden, Ross (GBR)	18-39	01:36:38	03:13:41
3620	» Phillips, Craig (GBR)	40-44	01:34:11	03:14:12
3767	» Teoh, Penelope (GBR)	18-39	01:37:25	03:14:52
4117	» Manning, Caroline (GBR)	18-39	01:34:36	03:17:03
4240	» Griffiths, Abi (GBR)	18-39	01:37:46	03:17:47
4735	» Farrall, Ali (GBR)	40-44	01:36:49	03:21:15
4822	» Williams, Kate (GBR)	50-54	01:41:16	03:21:48
5297	» Kimbangi, Charles (GBR)	18-39	01:33:32	03:24:44
5866	» Ronconi, Nic (ITA)	45-49	01:44:45	03:27:57
5868	» Hayes, Nicky (GBR)	55-59	01:42:37	03:27:57
6465	» Coombe, Andy (GBR)	45-49	01:45:03	03:30:47
7163	» Gordon-Orr, Neil (GBR)	50-54	01:44:34	03:34:45
7911	» Young, Sarah (GBR)	50-54	01:44:29	03:38:29
18295	» Martin, Claire (GBR)	45-49	02:06:06	04:21:03
23392	» Prince, Adele (GBR)	40-44	02:04:34	04:41:09
30033	» Brown, Jeffrey (GBR)	18-39	02:22:57	05:11:21
37806	» Lane, Spenser (GBR)	45-49	03:02:14	06:27:45

London Marathon 2017

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4 April 2017

Southern 12 Stage 2017 Kent AC video

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Race highlights in this video from Norman below.

Men A team 5th
Men B team 15th – 1st B team
Men C team 32nd – 1st C team

Women 6 stage 9th team

Main article: www.kentac.org.uk/southern-12-stage-road-relay-2017/

Youtube Kent AC Southern 12 Stage video

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SEAA 6 Stage Road Relays Senior Women’s results – 25/03/2017

1. Isobel Bradley 16:49 (short leg) 18th
2. Teresa Murphy 24.46 (Long leg) 15th
3. Ali Farrall 17.23 (short) 16th
4. Amy Clements 22.32 (long) 8th
5. Victoria Buck 17:16 (short) 9th
6. Lydia Blackmore 17.25 (short) 9th

team finished 9th

Amy ran the 5th fastest long leg on the day

South-road-relays-2017-by-Steve-Smythe-1250x750

1 April 2017

Southern 12 Stage Road Relay 2017

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A good day by any description ! On our return to Gravesend the weather was warmer than last year but times were affected by a strong headwind on the climb back to the start which on this short lap course meant it had to be tackled three times.

We had a solid opening leg from the reliable Chris Greenwood who sensibly had a conservative start and then worked his way up to a fine 12^thposition before handing over to Ben Harding. He tore through the field securing 6^th pace by the end to demonstrate that he is beginning to return to form. Then James Bowler had a good run, despite the heavy legs that training for the London Marathon produces, and gained a place to put us right in the mix. Lawrence Avery was next and he produced the run of the day as he ran our fastest short leg and in the process got us up to 3^rd place.

Another new recruit on leg 5, Jordan Weaver, then demonstrated his recent improvement as he chased the Serpentine runner, none other than Dave Morgan, all the way before overtaking him on lap 3 and pulling away decisively. Tim Alexander then had a solid run despite the pressure than 3^rd place brings and he hung on well to 4^th place for the team.

Next up was none other than James Connor, who was running his 16^th Southern 12 Stage, who demonstrated that his recent return to form is no fluke as he ran our fastest long leg of the day and increased our lead as he held onto 4^th place. Next up was Rob Laing who had a solid run and who maintained our position despite the unexpected pressure of us running far better than expected. Yet another new recruit to the team was Jonathan Tipper who ran solidly, despite full Marathon training, who held 4^th place for us and who handled the pressure well.

The first three teams were getting away from us which gave Stuart Beaney some slack as he had another solid run and he held onto 4^th place for the team. Neil Phillips was next up on our last long leg and he held onto 4^th pace with another solid run as some of the big guns were making a charge behind him. So all our six long legs were finished with less than a minute between them. Our last leg runner was another new recruit to the A team, Joe Hartley, and the pressure was really on him as AFD. Bedford and Belgrave were all within 15 seconds of him. He ran extremely well and sensibly hung onto the AFD runner who caught him early on and this gave them both some headway over the other guys as he secured a fine 5^th place for the team – way better than predicted by Ken.

So by any standard a good day for the club as no less than 7 guys were making their debut for the A team. They really delivered well which given that most can improve dramatically is a real bonus for future events.

Not to be outdone the B team were led off by ever reliable Tim Lawrence who got them up to 32^nd pace on the opening leg out of 53 teams and with a good legs from Anthony Johnson they were on course to make the top 25 teams and therefore qualify for the National 12 Stage in two weeks time. He ran well, despite months out through injury, and moved them up to 26^th place before regular Caium Fraser moved them into 24^th position with a solid run. Next up was Rowan Critchton, who was making his debut, and he ran well securing 22^nd spot and almost certain qualification for the Nationals. Another new boy was Chris Minns who delivered the goods with a fine run as he held onto his position. Matt Moroney then ran well to gain another position by getting us up to 17^th position.

Then Niall Robinson had a good run, only a second behind the fastest long leg for the team, as he worked hard on a really competitive leg. Another of our injured A team runners was next up and Adrian Lowther ran well off limited training gaining another place to secure 16^th place. Tom Muddiman, on a day trip from Southampton, then produced then goods as he ran another fine long leg gaining one more position into the bargain. Sam Rowlands, yet another new boy to the team, then delivered the goods as he secured 15^th place with a good debut run.

Our last long leg was in the hands of a certain John Gilbert who had only run 3 times since a stress fracture and he delivered a fine run giving the A team something to consider. Another much injured guy who was coming back, Pete Lighting, was last up for the team and he showed that class is permanent as he secured our excellent 15^th place for the team – first B team by a mile and one of only two B teams that qualified for the National 12 Stage.

We were still not done as we had entered a C team for the first time and loads of guys ran well giving the B team a fright for places next year. They were first C team by some way and sealed a great day for the club on so many fronts.

Southern 12 Stage Road Relay at Cyclopark, Gravesend on Sat 25^th March 2017

.1.   Chris Greenwood       20 23 12^th .3.   James Bowler         20 26     5^th
.5.   Jordan Weaver          20 19     3^rd
.7.   James Connor             20 00     4^th .9.   Jonathan Tipper          20 58     4^th .11. Neil Phillips                20 46     4^th

.2. Ben Harding 13 32 6^th .4. Lawrence Avery 13 30 3^rd .6. Tim Alexander 14 34 4^th .8. Rob Laing 14 25 4^th .10. Stuart Beaney 14 41 4^th .12. Joe Hartley 13 44 5^th
Team: 5^th out of 53 starters in 3 hours 27 min 18secs

B team

.1. Tim Lawrence 21 59 32^nd .3. Calum Fraser 22 15 24^th .5. Chris Minns 22 29 22^nd .7. Niall Robinson 22 00 18^th
.9. Tom Muddiman 22 04 15^th .11. John Gilbert 20 54 15^th

.2. Anthony Johnson 14 18 26^th .4. Rowan Critchton 14 45 22^nd .6. Matt Moroney 14 32 17^th
.8. Adrian Lowther 14 25 16^th .10. Sam Rowlands 14 47 15^th .12. Pete Lighting 14 41 15^th
Team: 15^th out of 53 starters in 3 hours 39 min 09 secs
FIRST B team

C team

.1. Barny Day 22 35 36^th .3. John Cox 23 25 39^th .5. Nick Ostrowski 23 02 37^th .7. Ben Smith 23 25 36^th .9. Tom Webb 23 56 35^th .11. Ian Elwood 24 07 31^st

.2. Adam Garcia 15 29 40^th .4. Richard Archer 15 50 40^th .6. Arif Merali 15 36 36^th .8. Darryl Coulter 16 07 36^th .10. Jules Gevers 15 07 33^rd .12. Len Reilly 15 54 32^nd
Team: 32^nd out of 53 starters in 3 hours 54 mins 33secs

FIRST C team

Video from Norman…

Here’s a summary of Kent AC history at the Southern 12 Stage from 1996.

We first qualified in 1996 and had to wait until 2001 for our second appearance.

1996 48^th team

2001 42^nd team

2002 22^nd team

2003 27^th team

2004 21^st team

2005 22^nd team

2006 17^th team

2007 14^th team

2008 21^st team

2009 DNF a team

2010 29^th team

2011 24^th team

2012 23^rd team

2013 No competition

2014 11^th team B team 44^th team

2015 6^th team B team 38^th team

2016 12^th team (Injured runner) B team 46^th team

Photos below from Flickr

Southern Road Relays 2017

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15 March 2017

NATIONAL XC CHAMPS, WOOLATON PARK, 25 FEB 2017

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FINE TEAM PERFORMANCE BY KENT AC MEN SEES THEM PLACE 11TH IN THIS YEAR’S NATIONAL

Last weekend, Kent AC men had some fine individual runs helping the team to a highly creditable 11th place in the team standings. Although we were behind the inevitably strong Highgate (7^th) and one behind Serpentine, we were still ahead of many of our usual rivals – including our Surrey league adversaries. Placing just outside the top ten without the services of John Gilbert has to be viewed as a seriously good result. However, plaudits must go to Kent County Champions, Tonbridge, who won the team contest for the first time in their history.

The organisers had changed the course considerably from the one used in 2014. This time a mixture of heavy mud with a sprinkling of ditches made the course something of a challenge. First man home for Kent was Russell Bentley, coming home in 68^th. According to my on course source, Russell, currently in the midst of heavy marathon training, made a very steady start before passing large numbers during the second half of the race.

Our next man home was the “find” of the season, Jordan Weaver. In previous reports I’ve mentioned how Jordan, a relative novice in running terms, seems to possess real talent. This year’s National where he finished just outside the top 100 (coming in at 105^th), provided further confirmation. To anyone who knows about running, a position of around a hundred in the National earns much respect. Apparently for much of the race Jordan had been following Chris Greenwood, who like Russell had started rather cautiously before moving up a gear and passing a good many runners on his way to the finish. At the finish a few seconds separated them, with Chris coming in at 110^th.

Our fourth scorer was the guy who’s really been the mainstay of our team this season, Neil Phillips. He was around 20 seconds back, finishing 125^th. Our fifth and sixth scorers were Ben Harding (200^th) and James Bowler (226^th). Outside the scoring six there was a number of noteworthy runs – Tim Alexander’s in particular. He well and truly secured the bragging rights over his ‘B’ group teammates. Following on from Tim there was a very close contest that resulted in Joe Hartley (293^rd) just getting the better of Tim Lawrence (294^th). Matt Moroney (519^th), had a very solid race with some good standard runners behind him. And then perhaps a mention to the two long standing members who have racked up a considerable number of Nationals between them – Len Reilly and Mick Barlow. Considering that he’s been nursing injuries, Len achieved a respectable finish, while Mick was no doubt highly competitive in the beer consumption stakes. Which brings me on to the fact that although Party Boy Beaney was missed, my sources tell me he better watch out. It seems that not just one, but two of our number fulfilled Party Boy’s role with admirable gusto – step forward Rowan Crichton and Tim Lawrence.

So Stuart, at the next celebration – you need to reclaim your title!

BEST EVER TURNOUT OF KENT AC WOMEN AT THE NATIONAL AND THE TEAM SECURES 12^TH PLACE

Fittingly, with the best ever turnout, the team secured by far their best finishing spot in this year’s National. They were a fine 12th team out of 93 completed teams and like their male counterparts they were ahead of all their local rivals. In the women’s team event it’s just four to score. However, as well as having a fine scoring four there were some excellent performances from other team members.

In a field that perhaps had a bit more depth to it than last year, Amy Clements ran strongly to finish 34^th, ahead of some top quality runners. Our next two runners appeared to be well matched over this distance. After a close contest, Sarah Hanley (143^rd) was just ahead ( a mere three seconds) of Teresa Murphy (146^th). Then only just over 20 seconds behind Teresa was Jen Smith (157^th) with another fine run. As mentioned, as well as the excellent scoring four, there were lots of other commendable performances. Other Kent women who made it a special day include Jane Higgs (170), Victoria Buck (235), Eliza Grant (292), Kate Williams (312), Lydia Blackmore (324), Sarah Young (403), Ellie Brown (477) and Kathy Sharpe (754) and Annabelle Hadlow (758). Apologies if failing eyesight has meant I’ve missed anyone from the roll of honour.

Prior to the senior race, Isabel Bradley ran really well in the Junior Women’s race. Isobel has been running strongly in the Surrey League this season, and here she was just outside the top 50, coming home in 52^nd.

JUNIORS GAIN VALUABLE EXPERIENCE

As well as a large number of senior athletes, this year Kent AC had a number of junior athletes who made the journey to Nottingham.

In what can be an intimidating environment, I’m sure they will have gained valuable experience. Again, there was another first for Kent AC, in that we actually had an Under 13 team representing the club. This race is an unforgiving one, but I am sure the boys will have benefited from the tough challenge they encountered. The four who made up our team were Lucas Zurdo (261), Jude Weekly (269), Guy Barnett (384) and Oscar Zurdo( 421). Then in the Under 15 race, Ollie Bright showed that he looks to have a promising future in the sport. He came just outside the top twenty (22^nd), in what is always a large and hugely competitive field. A lot of good senior athletes around today never finished as high as 22^nd when they were juniors.

Andy Gardiner

Apologies for errors /omissions

15 February 2017

MEN’S SURREY XC LEAGUE WIMBLEDON 11 FEB 2017

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Yes, we did it. At Wimbledon Common in the final fixture we got over the line to secure Kent AC’s fifth consecutive Surrey League Division 1 win.

Although missing talisman John Gilbert along with that other notable absentee, skipper Stuart Beaney, the depleted team did the club proud, battling hard to ensure that we were able to score the required points in the face of very determined opposition.

We were fortunate to have a big lead going into the fixture, as while we were several runners down, our rivals seemed to have exceptionally strong teams out for the last fixture. Hercules Wimbledon, Thames and Ranelagh were particularly strong on the day and we were pushed down to fifth place in this fixture – a few points down on Herne Hill who were fourth. The result certainly gives food for thought for next season, but the main thing from the club’s point of view was that our points total was still enough to keep the others at bay.

In the absence of John, we were again led home by Neil Phillips. As I’ve mentioned previously, Neil has been terrifically consistent for us, and Saturday’s performance (he came in at 10^th) again underlined his importance to the team. Not far behind Neil and sporting his familiar winter gear of hat and gloves was Chris Greenwood (13^th), perhaps showing a glimpse of the form that brought him such exceptional results in previous seasons.

Our third man home with his best race of the series was James Bowler, who came in at two places behind Chris. James, a former track specialist, looks as though he might be rounding into form for the National in a couple of weeks. Fourth scorer Richard Phillips (23^rd) is a second claimer who we certainly owe a debt of gratitude to. Richard has performed well for us in three of the four fixtures and in the last fixture his contribution was vital. The sight of Ben Harding (30^th) putting every last ounce in during the closing stretch of the race showed how much this race meant.

There was a bit of gap before Gareth Anderson came home in 45^th. Gareth’s another runner who seems to have had more than his share of injury misfortune. The last few races, though, seem to indicate that he may have turned the corner. Tim Lawrence was just outside the top 50 (coming in at 53^rd). Then it is great to report that two improving runners – Joe Hartley (55^th) and Niall Robinson – were in the scoring ten. Our final scorer, as he was at Parliament Hill, was Phil Sanders (59^th). Also of note was the fact that over the four race series, Phil was second V40.

In addition to the scoring 10, it’s only right to mention the runners who also represented the club at the end of our winning season: Jack Murphy (83rd), Tom Muddiman (88th), Chris Minns (90th), Matthew Moroney (93rd), Che Compton (103^rd), Tim Alexander, (107^th), Arif Merali (131^st), Ian Ellwood (138^th), Paul Crompton (159^th), Gary Boodhna (162nd), Bernie Hutchinson (172^nd) and Neil Gordon Orr (175^th).

So it’s tremendous that we have managed five consecutive league titles, but perhaps not the most straightforward way of going about winning it this season. Off to a bit of a shaky start at Richmond, then two convincing wins followed by a depleted squad doing enough to make sure we managed to get to the winning post.

The strength of the opposition on Saturday, together with a reinvigorated Belgrave, suggests we’ll have to be at the top of our game if we are going to achieve a sixth win next season. However, for the moment let’s just reflect on the achievement of five in a row and congratulate the guys who ran hard to make it possible.

1.Hercules W 215; 2. Thames HH 245; 3. Ranelagh 300…5 Kent AC 359

Overall

1.Kent AC 1037; 2. Hercules Wimbledon 1204; 3 Ranelagh 1260

Andy Gardiner

Apologies for errors /omissions

11 February 2017

Terry Lyons

jules 2

Long standing members will be saddened to hear of the death of Terry Lyons who died in America at the end of December. Terry joined the club in his late 40s during the 1990s. He became a member through Roger Maxwell, whose name will be familiar to many, and with whom he had worked. He competed for us on the road, including in the 1991 marathon, but left us for Aldershot, where he hoped for richer pickings in their v50 teams. Those ambitions never worked out and he remained an occasional, welcome and cheerful face in the locality.

Terry took early retirement from Lewisham council, and for the last decade or more lived the very agreeable lifestyle of 6 months plus one day in the UK in our summer (which he hated) and the rest of the year with his cousin in California, which he enjoyed immeasurably. Although he hadn’t run for quite a few years he was a very keen cyclist, especially in the States. I went out with him for rides here and he was a fearless descender.

Inevitably I bumped into him from time to time and he was always eager to catch up with news and gossip from the club. I last saw him when he was his usual cheerful, gentle self in the late summer when he was, as ever, impatient to head back west.

He had had heart problems, and he died peacefully in his sleep from a heart attack. He had no very close family, but his cousin Con Griffin is a long established member of Blackheath.

Len Reilly