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Social and non-running/field events

2 May 2021

May the track (4th) be with you

<<First Name>>, Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 2 May 2021<!–

KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN

2 May, 2021

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RESULTS ROUND-UP

It was a Kent AC sweep at the top of the podium at the Peckham Rye 10k this morning with Lee Haze (36.37) and Sarah Hanley (38.13) taking the wins. This was also a course record (and a PB!) for Sarah Hanley and a fantastic first race back for Lee after a few years of injuries.
Well done both!

On Wednesday night, Heather Castle ran 53:57 on the hilly Brixton Run Through Chase the Sun course, which placed her second in her age category. Yesterday, David Cowdry ran 1:59:44 at the Newbury Racecourse half marathon

Over on the track at the South London Athletics Network ‘Get the season Goin’ Track & Field Open Gift McLaren ran 17.44 for third in the 150m, and in the 3000m Will Pitt ran 9:55.43 and Paul McCrone 10:52.30.

Well done to all runners!

Please let us know if you have an upcoming race so we can include your results, or if we have missed your results!

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REMINDER – PURCHASE YOUR MAY TRACK PASS BEFORE TUESDAY!

Track passes for May are now available for purchase here. A reminder you will need to pay for your pass prior to attending Tuesday’s session!

Get into the track pass habit
No training unless you’ve signed up to the track pass. You can pay for a month or a year. Here’s how:

1) Make sure your membership has been renewed as you must be a paid up member to use the track
2) Purchase your monthly track pass in advance of the session here
3) Sign up to the appropriate group and session using the links below, for more information about training groups see here
4) Upon arrival before your session, please show your Kent AC membership app, or a print out, at the gate

Please see a helpful FAQs guide here

Group spreadsheets to register for sessions (links for payment this month and FAQs also here):

Men’s A group

Men’s B Group

Women’s Group (PB/EB)

C Group

Juno Group

Hassan Group
Despite the above being very track-focused, we will be expanding our offering to properly cater for our field athletes. So stay tuned for more info very soon.

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SUNDAY MORNING SPRINT SESSIONS

Sprints coach Juno Field has organised the hiring of the Ladywell track on Sundays at 9.30-11.00 for sprint specific sessions. He is opening up the opportunity for any members of the club who would like to join. For more details, including what the sessions will entail and costs please contact Juno directly /" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">

Please note: This is currently not part of the club track pass, although this may change in the future.

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Tuesday training sessions require a lot of organisation, so volunteers to help with checking that people have signed up and are aware of Covid guidelines are always welcome. Contact Heather, our excellent volunteer organiser, via the website.

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FIND YOUR NEXT RACE

Kent AC Summer Racing Calendar
Plan your summer of racing here! Everyone in the club can add races they come across to the list and we encourage you to do so!
You can find the doc here

CLUB DRAW WINNER

Congratulations to Tim Lawrence who has won this month’s club draw!

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NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to the nine additional new members who have joined us this week – it’s great to have you. We look forward to meeting you on the track soon!

Lucy Gornall
Ben Racle
Philip Woodward Smith
Michael Gibson
Rosalind Hunter
Joyce Koinyan
Sam Jarman
Mark Graham
Sofia Contino

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Kent AC · 412 Indiana Building · Deals gateway · London, County (optional) SE13 7QD · United Kingdom

25 April 2021

Running to the Cherry Blossom in Greenwich Park

<<First Name>>, Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 25 April 2021<!–

KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN

25 April 2021

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Look at these results

One we missed, plus some great runs from the usual suspects
It’s still challenging to stage a mass-participation race in these feverish times (Richmond Marathon Festival had no choice but to cancel for a third time this week; anyone training for that has had a torrid training regime this past year), but competitions are going ahead, and with them come some impressive Kent AC results.
First up, we must flag up Callum Cant’s strong performance in the South Downs Way 50 Mile race. He came 25th and ran this boggling distance in a mere 8:00:09. Two legs especially good in this context.
This weeks results come from Sunday 25 April’s Chester Elite Marathon and Half Marathon, where Georgina Wiley ran a 1:22.19 Half Marathon PB, and Rob Laing ran 1:22.19. In the marathon there were PBs for Tom Marshall (2:34:15) and Barny Day (2:37:39). Chris McGurk, a second claim athlete, ran 2:28.59.
On the same day, Che Compton made a beeline for Glorious Goodwood, where he buzzed round the Motor Circuit Half Marathon in a mere 1:13:13.
Earlier in the week, on Wednesday 21 April, Noah Armitage-Hookes ran the 2km Steeplechase in the Birmingham University Series and bagged a 06:17.40 PB.
On Saturday 24 April Cameron Irwin raced a tidy 0:18:29 5km a the Lee Valley Velo Park Run Through series
If you don’t see your result on here then please let us know and we’ll include next week.

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Joe Appiah: Portrait in the Attic?

An athlete’s career in sprinting usually shines brightly for several years before fading as age takes its toll. However, there are notable exceptions and one of those is our very own Joe Appiah, who having recently turned 50, is still performing at the top of his game.
Indeed, after a disrupted winter, little was probably expected more than an early season shakeout when the evergreen Joe turned up last weekend at the Worthing Open. However, in the 100m hurdles Joe was able to blow off the cobwebs and smash both the previous UK (14.34) and European (14.09) M50 markers for the event, finishing in a superb 13.98.
We caught up with Joe to get his thoughts on the record run and goals for the rest of the season.

Firstly, did you expect to break the records going into your first race of the season, especially given how disrupted training and indoor racing has been?
Joe: Yes, but not at my first race in April. I trained in winter hoping indoor competitions would be allowed where I was aiming to break the WR for 60mH of 8.24s. I was using any track that was open, such as Barnes Elms, Paddington etc. in the cold.

Now those records are yours, what goals do you have for the rest of the season? Is the world record for the 100mH (13.57) in your sights?
Joe: My goals are to enjoy racing and to get close to the WR of 13.57. It’s a huge challenge to go from 13.98 to running almost half a second quicker in a sprint race. It’s going to be tough, but it gives me more motivation. I have only done a few weeks of hurdling and we have only been back on track since 29th March, so it gives me hope. I am excited to see how fast I can run once I sort out my starts because the hurdles are closer in distance, as well as getting hurdles fit. If you watch my race, you will be able to see the last few hurdles I was tired and lost technique.

Are the Masters records something that motivates you to carry on racing or is there another thing that drives you to carry on competing?
Joe: I have a stressful job. Athletics keeps me sane, it’s my release. I have an opportunity in Masters Athletics that I never did as a junior as I only started athletics properly in my mid-20s. I am also targeting the LJ record at some stage too, it’s within my capabilities and if I jump 6.10m for both indoors and outdoors, I will have them all!
Athletics is also a brilliant way to engage with people across the world, visiting places I wouldn’t otherwise consider and making great friendships.

You can watch Joe’s run from last weekend here:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SeE6jqO2q8I2vl_TDEdOnHzQ0Hd-sVqN/view

REMINDER – KENT AC SUBS

Have you paid yours?
Membership renewal reminders have been sent out as usual in the hope that training and competition can return to some form of normality this year. Should this not prove to be the case then the committee will come to a collective decision on what action to take with regards to club subscriptions for the 2022/23 year. When you pay your subscription, you’re also offered England Athletics Affiliation for a further £15.

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We’re on track

And it feels great. It’s worth bearing in mind, though, that Tuesday training sessions require a lot of organisation, so volunteers to help with checking that people have signed up and are aware of Covid restrictions are always welcome. Contact Heather, the excellent volunteer organiser, via the website.

Get into the track pass habit
No training unless you’ve signed up to the track pass. You can pay for a month or a year. Here’s how:

Please see a helpful FAQs guide here

Group spreadsheets to register for sessions (links for payment this month and FAQs within):

Men’s A group

Men’s B Group

Women’s Group (PB/EB)

C Group

Juno Group

Hassan Group
Despite the above being very track-focused, we will be expanding our offering to properly cater for our field athletes. So stay tuned for more info very soon.

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FIND YOUR NEXT RACE

Kent AC Summer Racing Calendar
Take the first step to your next PB by having a look at latest fixture list – everyone in the club can add races they come across to the list and we encourage you to do so!
You can find the doc here

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NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to 8 additional new members who join us this week – it’s great to have you. We look forward to meeting you on the track soon!

Iona Campbell

Rory Campbell

Jim Dickson

Zosia Joyce

Steven Mowll

Max Nicholls

Joe Todd

Parris Williams

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18 April 2021

Sunny Days Are My Favourite Days

<<First Name>>, Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 18 April 2021<!–

KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN

18 April 2021

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PBs APLENTY

Great to see so many athletes running PBs so early in the season, putting some good winter work to good use. Special shout out to both the Bucks for running fab times at Dorney Lake this morning and to the evergreen Joe Appiah, showing some fantastic early season form as he enters the V50 age category. Inspiring!

Mallory Park Spring 10k – Sunday 18 April
Sean Fitzpatrick – 32:58

Worthing Open – Sunday 18 April
100H: Joe Appiah – 13.98 – 1st
100m: Joe Appiah – 12.16

RunThrough Olympic Park – Wednesday 14 April
10k
Heather Castle – 49:10
5k
Laurie Oliver – 17:19 – PB
Kieran Fitzpatrick – 17:35 – PB

Dorney Lake – Sunday 18 April
5k
Olly Buck – 17:50 – PB
10k
Victoria Buck – 40:03 – PB

Endurance Life Sussex Ultra
Thomas Thain – 5:01:19

If you don’t see your result on here then please let us know and we’ll include next week!

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UPCOMING JUNIOR TASTER EVENT

I’m very pleased to be able to announce an important step on the road to the club’s desire to more fully represent the local community.

Members have recognised that we could do more to reflect Lewisham’s diversity, and that track and field, juniors, and middle/long/XC/road running operate essentially separately. As a consequence the diversity we do have is diluted, and opportunities to participate in multiple disciplines are more limited than they should be in an athletics club.

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI) Working Group was set up to improve the situation. It became apparent that T&F should be a core part of the club, that it should be strengthened in terms of coaching and athletes, and that the best way to start that is with a strong youth athletics offering.

Many thanks to the EDI WG for all their efforts in making this happen. It will be a multi-year endeavour (much like the women’s groups which continue to improve) and I thank all who have participated so far, and will do so in the future.

Alan Curtis. President, Kent AC

Junior Taster Saturday event on 22 May at Ladywell Arena for 11–17-year-olds

To grow our junior membership Kent AC is holding a free recruitment event from 13:30-17:30 on Saturday 22 May. Activities include sprinting, middle distance, hurdles, long jump, high jump and javelin. 60 places are available.

Existing junior members are welcome to participate and share their Kent AC experience. You don’t need to register just come along on the day.

Adult members with children that would like to join in please register via the Kent AC website. A club video has also been produced to support our recruitment efforts.

We anticipate places will go quickly once we share with local schools from Monday 19th April.

We also need volunteers to help us stage the event. If you can spare the afternoon or just a couple of hours please contact /" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ian Ellwood

REMINDER – KENT AC SUBS

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TRACK, TRACK, TRACK

We’re back on track!

Get into the track pass habit
No training unless you’ve signed up to the track pass. You can pay for a month or a year. Here’s how:

Please see a helpful FAQs guide here

Group spreadsheets to register for sessions (links for payment this month and FAQs within):

Men’s A group

Men’s B Group

Women’s Group (PB/EB)

C Group

Juno Group

Despite the above being very track-focused, we will be expanding our offering to properly cater for our field athletes. So stay tuned for more info very soon.

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FIND YOUR NEXT RACE

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NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to 8 additional new members who join us this week – it’s great to have you. We look forward to meeting you on the track soon!

Jordan Duckett
Sylvan Ashdown Day
Shane Linehan
Kar Yee Law
Ben Jones
Alys Wilshaw
Bismark Yeboah
Reuben Strickett

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11 April 2021

🍾🍓 Champions at Wimbledon Relays 🍾🍓

<<First Name>>, Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 11 April 2021<!–

KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN

11 April 2021

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GOLDEN GIRLS

Kent women win Wimbledon Relays

In the shadow of Centre Court, Kent AC women served up a dominant victory at the Wimbledon Relays. They swept the team prize finishing almost two minutes ahead of second place Herne Hill Harriers and placed three runners in the top 10 overall.

Sarah Hanley set off first from the Wimbledon Park track out onto the hilly course, followed in one minute intervals by Alexa Parker, Georgina Wiley, Isabel Bradley, and Kent debutante Genevieve Blanch. All the team produced fantastic runs, picking up and passing other runners as they entered the final 500m round the track, but special congrats to both Alexa and Katie winning their waves.

This was the perfect start to the season for the Kent women in what could turn out to be the first of many victories this season.

Thanks to team captain Katie for organising and big shout out as well to Pete Boxall for all his fantastic work. Also, thank you to Hercules Wimbledon for putting on a great event. For full results click here.

Sixth for Kent Men

Bleary-eyed and only slightly bushy-tailed, the men’s team lined up for an 8:30 am start. With impending marathons only a couple of weeks away, there were some last minute squad changes, but the team (superbly managed by James Bowler) held steady to pull of a 6th place finish against some strong opposition. There were some solid individual performances with Owen Hind rekindling his mojo for a 4th place finish overall, whilst others backed up early season performances on the hilly 5km circuit. Special mention must also go to Pete Lighting and Ian Ellwood for forming a stand-alone ‘All-Stars’ team and providing strong camaraderie on the early morning start. For full results click here.

Teams
Women
Alexa Parker
Sarah Hanley
Katie Rowland
Georgina Wiley
Isabel Bradley
Genevieve Blanch

Men
Owen Hind
Anthony Johnson
Dan Pettitt
Rowan Crichton
Ben Harding
Joe Hartley
Sam Evans
Jonathan Beatty
Rob Laing
Adrian Lowther

All-Star team
Pete Lighting
Ian Ellwood

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RACES ARE DEFINITELY BACK

It was a great week for races with the Easter break providing additional opportunities to run fast. It was PBs aplenty as people made up for having little running over the six months. It was fantastic to see so many great runs so early in the season and it will be exciting to see how this will no doubt continue now the track has reopened. If you’re interested in doing some racing see the race calendar below.

PB5k – Ardingly – Monday 5 April
Noah Armitage-Hookes – 15:00 – PB!
Anthony Johnson – 15:00 – PB!
Ben Harding – 15:31
Rowan Crichton – 15:39 – PB!
Joe Hartley – 15:42
Jonathan Beatty – 15:57 – PB!
Sam Evans – 15:58
Kieran Page – 17:30
Sarah Hanley – 18:05
Teresa Murphy – 18:47
Khawaja Shahbuddin – 20:08

Blackheath and Bromley Open
Olly Buck – 2:18 – PB!

PodPlus Kent Spring Marathon – Sunday 11 April
Paul McCrone – 3:34:18

RunThrough Kempton Park 10km – Saturday 3 April
Chris Busaileh – 34:31

RunThrough Olympic Park 10k – Saturday 3 April
Che Compton – 35:26
Matthew Henty – 44:09 – PB!

Congratulations to all runners!

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UPCOMING JUNIOR TASTER EVENT

I’m very pleased to be able to announce an important step on the road to the club’s desire to more fully represent the local community.

Alan Curtis. President, Kent AC

Junior Taster Saturday event on 22 May at Ladywell Arena for 11–17-year-olds

Existing junior members are welcome to participate and share their Kent AC experience. You don’t need to register just come along on the day.

Adult members with children that would like to join in please register via the Kent AC website. A club video has also been produced to support our recruitment efforts.

We anticipate places will go quickly once we share with local schools from Monday 19th April.

We also need volunteers to help us stage the event. If you can spare the afternoon or just a couple of hours please contact /" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Ian Ellwood

REMINDER – KENT AC SUBS

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TRACK, TRACK, TRACK

We’re back on track!

Get into the track pass habit
No training unless you’ve signed up to the track pass. You can pay for a month or a year. Here’s how:

Please see a helpful FAQs guide here

Group spreadsheets to register for sessions (links for payment this month and FAQs within):

Men’s A group

Men’s B Group

Women’s Group (PB/EB)

C Group

Juno Group

Despite the above being very track-focused, we will be expanding our offering to properly cater for our field athletes. So stay tuned for more info very soon.

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FIND YOUR NEXT RACE

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BIG HALF UPDATE

The Vitality Big Half postponed until Sunday 22 August 2021

This week Ted contacted the Big Half organisers to get an update on the status of the places already claimed and the remaining places available.

If you are registered for the event please look out for an email later this month where you will be given the option to either keep your entry for the postponed 2021 date, defer entry to 2022, or receive a refund. If you decide you no longer want to run, or want to defer to 2022, please let Ted know so he can give your 2021 place to another club member

Ted will be in touch in early May to allocate further places for those who are interested in participating

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NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to the bumper 13 new members who have joined Kent AC over the last few weeks. We look forward to meeting you on the track soon!
Bianca Strohmann
Jethro Duerte Holman
Ben Armson
Mike Cummings
Fiona Brand
Isabelle Hatton
Lee Edwards
Samuel Taylor
Liv Shortland
Faiza Aslam
Kevin Egan
Joe Hall
Cameron Irwin

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4 April 2021

Who’s feeling race fit, then?

jules

Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 4 April 2021

KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN

4 April 2021

HAPPY EASTER

Yes, it’s a resurrection special newsletter this week, as everyone chews on their chocolate and ponders the knotty issue of getting race fit again. Finally we can dust off our race diaries and think about training for Covid-secure race meets that have been postponed and reinstated with monotonous regularity over the past year.
The return to Ladywell Arena for training last Tuesday was a joy to behold. All the coaches and volunteers ensured that Kent AC’s triumphant return was a great success. Thanks to everyone who made it possible. Everyone who took part said how delighted they were to be training again and how brilliant the atmosphere was that warm spring evening. With any luck the much-trumpeted ‘Arctic Blast’ we’re predicted for the week ahead will give us wings as we take to the track again this Tuesday.

There have been some race meets already. The Comeback 5000 at Battersea Park on Wednesday saw some scorching 5K times from Kent AC folk:

Anthony Johnson 14:42 PB

Dan Pettitt 15:47

Barny Day 16:12

Ben Cook 16:15

Ian Ellwood 17:34

Alexa Parker 18:02 PB

Well done those runners!

REMINDER – KENT AC SUBS

Have you paid yours?
Membership renewal reminders have been sent out as usual in the hope that training and competition can return to some form of normality this year. Should this not prove to be the case then the committee will come to a collective decision on what action to take with regards to club subscriptions for the 2022/23 year.
When you pay your subscription, you’re also offered England Athletics Affiliation for a further £15.

BACK WHERE WE BELONG

We’re back on track!

• And it feels great. It’s worth bearing in mind, though, that Tuesday training sessions require a lot of organisation , so volunteers to help with checking that people have signed up and are aware of Covid restrictions are always welcome. Contact Heather, the excellent volunteer organiser, via the website.

Up and coming athletes required
The club is hosting a Junior Taster Saturday event on 22^nd May at Ladywell Arena for 11–17-year-olds., tell your young friends and relatives

Get into the track pass habit
No training unless you’ve signed up to the track pass. You can pay for a month or a year. Here’s how:

Please see a helpful FAQs guide here

Group spreadsheets to register for sessions (links for payment this month and FAQs within):

Men’s A group

Men’s B Group

Women’s Group (PB/EB)

C Group

Juno Group

Despite the above being very track-focused, we will be expanding our offering to properly cater for our field athletes. So stay tuned for more info very soon.

A note from the committee: ‘A big thank you to all members who’ve been renewing their membership and buying the track passes. It all really supports the club and has helped make the entry/exit process of Ladywell arena very slick and all the early purchase help reduce the admin burden on the volunteer effort.’

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UPCOMING FIXTURES

Kent AC Summer Racing Calendar
Here’s the link to the latest fixture list – everyone in the club can add races they come across to the list and we encourage you to do so!

You can find the doc here

Wimbledon 5k Relays
Ben Noad is organising a follow up Wimbledon 5k relays in the same format as the event last October. Katie Rowland will be arranging the women’s team for this and James Bowler the men’s teams. This will be on Sunday 12 April. Ben is also organising a couple of fast road 5k races at Battersea Park on 7 May and 28 May, more details to follow, but please contact either James or Katie to express an interest in competing in the Wimbledon team event.

PRIZE DRAW

This month’s club draw winner is Jim Allchin with the bonus ball being number 5

KENTversation

If you didn’t get round to listening to the most recent podcast, and need some inspiration for the upcoming summer season, check it out: it sets out everything to look forward to over the coming months. Listen in and to previous episodes on Spotify here.

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28 March 2021

Take Back The Track

<<First Name>>, Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 28 March 2021<!–

KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN

28 March 2021

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TRACK!

Time to return to the Ladywell Arena…
The first Kent AC training session back at the Ladywell Arena will be on Tuesday 30 March. The track pass set-up used at the end of last year will be in use again, but the committee has decided to roll this single session in March into the track pass for April with no additional charge for it.

Steps to get back on track:

1) Make sure your membership has been renewed (see detail below) as you must be a paid up member to use the track
2) Purchase your monthly track pass in advance of the session here (both a monthly pass covering March and April sessions is available, as well as a yearly pass that will save you the admin if you would like to pay a single payment upfront for the year)
3) Sign up to the appropriate group and session using the links below, for more information about training groups see here
4) Upon arrival before your session, please show your Kent AC membership app, or a print out, at the gate

Please see a helpful FAQs guide here

Group spreadsheets to register for sessions (links for payment this month and FAQs within):

Men’s A group

Men’s B Group

Women’s Group (PB/EB)

C Group

Juno Group

Despite the above being very track-focussed, we will be expanding our offering to properly cater for our field athletes. So stay tuned for more info very soon!

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REMINDER – KENT AC SUBS

Have you paid yours?
Membership renewal reminders have been sent out as usual in the hope that training and competition can return to some form of normality this year. Should this not prove to be the case then the committee will come to a collective decision on what action to take with regards to club subscriptions for the 2022/23 year.
When you pay your subscription, you’re also offered England Athletics Affiliation for a further £15.

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FILMING AT LADYWELL

Tuesday 30th March

• The club is hosting a Junior Taster Saturday event on 22^nd May at Ladywell Arena for 11–17-year-olds. Details to follow. To help promote the event to local schools and students we are producing a video. Paul Crompton is kindly making this happen for us.

• Set at Ladywell Arena on training night we see athletes of all ages and background taking part in a range of co-ordinated training sessions. From shotput to long jump, sprint training to middle distance running, with stretching and drills. Each group has a coach.

• If you plan to attend club training night on Tuesday 30th March and would prefer not to appear in the finished film, please contact .

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UPCOMING FIXTURES

Kent AC Summer Racing Calendar
Here’s the link to the latest fixture list – everyone in the club can add races they come across to the list and we encourage you to do so!

You can find the doc here

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MAGIC MARATHON TRIALS

No doubt many of you will have watched the fantastic Olympic Marathon Trials held at Kew Gardens last Friday, as the brilliant Chris Thompson and Steph Davis ran away to victory. Special mention should also go to Nick Torry, who has represented the club several times as a 2nd claimer in the Surrey League. I’m sure Nick will be the first to admit that the race didn’t go completely to plan as he pulled out about half way through. Nonetheless special credit for making it to Olympic Trials as one of just 15 men toeing the start line.

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NEW MEMBERS

A big welcome to new Kent AC members:
Harry Forman Wilshaw
Buzz Shephard
See you at a training session soon!

KENTversation

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21 March 2021

Get ready to Spring forward next weekend

<<First Name>>, Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 21 March 2021<!–

KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN

21 March 2021

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NEWS

Get prepped for our return to the track
The first Kent AC training session back at the Ladywell Arena will be on Tuesday 30 March. The track pass set-up used at the end of last year will be in use again, but the committee has decided to roll this single session in March into the track pass for April with no additional charge for it.

Please take some time over the next week to purchase your track pass in advance here – both a monthly pass covering March and April sessions is available, as well as a yearly pass that will save you the admin if you would like to pay a single payment upfront for the year. You will need to show your Kent AC membership app, or a print out on the gate.

Please see a helpful FAQs guide here

More racing guidance expected tomorrow
Monday 22 March is that date, when Sport England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport set out further guidance for race organisers keen to stage their oft-postponed licensed road and multi-terrain races in England. For those interested, ensure to keep an eye out tomorrow for communications from these departments and expect to hear some updates from race directors!

Southern Athletics League Update
With the first SAL fixture on 22 May cancelled, the league will be moving to a ‘local competition’ structure for 2021, with no promotion/relegation. Kent will be competing in the ‘South East London’ Division together with Bexley, Cambridge Harriers and London City.

Fixture dates remain unchanged for the remaining four dates with the first two matches (Sunday 20 June, Sunday 11 July) taking place at Eltham, with the third match (Saturday 14 August) at Bexley. The venue for the fourth match on Saturday 11 September is currently TBC.

Reminder – clocks go forward next weekend
A reminder that next Sunday 29th March marks the beginning of British Summer Time. Get excited for longer days – just in time for our return to the track, and remember to factor in that lost hour of sleep when planning your Sunday long run next week!

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REMINDER – KENT AC SUBS

Have you paid yours?
Membership renewal reminders are being sent out as usual in the hope that training and competition can return to some form of normality this year. Should this not prove to be the case then the committee will come to a collective decision on what action to take with regards to club subscriptions for the 2022/23 year.
When you pay your subscription, you’re also offered England Athletics Affiliation for a further £15, which gives reduced-priced entry to all those races we cannot wait to start training for.
A further bonus of membership is a whole welter of discounts with kit/shoes retailers, so we can all sashay back to track modelling our box-fresh shoes and wrist furniture, feeling full of vim and vigour and ready for a scorching summer of running.

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UPCOMING FIXTURES

Kent AC Summer Racing Calendar
Here’s the link to the latest fixture list – everyone in the club can add races they come across to the list and we encourage you to do so!

You can find the doc here

Wimbledon 5KM Relays
Ben Noad is organising a follow up Wimbledon 5KM relays (actual physical racing rather than virtual racing!). Katie Rowland will be arranging the women’s team for this and James Bowler the men’s teams. This will be on Sunday 12 April. Ben is also organising a couple of fast road 5KM races at Battersea Park on 7 May and 28 May, more details to follow, but please contact either James or Katie to express an interest in competing in the Wimbledon team event.

Please note: previous issues of this newsletter advertised this as a 5M relay, we have now had confirmation that this will be a 5K relay event, as per the last event held late last year

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IT’S ONE OF MY BIGGEST REGRETS IN RUNNING: OLYMPIC PAIN FUELLING PAUL POLLOCK’S TOKYO DREAM

ICYMI: There was a fantastic article in the Irish Examiner this week from Cathal Dennehy on Kent AC’s own Paul Pollock and his preparation for the delayed Toyko Olympics. The article also includes some insightful thoughts on his career so far.

In an effort to break through to the ranks of world-class, Paul Pollock has all too often broken himself. Over the last eight years, the 34-year-old marathoner has spent as much time injured as he has healthy, his bones and his body all too often breaking down as he underwent the trial of miles. But the Belfast man knows, at his best, he can be right up there alongside the world’s best, writes Cathal Dennehy

You can read the full article here

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NEW MEMBERS

A big welcome to new Kent AC members:
Juno Field
Dax Rossetti
Kevin Kalisa
Lisa Day
Gemma Day
Make sure to purchase your track pass and we look forward to seeing you at a training session soon!

KENTversation

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21 March 2021

Get ready to Spring forward next weekend

<<First Name>>, Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 21 March 2021<!–

KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN

21 March 2021

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NEWS

Please see a helpful FAQs guide here

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REMINDER – KENT AC SUBS

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UPCOMING FIXTURES

Kent AC Summer Racing Calendar
Here’s the link to the latest fixture list – everyone in the club can add races they come across to the list and we encourage you to do so!

You can find the doc here

Please note: previous issues of this newsletter advertised this as a 5M relay, we have now had confirmation that this will be a 5K relay event, as per the last event held late last year

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IT’S ONE OF MY BIGGEST REGRETS IN RUNNING: OLYMPIC PAIN FUELLING PAUL POLLOCK’S TOKYO DREAM

You can read the full article here

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NEW MEMBERS

A big welcome to new Kent AC members:
Juno Field
Dax Rossetti
Kevin Kalisa
Lisa Day
Gemma Day
Make sure to purchase your track pass and we look forward to seeing you at a training session soon!

KENTversation

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14 March 2021

Safety in numbers

<<First Name>>, Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 14 March 2021<!–

KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN

14 March 2021

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NEWS

Looking out for each other
Last night men and women across the country lit candles and attended vigils to pay respects to Sarah Everard, who was kidnapped and murdered on 3 March. The outpouring of grief was mixed with the righteous anger of many women who fear for their safety whenever they go out alone, especially after dark. This tragic event makes every runner aware of her vulnerability, as Amelia Pettitt writes, below:

We are all deeply saddened by the abduction of Sarah Everard while walking home in a part of town not far from us on well-lit residential roads. Our thoughts go out to her friends and family, and everyone affected by the news.

We are aware many of our female members already feel anxious about running and training alone in the dark, and how difficult it has been to avoid this during the pandemic. This incident is sure to have magnified this fear and has brought overdue attention to a shameful issue that hasn’t been spoken about or addressed enough.

Although we are still not able to train as a group, we encourage our members to take the opportunity to train in pairs and , when possible, in the daylight. We recognise our female members will be on high alert right now when out in the local area. Please could we remind our male members to try to avoid running close to women, by crossing the street where safe to do so, and giving plenty of space, especially when out running in the dark.

We look forward to training together where we can keep each other safe and look out for each other.

We will meet again…
…and we know where and when: the first Kent AC training session back at the Ladywell Arena will be on Tuesday 30th March. The track pass set-up used at the end of last year will be in use again, but the committee has decided to roll this single session in March into the track pass for April with no additional charge for it.

Another date for the diary
Monday 22 March is that date, when Sport England and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport set out further guidance for race organisers keen to stage their oft-postponed licensed road and multi-terrain races in England. For those of us with increasingly tetchy crossings-out on our year planners and training schedules, it will not come a moment too soon.

Please purchase your track pass in advance here – both a monthly pass covering March and April sessions is available, as well as a yearly pass that will save you the admin if you would like to pay a single payment upfront for the year. You will need to show your Kent AC membership app, or a print out on the gate.

Please see a helpful FAQs guide here

Southern Athletics League Update
With the first SAL fixture on 22nd May, cancelled, the league will be moving to a ‘local competition’ structure for 2021, with no promotion/relegation. Kent will be competing in the ‘South East London’ Division together with Bexley, Cambridge Harriers and London City.

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KENT AC SUBS

Have you paid yours?
Membership renewal reminders are being sent out as usual in the hope that training and competition can return to some form of normality this year. Should this not prove to be the case then the committee will come to a collective decision on what action to take with regards to club subscriptions for the 2022/23 year.
When you pay your subscription, you’re also offered England Athletics Affiliation for a further £15, which gives reduced-priced entry to all those races we cannot wait to start training for.
A further bonus of membership is a whole welter of discounts with kit/shoes retailers, so we can all sashay back to track modelling our box-fresh shoes and wrist furniture, feeling full of vim and vigour and ready for a scorching summer of running.

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UPCOMING FIXTURES

Kent AC Summer Racing Calendar
Here’s the link to the latest fixture list – everyone in the club can add races they come across to the list and we encourage you to do so!

You can find the doc here

Wimbledon 5 Mile Relays
Ben Noad is organising a follow up Wimbledon 5 mile relays (actual physical racing rather than virtual racing!). Katie Rowland will be arranging the women’s team for this and James Bowler the men’s teams. This will be on Sunday 12th April. Ben is also organising a couple of fast road 5km races at Battersea Park on 7th May and 28th May, more details to follow, but please contact either James or Katie to express an interest in competing in the Wimbledon team event.

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PRIZE DRAW

March’s club draw winner of £250.00 was Johanna Mott with the bonus ball being 15 on 6^th March. Congratulations, Johanna!

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KENTversation

If you didn’t get round to listening to last week’s podcast, and need some inspiration, check it out: it sets out everything to look forward to over the coming months. Listen in and to previous episodes on Spotify here.

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7 March 2021

Just 23 days until we’re back on the track…

<<First Name>>, Please see this week’s update for Kent AC members – 07 March 2021<!–

KENT AC NEWS BULLETIN

7th March 2021

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NEWS

Return to Training Update
The first Kent AC training session back at the Ladywell Arena will be on Tuesday 30th March. The track pass set-up used at the end of last year will be in use again, but the committee has decided to roll this single session in March into the track pass for April with no additional charge for it.

Please see a helpful FAQs guide here

Assembly League 2021
As per Richard Elliot’s update, unfortunately there will be no Assembly League across the 2021 summer with the League cancelling all fixtures earlier this week. Here’s to hoping that the summer will be filled with alternative race options instead.

Southern Athletics League Update
Despite the recent roadmap, the first SAL fixture on 22nd May has been cancelled.
As a result, the league will be moving to a ‘local competition’ structure for 2021, with no promotion/relegation. Kent will be competing in the ‘South East London’ Division together with Bexley, Cambridge Harriers and London City.

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BMAF VIRTUAL 1 MILE RELAYS

The latest virtual race was one for the golden oldies… although with the minimum age being just 35, there was an opportunity for many to race a mile.

16 from the club logged an attempt, completing teams in the Men’s 35-44 and 45-54 age categories. Our M35-44 team just missed out on a virtual podium, with Jim Allchin finishing a brilliant 3rd individual overall in a scorching 4:32. Completing the fourth place team were fine runs from Jonathan Beatty and Ben Cook.

The M45-54 team, comprising of Will Pitt (in a sub-5!), Alan Curtis and Julian Gevers, finished in 11th place. Special mentions also to John Barron for a fifth place finish in the M65 category, with Victoria Buck also nabbing a top-10 with a 5:49 for 9th W45. Well done to everyone who uploaded a time!

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UPCOMING FIXTURES

Kent AC Summer Racing Calendar
Here’s the link to the latest fixture list – everyone in the club can add races they come across to the list and we encourage you to do so!

You can find the doc here

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NEW MEMBERS

Welcome to new member James Ricci. We look forward to training with you down at Ladywell soon!

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KENTversation

This week there’s a new podcast with a look ahead on everything to look forward to over the coming months. Listen in and to previous episodes on Spotify here.

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