Last updated
20 January 2019
Kent County AA C-C Championships,
Brands Hatch, 5 January 2019
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Official Kent County CC results
here...
5-01-19 |
Photos here
The New Year kicked off with in typical fashion with the
Kent XC Championships around the camping site of Brands Hatch, a section of the
country that appears to be permanently 5 degrees colder than anywhere else in
the surrounding area.
Sticking it out in the hardy conditions were 11 Heathens
spearheaded by an in-form Will Ruiz, who overcame a deeper field than usual to
place 18th. Rob Donohue backed him up in his first race at the county champs in
a strong performance to come 29th. Dartford's favourite Scot Peter Tucker made
another flying visit to solidify the team's position with 39th after an early
attempt at leading was scaled back. The second half of the 6 to score looked
briefly like they would finish consecutively in a glorious charge, but differing
levels of fitness proved crucial. Tom Desborough won this particular battle as
he patiently worked his way through the field to place 43rd in his best run at
the county champs. Dan Kennedy snuck into the top 50 with a late charge amongst
a large group, and Danny Brewer completed the sextet with a finish of 61st.
Jon Vintner set down an early marker in his preparation
for the London Marathon with a finish of 98th, while Fintan Parkinson, who ran
in tandem with Jon for most of the race, was the eighth Heathen in 110th. Paul
Sharpe, another serial marathoner, crossed next in 125th, Graham Hollingdale
ensured that racing over from potential wedding venues wasn't in vain as he
backed up Paul in 135th, and Rich Byford overcame his recent achilles problems
to complete the team in 169th.
Sadly, injury denied Steve Hough from what would have been
a painful finish and a scoring 12, but the 6 to score matched last year's
performance despite the reduced numbers and stronger field to comfortably come
4th overall.
Up the Heath!
Ross, Dan & Chris
The iconic Motor racing circuit of Brands Hatch (or one of
the back fields to be exact!) was once again the Venue for the Kent County XC
champs 2019.
Fifty plus Blackheath and Bromley HAC young athletes ventured out on the first
weekend of 2019 to contest the highly competitive County XC champs. A tough
course made up of mainly long grass, with flat sections, down hill sections and
a long half-mile uphill drag to the finish.
The clubs large numbers secured some great individual and team results with one
individual gold, three silver, two bronzes and eighteen in the top ten. Two team
golds, two team silvers and one team bronze rounded off a successful day for
BBHAC.
First off were the U13 girls on their 3k circuit and a great run from Carys
Firth saw her come home in a great 5th place followed by Megan Slattery with a
great 9th place finish. Tallulah Ndikanwu was a solid 16th, followed by sisters
Amie and Cara Gould only 2 seconds apart in 20th and 21st. Amber Cockburn was
26th, SP Maher 31st, Emily Deveney 33rd, Olivia Magee Brown 35th and Katie Brash
45th. The team won bronze.
The U13 boys squad ran over the same 3K course and first home for BB was Arthur
Starvis continuing his fine season finishing in 8th. Great to have Oscar
Witcombe back to fitness and being competitive again placing a solid 12th.
Jasper Brooks was 35th, then close bunching from Oles Chaban in 40th, Nathaniel
Brunner in 41st, Harry Burgess in 44th and completing the squad Franco Hillier
in 58th. The team was sixth.
The U15 girls squad were too strong for the opposition and proved to be the
strongest Kent club, comfortably winning the team gold.
Hannah Clark ran superbly to collect the individual silver medal for her
efforts. Ellie Dolby ran a sensible race, securing a fantastic fourth place with
Daniella Harper a great 8th and Lily Meers equally impressive in 9th. Heidi
Forsyth ran well finishing a high 12th followed by Cameron Kelly Gordon in 21st,
Olivia Berry 22nd, Ella Deighton 26th, Olivia Wauters 31st, Abi Smith 35th and
Amelie Willars 38th. A fantastic team performance.
The U15 boys had good numbers running and collectively they ran well to secure
team silver behind a dominant Tonbridge AC.
Tom Brash led them home in a very pleasing 4th. Ever improving Mat Smith was a
solid 17th with George Shaw 4 seconds behind in 19th. Next home was Freddy
Georgiou in 22nd, Jake Anthony 38th and Will Andrews 40th. Sam Stuart 53rd and
Thomas Sugden in 60th completed the U15 squad.
Our U17 girls are as dominant as our U15’s and similarly won team gold
comfortably. Morgan Squibb led the charge placing a fine 3rd, with Jess Neal a
fine 6th and Ellie Osmond with a great 7th place finish. Zoe White ran well to
cross the line in 10th and Emily Davis completed the squad in 22nd.
Four U17 BBHAC boys raced and finished fourth in the team table. Oliver Bright
was the reigning Kent champ from last year but that as an U15. This year, having
moved up an age group, his task would be tougher against older boys. This
statistic didn’t seem to bother Oliver as he powered over the course posting a
six second winning performance, ahead of some very seasoned, talented athletes.
A fantastic run and well worthy of the gold medal. Good to see Ben Gardiner out
competing and crossing the line in 22nd with Justin Strover having a good run in
28th and Bailey Marks finishing well in 37th.
The U20 women didn’t have enough BB athletes to score a team result but saw
great runs from Yasmin Austridge in 4th and Lucy Elms in 6th.
The U20 men had four racing and with four to score recorded a very satisfying
team silver behind a strong Tonbridge AC. Lewis Mill’s training is definitely
paying off as he cruised to a fine silver with Charlie Davis equally impressive
in 3rd. Pleasing to see Angus Harrington back running over the country and
finished well in 17th with Callum Myatt a few place back in 20th. Team silver
medals for all.
Twenty year old Niamh Bridson Hubbard made a statement in her first senior race
winning a brilliant silver medal for her efforts. U20 Jess Keene ran well to
secure 22nd with Lorna Clowes finishing in 45th.
Paul
Austridge
