Last updated
14 February 2022
Kent League 2021/22
12 February
2022 - Kent League - Norman Park
Full results
here...
Photos start here...
The conclusion of the Kent Cross Country League proved
to be a successful one for us as we combined a fine turnout from the team
with some excellent performances and the best weather of the weekend in our
own backyard of Norman Park.
The race proved to be a fast and furious affair owing
to the firm surface and flat profile that saw everyone tear off at breakneck
pace for the first mile. As has become the norm, Micah Evans strode away to
lead the team home in 14th place (and first V40) as he gradually wore down
the young pretender from Bexley ahead of him. Dan Kennedy and Alex Gibbins
fought out a race long battle close behind that was narrowly won by the
former, but somewhat ironically thanks to a Tonbridge runner pushing him
right to the line; leaving them in 18th and 20th respectively. Rob Donohue
rounded off the scoring quartet with another impressive turn in 25th place.
Fintan Parkinson then cemented a fine season's worth
of cross country running in 31st, Luca Ercolani put some of his main
competitors in the overall standings to the sword with a remarkable sprint
finish that advanced him 3 places, and Darren Corneille came 51st in his
best Kent League finish of the season. Blair Wilson and the ever present
Greg Firth backed him in 56th and 59th to sneak into the top 60.
Simon Harris put in another strong performance to come
69th, Pierre Guillaume made a welcome cross country debut to come 83rd after
an ambitious start, and Ian Scott (completing the 12 to score) and Steve
Hough scraped inside the top 100 in 95th and 99th respectively.
Team manager Chris Tuck charged across the line in
103rd place, Paul Sharpe returned from injury to come 145th, and Rich Byford
was chasing him down in 148th. Steve Pairman settled into a more `mature`
age category in 164th place, Will Brindley put all his mileage to good use
with a Kent League debut in 169th, and Michael Neal rounded things off in
171st.
In both the 4 to score and 12 to score categories we
once again came 3rd behind Tonbridge and Medway and Maidstone in as good a
series of runs as we could have expected. Across the 4 races overall we
managed 3rd in the 4 to score category and a frustrating 4th in the 12 to
score, just one place behind Cambridge Harriers. Also, Micah and Alex came
2nd and 3rd in the overall V40 category.
Our commitment as a team was exemplified by the fact
that 9 men ran all 4 races in the campaign: Micah Evans, Alex Gibbins,
Fintan Parkinson, Luca Ercolani, Greg Firth, Darren Corneille, Chris Tuck,
Steve Hough & Richard Byford- take a bow, lads!
Up the Heath!
Dan, Chris and Ross
I'm Kev Howarth, Men's Captain
at Petts Wood Runners. We weren't racing today but I'm very
local to Norman Park and a photographer, so I popped along and
shot both races today. Feel free to pass these details on to all
participating clubs where they'll be able to download anything
they want for free.
Two separate galleries, one for ladies, another for men. Both
can be found at:
www.kevhowarth.smugmug.com
and both have the same case sensitive password which is: KentXC
Cheers, Kev
13-02-22 |
27 November 2021 - Kent League - Foots Cray Meadows
Full results
here...
Storm warnings and a bitterly cold day didn't put off
another hearty contingent of Blackheath athletes as 17 took on the latest
challenge of an invigorating winter season.
While Stephen Strange cast a spell over the rest of
the field, the Blackheath team showed we meant business with a strict no
base layer policy so as to embrace the elements in all their glory. Micah
reluctantly embodied this attitude but benefitted greatly with another
strong performance to finish 13th in his debut cross country season. Alex
Gibbins kept him an honest in 14th and proved he is back to his best. Dan
Kennedy and Graeme Lugar ran most of the race in tandem after the former
paid for a pacey start, but reeled the latter in practically on the line to
illustrate that all's fair in love, war and cross country, leaving them 26th
and 27th. This quartet secured another 3rd place in the 4 to score category,
keeping the club in 3rd in the overall standings.
The depth of the team shone through thereafter as Luca
Ercolani stormed home in 38th place, closely backed up fellow veteran Fintan
Parkinson in 48th, while Darren Corneille maintained his form well after a
rapid start to attain his best ever Kent League finish of 53rd. The ever
dependable Greg Firth continued his solid season in 60th, Simon Harris
backed him up in 68th, and Blair Wilson, who so early he didn't know what to
do with himself, placed in 70th. The scoring 12 rounded were rounded off by
Chris Tuck, who snuck into the top 100 in 98th, and Jason Meers in 103rd;
another who recorded his best league finish to date. This put the club in
4th place in the 12 to score category on the day and overall.
Next across the line were three of this season's Kent
League ever presents Tim Ayres (something of a surprise) in 113th, Steve
Hough in 116th and Richard Byford in 135th as they all recorded their best
finishes of the season. In contrast, the final two Heathens to finish were
league debutants Rob Whyte in 167th and Michael Neal in 179th, who couldn't
have picked a finer day to get the measure of cross country.
Up the Heath!
Dan, Chris and Ross
13 November
2021 - Kent League - Danson Park, Bexleyheath
Full results
here...
23 October 2021 - Kent League - (incls B&B YA C-C Champs) Somerhill Park, Tonbridge
Full results
here...
Well done to everyone who made the trip down to
Tonbridge on Saturday to help put out what was again another strong turnout
of Heathens.
The efforts were well rewarded as we managed to finish
second in the 4 to score and 3rd in the 12 to score. So improved on the week
before.
First home and showing he can do more than just run a
marathon was Ross Braden whose 3rd place was a welcome change to the weeks
before dominance by Tonbrige AC.
He was backed up strongly by Micah Evans in 21st place
who is having a very strong start to his B&B cross country career.
By comparison he was followed home in 26th place by
Alex Gibbins who has run more Kent league XC than he will admit.
Not far behind and taking a week off from coaching
legs, bums and tums was Tom Desborough was 31st, we hope to see him at a few
more races. Tom was chased home by Jon Vintner 33rd, who made the journey up
from Winchester to show off his new lean physique.
Fintan Parkinson then showed that a few beers the
night before makes little difference with a 42nd placing ahead of Luca
Ercolani in 45th and Gregory Firth in 52nd.
Then some good packing as Darren Corneille 85th, Simon
Harris another debutant in 86th and Roger Beswick in 90th. Martin Parkinson
was then another first time B&B Kent Leaguer in 101st with Paul Sharpe
106th.
Chris Tuck then got home in 121st with Steve Evenden
staying on his feet for 128th. Jason Meers then followed on in 138th with
Steve Hough in 150th and ever present Steve Pairman in 156th. Richard Byford
continued the road back to fitness in 172nd. With Tim Ayres and his bag of
excuses and half term cold in 195th.
Andrew Tutt was then not far behind in 206th, Rod
Harrington following on in 219th and Luigi Arcuri rounding out a strong
performance by all in 226th and now in 3rd place in the M60 category.
Well done to everyone that turned out with a few more
people we could even be turning out 2 twelve to score teams. So would be
great to see as many as possible at Footscray on the 27th November.
Finally if anyone wants to run the London XC champs at
Parliament hill on 20th November then please let us know by 2ND NOVEMBER AT
THE LATEST. A great chance to get a early crack at Parliament hill before
returning for the national.
See you all on Saturday at the Mob Match in Coulsdon
Up the Heath!
Dan, Chris and Ross
16 October 2021 - Kent League - Swanley Park
Full results
here...
Well done to everyone who competed yesterday in the
first full length cross country race of the season in a humid and somewhat
sunny Swanley Park. We had a strong contingent of 20 men to tackle a
twisting and turning course soft in parts and firm in others.
Dan Kennedy led the charge in 13th place after a
patient start as numerous people hared off. Next home, in his cross country
debut for Blackheath, was Micah Evans in an impressive 22nd place. Kent
League ever present Alex Gibbins put his recent marathon jaunt to good use
in 30th place, and Fintan Parkinson stormed home in 35th place for one of
his best ever Kent League finishes to complete the 4 to score quartet and
secure 4th position out of 20 complete teams.
Luca Ercolani produced another fine run a mere
fortnight after his recent marathon PB to reach 41st, Greg Firth followed in
and impressive 52nd, Ian Scott, another debutant, was next home in 59th, and
Roger Beswick fell just short of winning his age category in 77th.
There was a smattering of Heathens just inside the top
100 with Darren Corneille in 87th, Paul Sharpe in 92nd and Chris Tuck in
96th, as another triumvirate of Tim Ayres (116th), Jason Meers (119th) and
Steve Evenden (124th despite a fall and drawing blood in the grittiest run
of the day) closed on behind them in short order. Tim's finish also attained
4th place in the 12 to score team category, in sync with the 4 to score
measure.
Steve Pairman was grateful to cast aside management
duties and focus on the running in 153rd place, Rich Byford continued his
path back to full fitness in 171st, and just pipped a returning Steve Hough
in 174th. Andrew Tutt battled through to 213th, Luigi Arcuri crossed the
line in 225th and Rod Harrington returned from injury to bookend the team in
231st.
This was a great start to the season and will
hopefully set the tone for all upcoming races, starting with next Saturday's
2nd Kent League fixture at Somerhill School in Tonbridge. Full details will
be sent out later this week.
We hope to see as many of you there as possible.
Up the Heath!
Dan, Chris and Ross
