Kent Cross Country League, Swanley

The cross country season got underway Saturday on a cool day with little humidity and with the ground firm, making for great racing conditions. What made the day most impressive was the substantial turnout, the men's team putting out enough for a double duodec, if only such an award existed! In total, 36 Harriers raced at New Barn Park, Swanley - kindly run by the Swanley and District AC, with help from Cambridge Harriers and Dartford Roadrunners.

In the Senior Women's race (5k), Pru Clements again put in a great season starting performance as first harrier home in 16th place (20:54). Second home and still showing her credentials since the club handicap races was Jeannette White in 33rd (21:50). The scoring trio was completed by new XC captain Siân Roberts in 45th (23:10).

Great performances were also put in by Jillian Holford 49th (23:28), Jane Ryland 68th (25:27), Nicola Withers 73rd (25:46), Sioban Adams 74th (26:13), June Wong 77th (26:18) and Lucille Joannes 79th (26:53).

The women's team finished 7th out of 13 clubs, there were 95 finishers in total.

The senior men's race (10k), as well as having 8 more runners than the next highest turnout Tonbidge AC and an impressive showing of deckchairs, pulled in some great times for a very tough field. First home and truly showing his form now was Terry Everest in an outstanding 41st (36:11), followed shortly afterwards by the ever-impressive Simon Whitaker in 50th (36:53) and the surprise newcomer Stuart Shields in 57th (37:33). Finishing the four to score was Tim Lucas back from jet setting round the world for the Ironman in 71st (38:17) and enjoying a shorter race for once!

Making up the 12 to score duodec were Dave Langridge 75th (38:31), Daryl Palfrey 86th (39:20), Bruce Sandell 93rd (40:05), Edward Steele 96th (40:15), Matthew Clements 101st (40:25), Ed Peltor 108th (40:57), Neil Clark 118th (41:50) and Alan Collard 125th (42:08).

After the duodec came Matthew Clark 126th (42:12), Mark Taylor 135th (42:46), George Harris 137th (42:59), Ed Bates 139th (43:24), Michael Russell 140th (43:28), Kim Stanley 142nd (43:40), Will Dowdy 145th (44:03), Geoff Turner 150th (44:24), Luke Edwardes-Evans 154th (45:00), Paul Lindsey 159th (45:42), Craig Bluett 163rd (46:40), Jerry Purkiss 164th (46:53), Daniel Cook 168th (47:30), Mike Sharp 171st (48:05) and Mark Wheeler 176th (49:24).

In four to score, the Harriers took 8th out of 18 clubs, there were 182 finishers in total.

In the 'Duodec League' (teams of 12), the Harriers took 4th place out of 5 clubs.

Last but not least, congratulations goes to Eric Schofield for winning the newly formed M70 catagory - a 5k race run at the same time as the ladies race - in a time of 24:08. Given 3 of the 4 M70 participants are from the Harriers, we look set to bring home some silverware!

Thanks to Andy Howey for capturing the results, I was in a bit of a daze immediately after the race!

Thanks also goes to Simon Holford, who brought his rather professional-looking camera along to the event to snap all the Harriers in action. These will be shown on Wednesday after the run (and uploaded to the photo site), which will have an alternative night run for those adventurous types with powerful headtorches and was measured this afternoon at around 8 miles, with a 5.5 mile shorter option.

If you're still reading this far, a final thanks to everyone who came along and raced, supported, brought snacks or otherwise made it a fabulous day out!

Full Harriers results

Womens Race

16 00:20:54 CLEMENTS, Pru
33 00:21:50 WHITE, Jeannette
45 00:23:10 ROBERTS, Sian
49 00:23:28 HOLFORD, Jillian
68 00:25:27 RYLAND, Jane
73 00:25:46 WITHERS, Nicola
74 00:26:13 ADAMS, Sioban
77 00:26:18 WONG, June
79 00:26:53 JOANNES, Lucille

Mens Race

41 00:36:11 EVEREST, Terry
50 00:36:53 WHITAKER, Simon
57 00:37:33 SHIELDS, Stuart
71 00:38:17 LUCAS, Tim
75 00:38:31 LANGRIDGE, Dave
86 00:39:20 PALFREY, Daryl
93 00:40:05 SANDELL, Bruce
96 00:40:15 STEELE, Edward
101 00:40:25 CLEMENTS, Matthew
108 00:40:57 PELTOR, Ed
118 00:41:50 CLARK, Neil
125 00:42:08 COLLARD, Alan
126 00:42:12 CLARK, Matthew
135 00:42:46 TAYLOR, Mark
137 00:42:59 HARRIS, George
139 00:43:24 BATES, Ed
140 00:43:28 RUSSELL, Michael
142 00:43:40 STANLEY, Kim
145 00:44:03 DOWDY, Will
150 00:44:24 TURNER, Geoff
154 00:45:00 EDWARDES-EVANS, Luke
159 00:45:42 LINDSEY, Paul
163 00:46:40 BLUETT, Craig
164 00:46:53 PURKISS, Jerry
168 00:47:30 COOK, Daniel
171 00:48:05 SHARP, Mike
176 00:49:24 WHEELER, Mark

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Ed and Siân
XC Captains