Saturday 8th Feb saw the final race of the Kent XC League with 27 harriers donning the royal blue and gold up at Norman Park in Bromley. One brave soul even did Dunorlan Parkrun beforehand just for a bit more mud.
The course is pan-flat, making it more exposed to wind but making the challenge the overall conditions of the day with gratuitous mud throughout (see photo). Thankfully the calm before Sunday’s storm was a beautiful sunny day so George could finally switch off his fog lights.
With such conditions we elected not to erect the tent I’d not brought and laid everything in the open. First up was the ladies race, there’d been a desperate plea for runners on Facebay to get the full 6 to score out and even Carol, fresh out of quarantine, heroically put herself forwards on the day but this still only made 5. Our youngest member, waylaid by the perfect driving conditions thankfully turned up at the last minute to make 6 *
* despite all this, Sam Dranga apparently has left us for Bexley AC, they probably have better cakes. I’ve contacted the organisers and Sam for comment!
Former Harriet Harrier Wooley (sic) settled early into 3rd position and held it throughout the race, Cathy Gill also took a very courageous position early on which helped with the tight bridge section on each lap that was especially a pinch point for the men. Jillian also had a strong race, getting a second wind in the last 600m to put some distance between Beckenham and Cambridge but not quite catching a TAC runner ahead. Clare Andrew made up the 3 to score and not forgetting our only M70 runner Ian Bracken.
In my aim to cover more distance than the races while taking photos, I came across a wild Adam Dennis with a gigantic lens. I was taken aback but vowed to prove that size isn’t important unless you want to take photos of things that are further away. Plus its harder to run with a very heavy piece of glass.
In the Men’s 10k there was a lot of back and forth among the pack of James Sarre and Mike King, with Rich Carter, Andy Eames and Mike Staddon not far behind and battling out throughout the race. It was great to see James in a good performance PBC (post bike crash) and Mike Staddon coming into form, but I sadly didn’t capture any more spittle laden photos*
* evidence of this from Swanley is available on application and was sent to the guilty party
I’ve been reliably informed the most memorable parts of the race were:
- The sound of birds that turned out to be a runner who breathed like an asthma attack
- Some significant corner cutting from non-harriers, blatantly infront of myself and a marshal, that earned a healthy and deserved elbowing towards the finish
- Yet more walkers complaining about the race going over a public footpath
- A very vocal and very expletive laden football match that started during the race, refereed by a line-marshal glued to his phone
- Tonbridge AC and Medway clearly had no important races to attend so put out some national level athletes
- Something something mud
Andy was 1st M55 and 2nd M50. Overall results for the season are below, well done to all who raced.
Thanks to all supporters (including the new creche run by Margret Deighton), Bob, Adam, Cheeky and someone else I’ve probably missed out.
After the race we had a minor altercation with Folkestone AC after they tried to upstage us with their baked goods, they nearly swooned when they saw my macaroons I’d baked that morning. Someone also left their trousers behind, but it was a nice day.
We retreated to The White Hart and into the smallest side-room we could uncomfortably fit all of us and 2 young children into to celebrate. There was some very dubious parking on show.
Photos of the day from Adam and myself are here
Season Summary
- Carol Tsang 6th W35/4th W40
- Jillian Holford 5th W45 and 8th veteran overall
- Michelle Bradsaw was 2rd W60 leading upto the final race, sadly not completing due to injury
- Andy Howey 1st M55, 2nd M50, 5th overall veteran
- Nick Pierce 3rd M60
- James Sarre 9th M40
- Dave Hadaway 7th M50
- Ian Bracken 5th M70, 2nd M75
Norman Park Race Results
Senior Women 5k
3 to score 8th/14 clubs, 6th/21 clubs for the season
6 to score x/10 clubs, x/15 clubs for the season
| Pos | No | AthleteName | Club | Time |
| 1 | 785 | Rebecca Weston | Invicta East Kent AC | 20:52 |
| 3 | 1565 | Harriet Woolley | Tonbridge AC | 22:08 |
| 17 | 877 | Cathy Gill | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 24:05 |
| 30 | 881 | Jillian Holford (W45) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 25:31 |
| 77 | 873 | Clare Andrew (W45) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 29:14 |
| 88 | 875 | Lynne Bristow (W50) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 31:19 |
| 115 | 1566 | Smaranda Dranga (W45) | Bexley AC (apparently) | 41:06 |
| 116 | 893 | Carol Tsang (W40) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 41:07 |
M70 5k
| Pos | No | AthleteName | AC | Club | Time |
| 1 | 894 | Michael Davies | Ashford & District RRC | 25:22 | |
| 8 | 908 | Ian Bracken | (M75) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 46:24 |
Senior Men 10k
4 to score 7th/19 clubs, 7th/26 clubs for the season
12 to score 5th/8 clubs, 4th/11 clubs for the season
| Pos | No | Name | AC | Club | Time |
| 1 | 1226 | Robert Meyer | Medway And Maidstone AC | 32:26 | |
| 45 | 1388 | Andrew Howey | (M55) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 38:20 |
| 63 | 1391 | Mike King | (M40) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 39:51 |
| 68 | 1403 | James Sarre | (M40) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 40:00 |
| 72 | 1364 | Richard Carter | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 40:16 | |
| 78 | 1372 | Andy Eames | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 40:36 | |
| 81 | 1404 | Michael Staddon | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 40:42 | |
| 87 | 1363 | Alex Blackall | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 41:07 | |
| 91 | 1381 | Dave Hadaway | (M50) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 41:18 |
| 104 | 1387 | Simon Howden | (M45) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 41:54 |
| 133 | 1418 | Robert Winter | (M40) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 43:44 |
| 148 | 1375 | Terry Everest | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 44:54 | |
| 149 | 1393 | Casper Morris | (M45) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 44:55 |
| 158 | 1412 | Geoff Turner | (M55) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 45:19 |
| 164 | 1382 | George Harris | (M45) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 45:43 |
| 167 | 1409 | Colin Timmins | (M50) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 45:59 |
| 178 | 1416 | Simon Whitaker | (M50) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 47:15 |
| 190 | 1402 | Michael Russell | (M50) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 48:45 |
| 196 | 1370 | Andrew Deighton | (M50) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 49:27 |
| 207 | 1396 | Nick Pierce | (M60) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 52:06 |
| 211 | 1406 | Mark Taylor | (M65) | Tunbridge Wells Harriers | 52:54 |