Ashford Athletics Club » Running

Ashford duo in the medals

News Desk — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 21:20:17 +0000

ASHFORD AC’s Jack Goss and Tim Forsyth grabbed two of the medals in the Kent Under 15 cross country championships with an excellent silver and bronze double.
But they had no answer to Tonbridge’s George Duggan who claimed gold in 13 minutes 12 seconds.
Tim recovered after a poor start to push his Ashford teammate all the way and only a storming finish over the last 150m by Jack saw him surge away to take the silver in 13:33 with Tim close behind in 13:36.
In the U15 girls Jessica Carley followed up her sixth in her first year of cross country in the Kent League standings with a fine 16th in a field of 42 with 12:24 for the 3km course.
And in the U17 women Amelia Jones had another fine run for eighth in 16:11 with teammate Hester Hill just adrift in 11th with 17:25
Garon Heslop was the pick of the Ashford men over 10k in 50th with 42:40 with U20 runner Warren Uden taking 116th in 48:50 and Ian King 136th with 50:20.
It was an excellent day for the Nicholls family from Romney Marsh. The trio, now running for Tonbridge AC, saw the talented Grace take the senior women’[s crown over 8km in 28:11 despite still being an U20 athlete while Max grabbed silver in the U17 men with 20:33 while Euan was 11th in the U15 boys with 14:14.
Another former Ashford member to do well in Tonbridge colours was Kelsey Howard who was eighth in the junior women’s race with 28:38.
The races were held at Wilmington Grammar School in Dartford.

Hall of fame

News Desk — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 11:44:12 +0000

ASHFORD AC’s Lesley Hall is the Kent W55 veteran cross country champion after topping the field at Tunbridge Wells.
Lesley, who has battled her was through illness and injury to keep running, clocked a fine 22 minutes 51 seconds over the 4.8km course at Rose Hill School.
In the W45 category Jenny Brown was an excellent sixth with 21:52 in a well battled race won by Sharon Hawkins (20:37) while in the M50 event, over 9.5km, Kevin Williams was a terrific fifth clocking 33 minutes dead.

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM ASHFORD ATHLETIC CLUB

Pete — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 04:00:24 +0000

Ashford Athletic Club would like to wish all its members a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you to all the athletes who compete for the club throughout the year, thanks you to all our coaches, officials and volunteers for all their hard work keeping the club running and to all our parents, spectators and spectators. 2012 is going to a big year for sport and Ashford Athletic Club.

Enjoy your festive break.

The Ashford Athletic Club Committee

Masterful effort for 10k

News Desk — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:38:19 +0000

THE popular Givaudan Ashford 10K, which attracts around 1,000 runners to Ashford each October, has been selected to host the British Masters 10K Championships in 2012.
Another feature of the race will be the Southern Counties Vets AC 10K championships.
The selection of the Ashford race to host these two important championships is a feather in the cap for Ashford AC and reward for the hard work put in to make the race an enjoyable spectacle for both participants and spectators alike.
The award is expected to add around 200 athletes to the start line of the race which is looking to accommodate around 1500 participants next year. The majority of the Masters athletes will be from outside the area and, indeed, will travel from all parts of the UK to take part, providing the town with a substantial economic boost.
The Givaudan Ashford 10K takes place on Sunday October 14, 2012 and is organised on behalf of the club by Nice Work. Race entries are now open for the event which is suitable for both experienced athletes and those new to running.
For further information go to www.ashford10k.co.uk, contact the race organisers on 01797 230999; or email info@nice-work.org.uk

Team win for Under 15 boys

News Desk — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 10:02:22 +0000

JACK Goss and Tim Forsyth spurred the Ashford Under 15s to a fine team win with second and third respectively in the Kent Cross Country League meeting at Sparrows Den, West Wickham.
It keeps the team in second place overall in the league and Goss is also pressing hard for top individual honours.
He once again had to play second fiddle to Tonbridge’s George Duggan (13:38) after clocking a fine 13:54 with Tim in close attendance with 13:57.
Third Ashford runner was Declan Burton 15th with 15:11 with another good run by Kyle Denning 31st in 16:27 and James Rouet 37th with 17:14.
Amelia Jones is still in the hunt for the U17 girls’ title after a 12th in 17:34 with Folkestone clubmate Hester Hill 16th in 18:37 while Warren Uden led the way home in the U20 men with 19:21.
Jess Carley ran well again in the U13 girls with 11th in 10:24 from Charlotte McGowan 27th in 11:31 and Alex Prickett 43rd in 12:36 to keep the team in fifth overall.
In the U15 girls sisters Katie and Megan Lillington flew the flag for Ashford with 14:34 and 15:46 respectively.
In the men’s event Garon Heslop was the top Ashford finisher in 47th with 36:06 with Kevin Williams 59th in 37:00 and Ian King 83rd with 38:55.

Storming start by Goss

News Desk — Sun, 06 Nov 2011 12:41:16 +0000

JACK GOSS has made a terrific start to the cross country season with two second places at Swanley and then at Tonbridge.
In the opener at New Barn Jack clocked 14 minutes dead in the Under 15 race and then 16:13 at Somerhill School. Both times race winner was George Duggan of Tonbridge.
At Tonbridge the team were a superb second with Tim Forsyth fourth in 16:38, Declan Burton 19th in 18:14, Kieran Eland 30th with 19:28, Kyle Denning 37th with 19:57 and James Rouet 20:04.
At Swanley the squad were fifth with Kyle 20th in 16:10 and James 32nd in 17:03
Warren Uden has also scored well in a smaller U20 men’s field with seconds in the opening event with 19:02 and then 21:17 at Tonbridge.
Amelia Jones has been excellent in the U17 girls with a storming third in 14:20 at Swanley and then fifth at Tonbridge with 19:53. Hester Hill was ninth at Tonbridge with 20:39 with good support from Louise Barclay (15th in 22:46) and Katherine Buckley (17th with 23:23) to take third team slot. Louise was 16th at Swanley with 17:01.
The U13 girls have shown great promise led on both occasions by Jessica Carley, 17th in 10:34 and then 10th with 11:42.
She has been well supported by Charlotte McGowan, 36th in 12:04 and 29th with 13:47 and Phoebe Forsythe, 42nd in 12:58 and 34th with 14:45. Liberty O’Shea had a fine 30th in 11:30 at Swanley.
Candy Hawkins has flown the flag for the club in the senior women with 28th (21:34) and 34th (25:25) while Jack Wreathall was the lone U17 at Tonbridge 29th in 23:19.
In the senior men the club were 11th at Tonbridge and 17th at Swanley led home both times by Garon Heslop 31st in 38:01 and 59th in 37:40.
At Tonbridge support came from Kev Williams 48th in 39:24, Matt Hogben 66th with 40:36 and Ian King 43:14 while at Swanley Pete Walsh was 78th in 38:45, King clocked 42:00 and Steve Kelly 44:15.
The next meeting is at Danson Park, Bexley on Saturday.

Relay medals

News Desk — Sat, 17 Sep 2011 20:04:50 +0000

THIS year’s competition took place at the new track and field facility at Sutton Valence School. This event always generates excitement and eager anticipation as it is very much a team effort that involves everyone – athletes, team managers and parents.
For a number of reasons, there were fewer teams from Ashford but as always, Ashford AC came away with medals, 2 silvers, 3 bronze and many fine performances. The important outcome was that all the teams from Ashford got the batons round safely, the key requirement for success.
There were no club records achieved this year but neither were there any poor performances and athletes would have gained experience that will be of use for next year’s relays in the league competitions.
The senior women’s team, consisting of athletes from the under 20 and under 17 age group, took bronze in the 4 x 100m in a time of 52.1 s. and silver in the 4 x 400m in a creditable time of 4min 05.8s. The teams were Laura Hanagan (u20), Caroline Hatley (u20), Samantha Becket (u20) and Amelia Jones (u17) in the 4 x 400m and Laura Hanagan, Caroline Hatley, Samantha Beckett and Lucy Holmes (u20) in the 4 x 100m.
The Under 17 women’s team also gained success with silver in the 4 x 100m and bronze in the 4 x 200m. Sophie Hamlyn, Abbie Purkiss, Lauren Bamford and Kayleigh Miller-Leslie combined well to take the silver medal in the 4 x 100m final in a respectable time of 52.9s. Abbie, Lauren and Kayleigh were joined by Hester Hill for the 4 x 200m final to take the bronze medal in 1m 53.4s. Two medals for fine team work.
Temi Banwo, Ben Cox, Oliver Price and Tom Williams just missed out on a medal when they took fourth place in the Under 17 men’s 4 x 100m final in 46.7s. Their team mates in this age group, Aaron Kellow, Callum Burgess, Neil Daughters and Declan O’Driscoll fared less well in the 4 x 400m final, finishing in fifth place, getting the baton round in 4m 8.3s.
Fourth place in the Under 13 boy’s 4 x 100m final, was the result for the fine effort of the Ashford quartet of Jake Timmins, Kian Crawford, Joe Whitby and Elliott Rudd. Their time of 57.9s being not far behind the bronze medal place.
The Ashford under 13 girls group managed to have 2 teams in the 4 x 100m final. The Team1 of Hannah Owen, Ruby Cox, Chloe Ford and Emily Knight took another fourth place in 56.7s. Whilst their colleagues in the Team 2, Jess Carly, Jess Box, Eve Graham and Jamie-Ann Hayes came seventh in 62.6s. An excellent result to get both teams in the final.
The under 15 girl’s squad of Charlotte Tappenden, Emem Umoh, Ellie Gooding, Emily Hamlyn and Bethany Kimber, covered the 4 x 100m and 4 x 200m between them. The girl’s efforts gaining an excellent bronze medal in the longer race in 1m 54.7s., and 6th. in the 4 x 100m final in 54.0s.

Boost for squad

News Desk — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:52:45 +0000

ASHFORD Athletics Club’s women’s field events squad has been boosted this season by the arrival of former Idaho state champion Jenn Tibbenham.
The 27-year-old marked her arrival by taking the bronze medal in the South of England championships in the discus at the Julie Rose Stadium in her first meeting back after five years out of the sport.
Jenn, who came to the area with her husband Graham – a power station engineer at Lydd, has returned to athletics after finishing an athletics sports scholarship at Boise State University in the USA.
She had taken a break from the sport after finishing her Masters degree and taking up powerlifting where, in 2009, she was a world super heavyweight champion in the deadlift with an impressive 178 kgs at the championships held in Reno, Nevada.
After coming to Kent she took part in the UK championships in Dymchurch where she finished in second place.
But the lure of the field events proved strong enough to tempt her to join Ashford where she had proved a valuable addition to the squad helping the team to success in the Southern League this summer.
Her prowess in the field events earned her a scholarship to Boise State University where she became state champion in the shot and discus and now has turned her talents to the hammer as well.
She is aiming to qualify as a teacher.

Wonder Woman needs help

News Desk — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 08:42:45 +0000

JANINE Brown, now working in New York, appeals for support as she aims to raise money for her charity.

Sunday 6th November 2011 I will be taking part in the New York Marathon dressed as “Wonder Woman!” This marathon marks the most personal one I have so far run because it will be in honor and memory of a great team mate and friend. Clare Grossman, or as I knew her at Ashford Atheltic Club, Clare Soper.
Clare passed away after fighting the rarest form of Wegners Vasculitis which is inflammation of blood vessels that affect the lungs, kidneys and other major organs. Wegner’s Vasculitis is a life threatening condition and there is no cure for this disease at this stage.
Clare fought this disease for many months but in the end her body couldn’t fight it anymore, so hard to comprehend when she was just 39 years old, a mother, a wife, a daughter, a sister, an aunt, a cousin and for me an old team mate and friend who was the focal point on my team, Ashford Athletic Club, she was a true leader, alongside Manger and top dog “Derky!”.
I learnt so much from her as a young athlete going into the senior ranks when I first competed in the “Big Girls League!!”. Clare led a tight rope when we was on our Ostend trips, making sure we stayed out of mischief.
I recall her smile, her laugh, her enthusiasm, and her commitment to, as Clare often put it, “stuffing it up em!”, and beating all the other athletic clubs in the league, when we were on the road to UK Women’s Leagues, she made us laugh. Clare was never afraid to say what she thought but that’s why we loved her.
When I found out she was ill, I was shocked, although she had not been competing for some years for the club to concentrate on her family, I still remembered her as the lively, happy clare, that fighting sprit!!!
The last time I saw Clare she came with mom Bonny to watch us at an athletics meeting. She always had an eye over us all even joked about her comeback and the good old days. Even though she was not competing, for me Clare was always a part of the team, she never went away.
Clare’s zest for life touched so many of us in so many ways, for me, this 26.2 mile journey is for you Clare!!! and no doubt I’ll hear her shouting “c’mon J9, stuff up it em!!” as her and Derky often did from the athletic stands!!!!, thats when I know I must dig deep, thats what Clare would have done, she would not have given up and fought all the way till the end.
My aim is to raise as much money for the Stuart Strange Vasculitis Trust as possible for more research to be done into finding a cure for Vasculitis, so others dont have to go through what Clare’s family and friends have had to go through losing her.
Also former team mates Emma Wood, Jennie Matthews, Tracey Laws, Katie Butler, Candy Hawkins are running for “Clare” in The Givaudan, Ashford 10K on Sunday 9th October 2011 , formally the Julie Rose 10km.
Lets keep Clare’s spirit alive and join me on my 26.2mile and the girls 10km journey to raise as much money for the Stuart Strange Vasculitis Trust as possible.
If we can save one life, then thats better then none. Please go to my webpage and feel free to donate onto this page, its completely safe!) Thank You!

http://www.justgiving.com/JANINE-EMMA-BROWN0

Golden leap for Ashford duo

News Desk — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 22:22:33 +0000

ASHFORD’s athletes stood tall against the best in the South with several successes in the South of England championshionships held at the Julie Rose Stadium.
Rachel Hanagan secured a brilliant gold in the U20 women’s triple jump with a wind assisted 11.42m and a leap of 11.39 while sister Laura was fifth with 10.53m.
And Matt Morsia won the senior men’s triple jump with 14.74m.
Debbie Martin continues to show her class with silver in the U20 high jump with 1.65m while teammate Stevie Langford won the senior silver with the same height.
Lucy Holmes landed silver in the U20 long jump with a personal best 4.93m and there was a silver for Chris Blandford in the U20 javelin with 47.23m.
Emmeline Rendell and Kara Gibbs competed well in the pole vault with 3.20m and 3.05m respectively and Sam Beckett was seventh in the U20 100m in 13.26.
Former Ashford star Grace Nicholls from Romney Marsh won the 3000m gold for Tonbridge AC with 9:58.93.