At Dartford the following day in the National Junior League Lucy Holmes had a win double taking the U17 A triple jump with a personal best 9.48m and the B long jump in a another best 4.83m.
Amber Regardsoe had a storming day with victories in the U17 A shot with a season best 9.33m and the discus with 26.12m and also claimed tghird in the hammer with a season best 23.18m.
Ashley Cochran ran a personal best 23.8 to top the B 200m and Deborah Martin had a good day with seconds in the A high jump with 1.55m and a personal best 5m in the A long jump.
Laura Hanagan set personal bests for second in the 100m hurdles; third in the 400m hurdles clocking 17.2 and 72.2 respectively and fifth in the B 200m (27.0) while Sam Beckett also gave another great team display with thirds in the A 400m and A 100m plus fifth in the A 200m.
Amelia Jones had a personal best 65.0 for second in the B 400m.

WITH several regular members of the team missing, the Ashford AC men’s team travelled to Milton Keynes for their third Southern League, Division 1 match.
Adding to the pressure, the coach journey took longer than expected due to road works and accidents en route.
However, the team kept focussed and amused themselves playing games like pass the bottle etc. On arrival, the team of 15 athletes commenced to work together to cover the 34 individual events and 2 relays, knowing also that two of the teams against them, were above them in the league.
The pairing of Jon Ward and Chris Kingsland in the throws was tremendous, with 4 firsts and two second places between them. Ably supported by Chris Blandford and John Rolfe in the javelin, the quartet amassed 36 points out of the team’s total of 92, an exceptional effort.
The team spirit continued throughout the afternoon and pole vaulters Luke Williams and Mick Goodall excelled in a competition where the opposition was potentially far better. Luke clearing a personal best height of 3.40 metres to win the A string and 60 year old Mick taking the B string with a season’s best clearance of 3.30 metres. Luke also went on to take second in the A string 110m hurdles in another pb of 19.5s.
Acting team manager, Matt Hogben, epitomised the team’s commitment by taking part in 6 individual events and the 4 x 400m relay, whilst having to cope with the strength sapping heat.
Sprinters Chris Meakin and Steve Walder gained valuable team points. Chris still returning to form from injury competed in both sprints and the 4 x 100m relay. First year U17 athlete, Steve, gained valuable experience, competing against older athletes, and ran well in the 4 x 100m relay.
Ashley Cochran and Pat Duncan added more points in the 800m and 30 minutes later despite being disappointed with his 800 time, Ashley ran an incredible pb of 52.7s in the 400 metres A string race. Later, Pat also teamed up with Chris Blandford in a gruelling 1500 metres race.
In the 5000 metres Matt Iles endured the heat to gain a valuable point which was priceless when considering the club gained third place by only one point.
In the 3000m steeplechase, Warren U den and Phil Heathfield added a further important points tally with Warren taking another 10 seconds off his pb. Phil had also partnered Matt Hogben in the 400m hurdles.
In the jumps events, Matt Smiley teamed up with the ever busy Matt Hogben, where they managed to gain 9 important points, from the long, high and triple jump.
Both relay squads added more points to enable the team to stay the one point ahead of Enfield and Haringey AC to round off an excellent team effort for a well deserved third place.
MATCH POINTS: Highgate 132 points, Marshall Milton Keynes 128, Ashford 92, Enfield and Haringey 91, Harrow 80.

Next Induction Evening Tuesday June 1st 6pm.

Great start to Summer Track Season
Kent Young Athletes League 1
30 athletes represented AAC and team finished third. AAC Team Managers are Pat Hanys and Fiona Sime. This is a local (Kent) competition for Under 13 and 15 boys and girls. It takes place on Sundays is set up to introduce children to competitive athletics.

National Junior League 2
Team finished 4th and well on track for targeted mid league finish. 23 athletes competed for AAC. Three or four more athletes would make a big difference and enable to team to challenge for third place at the next match. This league exists for Under 20 men and women. The league allows Under 17 athletes to compete. AAC Team Managers are John Chambers and Mary Holmes.

Southern Womens League 3
Team finished first. A great start towards our aim of finishing in the top 10 in senior Division one. The team are currently 5th overall This is a performance leagues for athletes aged over 15. As athletes get older we encourage them to start going to senior leagues, to help make a gradual transition to senior athlete. AAC Team Manager is Derek Laws.

Kent Masters League 1
Team finished 2nd just two points behind Dartford. This league is for age groups 35+50+ and 60+ and matches are on Monday and Friday evenings. The goal for 2010 is to remain in Division One. AAC Team Manager is Paul Wheeler.

Southern Mens League 1
The team finished 3rd. Highlight was Matt Morsia setting a new club triple jump record. 7 PBs were set on the day by the 20 athletes competing This is a performance leagues for athletes aged over 15. AAC team manager is Pete Le Rossignol.

Thank you to all the AAC officials at our first home fixture of the season.

National Young Athletes League 1
AAC had a record turnout of athletes in this league. The team finished
All should be congratulated on having a very positive attitude despite the it being a very cold and wet day. AAC Team Managers are Pat Hanys and Kara Gibbs

AAC Summer Fixtures List 2010 is available from the Admin desk and at www.ashfordac.org.uk/

Other Results round up:
Tim Burt and Gareth Morris made the British University and Colleges Sports Championship finals

More supermarket vouchers are still wanted
We have already collected 100s of vouchers for much needed.Please keep handing in Sainsbury’s Active Kids Vouchers or Tesco Schools & Club voucher in to the membership desk on club training nights.

Throws development project starts May
We have secured grant funding from the Kent Athletics Network (KAN) for a throws development project. Dave Fox is leading this. The aim is to encourage more school based throwers to join AAC. Dave will be attending at least five schools athletics events/activities between May and July and will provide a throws events specific induction programme for identified school based athletes. Vouchers will handed out at school events/activities inviting athletes to attend induction training taster sessions. KAN is a partnership of several athletics clubs in Kent including AAC who have secured funding from England Athletics for various projects.

AAC EXECUTIVE 2010/11
Here is the Executive membership for 2010/11
Executive Committee
Hon. Sec.: D.J.Fox
Hon. Treasurer: Julie Stuart-Smith
Chief Coach: Stella Bandu
Athlete Welfare Officer: Mary Davison
Membership Sec: Kate Dickinson
Team Managers Rep Women: Joanne Purkis
Team Managers Rep Men: Peter le Rossingol
+ 2 ordinary members: Matthew Hogben and 1 Vacancy

Summer Road relays Series 2010
11th May Folkestone 19.15
25th May Minnis Bay 19.30
8th June Ashford 19.30
22nd June Deal 19.30
6th July Canterbury 19.30

These take place on Tuesday Evenings and are for any standard of runner. It is against 7 other local clubs over a distance between 2/1/2 – 3 miles per leg, each runner will do one leg. Please turn up 30 minutes before the start, so you can be sorted into teams, and you must wear AAC vest.

Sponsorship means there will be a sports drink and cereal bar for each AAC member who takes part. One of our key club development projects in 2010 is to re establish the AAC road running section. Encouraging as many people as possible to take part in these relays is a key first step. For more details contact Matt Hogben (AAC road running manager) on 07746149618

Key AAC documents update
The Club has written some useful documents, which are available for downloading and printing off on the website. They include:
 AAC competition check list
 AAC Information leaflet
 AAC Code of Conduct
 AAC Mission Statement
 AAC Grievance Procedure
 AAC Competition Guidelines
In addition the website has a list of useful links that may help athletes to prepare for competitions.

 Star performer was jumper Matt Morsia who leaped to a club record of 14.64m in the triple jump and a season’s best of 6.82m in the long jump to win both events in some style. Ryan Harris completed a double in the triple jump winning the B-string with a season’s best jump of 11.75m.

 Sprinter James Bridge scored good points winning the B 100m in the fastest time of the match with 11.30s and worked hard into a strong headwind to finish second in the 200m A race. Gary Carr started his season with a solid third in the A 100m  and  B 200m.

 Team captain Matt Hogben had a busy day competing in the 400m hurdles, high jump and 3000m steeplechase to score valuable points for the team.

 Young Christian Brown competing for the first time scored points in the 400m hurdles and ran a non scoring 100m and 200m.

 Youngster George Huxley made his debut for the senior team and finished well to place second in 400m B-string. Ashley Cochran ran a season’s best of 53.02s for fourth in a close A race.

 Peter Davey leaped to a season’s best in the long jump to finish third in the B event with 5.93m just 2cm off winning the event. In 110m hurdles  Davey ran a strong race into a slight headwind to finish third with a time of 16.96s. Peter also was second in the high jump B string to complete a busy day. 

 In the pole vault supervet Mick Goodall started his season with a vault of 3.10m to finish fourth in the A-string while Luke Williams made a first appearance in an Ashford vest and vaulted 3.0m for second in the B event, a position he also achieved in the B 110m hurdles.

 The team had a number of key middle distance athletes missing due university commitments but Andy Robertson, Warren Uden and Phil Heathfield competed well to pick up valuable points for the team.

 In the 5000m John Brasier made his debut for Ashford AC and finished well to record a time of 16.37.08s for fourth in the A race with veteran Kevin Williams returning from injury to for third in the B string.

 In the throws Jon Ward and Chris Kingsland scored good points across the shot, discus and hammer.

Jon was second in the discus and third in both the hammer and shot A events. Chris Kingsland started his day with a big personal best of 33.40m to finish secondin the B-string, he followed this with a victory in the B shot and second in the discus.

 In the javelin Chris Blanford threw a season’s best of 44.15m for third in the A-string as did John Rolfe who finished second in the b-string with 40.24m

 The day ended with good points in the relays with the 4×100m team second and the 4×400m squad third.

Team manager Pete Le Rossignol would like to thank all the officials, volunteers and supporters for their help at the match. 

 The team, currently are 12th in Division One, travel to Portsmouth for the next match on  May 15.

 Any athletes interested in competing for Ashford Athletic Club senior team should contact Team Manager Pete Le Rossignol by e-mail on info@ontrackathletics.co.uk or call 07838 122 568.

Host club Reading took the honours by a point with Ashford a distant fourth on the day.

Ashford managed just four event wins with an outstanding day by field eventer Jon Ward.

The Folkestone man won the A discus convincingly with 38m40 and also picked up vital points with second in the A shot with 12.81 and a third in A hammer with 37.60m.

Robert Nash won the B triple jump with 11m87 with Matt Hogben third in the A event with 11.98.

The only other successes came from sprinters Gary Carr and James Bridge.

Carr powered to maximum points in the A 100m in 11.0 with Bridge second in the B event in 11.4 while Bridge claimed victory in the B 200m with a fine 22.8.