After some great finishes, we had two prize winners in the KFL for 2008/09. Congratulations go to:

W55 Anne Unseld
W60 Linda Gray

Presentation of trophies took place at the Cascades Leisure Centre, Gravesend after the end of season relays. In those relays, our intrepid team finished 16th of 22, a fine performance as a veterans only team.

For more photos and race report: click here

BVAC 5 mile Race Sat 7 March 2009

We had an excellent entry for our own cross country race. Of the 69 entries, 61 crossed the finish line (there were 8 who didn't start or did not finish the challenging course). The course at Sparrows Den/ Spring Park was a mixture of firm track, open field and muddy trail. To view a selection of pictures: click here

The prizes were awarded as follows:

First female: Viv Mitchell (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers)
Second female: Angela Cook (Blackheath & Bromley Harriers)
First male: Chris Busailen (Herne Hill Harriers)
Second male: Mike Cummings (Herne Hill Harriers)
Oldest female finisher: Maureen Farish (Bromley Veterans AC)
Oldest male finisher: Brian Fincham (Bromley Veterans AC)
First female Bromley Veteran: Anne Unseld
First male Bromley Veteran: Mike Turner
Team prize: Viv Mitchell, Angela Cook, Amanda Taylor

For the full results: click here

KCAA Clubmen's Cross Country Championship Sat 13 Dec 2008

We failed to manage any teams in the Kent Championships at Beckenham Place Park. However, several people took part as individuals. Well done to Chris Marshall on finishing third in the 60+ mens category and to Anne Unseld who finished seventh in the 50+ ladies.

Kent Fitness League Cross Country Races - occasional Sundays during Winter

General

All events took place on Sunday mornings 11am start. Runs were about 5 miles long on varying off-road terrain. Open to all and everyone welcome. Entry fee £2 on the day. Finishers entered into end of race raffle.

For more information don’t forget to check out the web pages devoted to this league – www.canterburyharriers.org and www.swanleyanddistrictac.org.

Club Colours imperative but members could choose to run either in the old style vests or in the new-style long or short sleeved tops.

Individual race dates

Swanley Park, Swanley - 9^th November 2008 (click here for report)

Rough Common Canterbury - 23^rd November 2008 (click here for report)

Nurstead Court, Meopham - 30^th November 2008 (click here for report)

Oxleas Wood, Eltham - 14^th December 2008 (click here for report)

Avery Hill Park, Eltham - 28^th December 2008 (click here for report)

Minnis Bay, Birchington - 11^th January 2009 (click here for report)

Knole Park, Sevenoaks - 1^st February 2009 (click here for report)

Istead and Ifield have kindly offered to host the relay and awards presentation event on 8 March 2009. The relay will take place within Shorne Woods Country Park (near Gravesend) and the presentation/ buffet will be held afterwards at Cascades Leisure Centre nearby. Full details a bit nearer the time.

Final Standings

Key rules for 2008/2009

The race entry fee is £2 per runner (last revised in 2001).

There is no limit to the number of runners a club may enter. Points shall be awarded to individuals in accordance with finishing position as follows - 1st 1 point; 2nd 2 points etc ....... There will be a separate points scale for male and female finishers; guest runners are not awarded points.

The Combined team race will be decided on the lowest total of 7 men and 3 ladies from each club including at least 1 male veteran over 40, 1 male veteran over 50 and 1 female veteran over 35. Any club not fielding its quota of runners will have last place plus one added for each missing individual. There will also be a separate ladies’ championship with 3 ladies to score (including one veteran over 35).

Points will be carried forward in the team championships based on a descending scale of club positions after each race. Assuming there are 15 clubs taking part, the team winners from each race will get 15 points, and subsequent teams will score 14; 13; 12 and so on.

The team championship awards at the end of the season are based on points accrued from every race in the series using the points system as described above. Awards will be made at the end of the season to the Champions and Runners-up in both leagues.

In the individual championships, percentage points shall be awarded to individuals in the mens and ladies’ races. These shall be on a descending scale based on the formula:

Rating = [(Number of Finishers + 1) – Individual’s place] / Number of Finishers

In this, the ladies shall be separated out from the men and will have their own percentage points. The championship rating will be the average score over the season based on the individual’s best 5 races (assuming a 7 race series). The percentage obtained from the above method will be used to decide all age categories within the men and women’s competition.

Awards will be made at the end of the season for top five Males, top three Females, Male Veteran (cat V40, V45, V50, V55, V60, V65 and V70) Champions; Female Veteran (cat V35, V40, V45,V50, V55 and V60) Champions, most improved Male, most improved Female- one award per person. Further awards to be presented as may be decided by the Committee.

Swanley Park Relay - Wed 9 July

We were able, in a very roundabout way, to field three teams in the 4 x one mile relays in Swanley Park. We had intended to try to field three teams: two men's teams and one ladies team. However, various people dropped out and we were left looking for stand-ins in order just to field two teams. The first men's team finished in a terrific 5th place while the ladies went even better and finished 2nd. On the night, three men who had turned up largely to watch decided that the lure was too great and, persuading one of the others to run twice, formed another outfit. It was great to see Mike Turner returning from injury with a good time and a special thank you to Paul Delicata who turned out as a guest (Richard Proctor is in the process of joining us anyway).

Men's A team - 5th (Richard Proctor 5:46, Neil Ayrton 5:25, Paul Delicata 5:36, Ashley Smith 5:56)
Men's B team - 10th (Mike Turner 6:12, Tony Unseld 8:04, Phil Greenfield 6:33, Richard Proctor 6:14)
Ladies team - 2nd (Anne Unsled 7:14, Katrina Patching 7:32, Linda Gray 8:30, Becky Pizer 8:10)

Archives:

See also 2007-2008
See also 2006-2007
See also 2005-2006
See also 2004-2005
See also 2003-2004

Lynette leads off in the KFL relay

Phil pursued by 2 Blackheath & Bromley Harriers
in the 2009 BVAC 5-mile race

Oxleas - bizarre views of Chris Marshall No 102

Security over the clubhouse tightens

Time to prepare - with a chat!

The water splash doesn't go away at Meopham

Linda wades through the mud

Clive prepares for the worst

The field is really strung out

Swanley Relays with a strong BVAC presence

Richard had been flying along

before handing over to Neil

Becky too showing a good turn of speed

Neil hands to Paul

Ashley completes the men's A quartet