Hotter than July
10:28am Tuesday 5th July 2011 in Athletics
For the second successive weekend, the weather has been great for sunbathing, but not quite so pleasant for those pounding the trails and footpaths of Kent.
The Bewl 15 was held on Sunday and attracted over 600 runners from across the South East. The popular race starts in Wadhurst, completes the full perimeter of Bewl reservoir then climbs back up through the fields to be welcomed by a brass band and lots of cakes at the finish. Istead and Ifield Harriers had a smaller squad than usual but still managed to field nine competitors. Ken Rains was the club’s first male and finished as third over 50, whilst Barbara Ockenden was first home for the club’s ladies. Jan Giles was the first female over 70 finisher.
Elsewhere, Joe Cumberland was one of the 371 runners in the Orpington 10k, a multi-terrain course based at Darrick Wood School.
Even further afield Andrew Archer took part in a 5 mile event down in the New Forest where he finished in twelfth position.
On the Veteran’s Track and Field front, Friday’s meet at Ashford saw Istead’s ladies maintaining their third place in the league with a good solid performance, while the men just held on to fourth place with a weakened team. The star performances were Steve Lelliott (50) and Bob Carter (60) both winning their 3000mtrs races and Paul Bunch with his best hammer throw of the year at 24.70m for second place.
Results: - Bewl 15 – Ken Rains 32nd 1:44:59; Simon Parrin 43rd 1:47:50; John Gillis 266th 2:12:17; Alan Cowan 274th 2:13:25; Barbara Ockenden 420th 2:29:28; Mary Penfold 460th 2:33:43; Richard Scarff 486th 2:38:41; Emma Penfold 496th 2:40:55; Jan Giles 627th 3:16:44 Orpington 10k – Joe Cumberland 25th 42:10 Sway Carnival 5 - Andrew Archer 12th 31:48
